Wellness Exams

At Riverview Animal Hospital, our staff understands that the needs of your furry friend are different from other pets, and will change as they begin to age. Therefore, we have established protocols for each life stage of your pet.

Young Pets

When our pets first come into our lives, they have unique health and wellness needs that will be met at Riverview Animal Hospital. Vaccines must be administered not only for the life and health of your pet, but also to insure your pet is compliant within the law for rabies inoculation for example. Our doctors recommend spaying or neutering all pets not used for breeding purposes. Not only do these procedures prevent unwanted puppy or kitten litters, they also provide numerous health benefits as your pet ages. Heartworm prevention in both puppies and kittens are crucial for their long-term health, and intestinal parasites, fleas and ticks can all be prevented using products available at Riverview Animal Hospital. We also recommend microchipping all pets to greatly increase their opportunity to be reunited with you in the event they wander away from home. Other considerations for young pets include nutritional and dental counseling so your pet is getting off on the right foot in their young lives. Finally, blood work can also be measured in puppies and kittens so our caring doctors have a baseline of your pet’s health they can compare to blood testing when your pet is older.

Junior and Adult Pets

As our dogs and cats begin to reach adulthood, their requirements begin to change as well. Maintaining vaccine heartworm preventative, intestinal parasite prevention and flea and tick products continue to be an important part of the wellness protocol at Riverview Animal Hospital. Other health matters such as yearly dental cleanings become more important for adult dogs and cats. Pets as young as one year of age can begin to experience dental issues, and approximately 80% of pets over the age of three have some form of periodontal disease so it is best for your pet to get started on the road to oral health as soon as possible. Blood work continues to be an important part of the health of adult animals, as these values can help our doctors discover possible issues prior to the onset of disease.

Senior Pets

Riverview Animal Hospital has a plan for senior animals as well. Large-breed dogs may be considered “senior” at the age of five (5), while average-sized breeds are generally considered “senior” at the age of seven (7). It is important to bring an older animal to the veterinarian more frequently, just as older humans see their doctor more often. Blood work becomes the cornerstone of disease diagnosis and prevention, as the tests can discover and track early onset of issues facing older pets. Other age-related considerations included osteoarthritis, and pain medications as needed.

Drop-Off Appointments

Riverview Animal Hospital also offers drop-off appointments.

Drop-off appointments can be very convenient for pet owners who have busy schedules or for pets who may require more extensive care or procedures. With drop-off appointments, pet owners can drop off their pets at a designated time and then pick them up later after the necessary procedures or treatments have been completed.

This type of appointment can be particularly helpful for pet owners who have pets that require routine procedures like vaccinations, blood work, or dental cleanings, but may not have the time to stay at the animal hospital for the duration of the appointment. It can also be helpful for pets that require more extensive or involved care, such as surgery, as the pet can be dropped off in the morning and picked up later in the day.

Additionally, drop-off appointments can be a great way to limit exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they can reduce the amount of time pet owners spend in the animal hospital and limit contact with other people.

We ask that you drop off between 7:30 – 9:30 am for all drop-off appointments and be prepared to spend a few minutes in the room speaking with a veterinary assistant about services that will be provided that day.

Pet Wellness Services Near You

Contact the caring staff at Riverview Animal Hospital to schedule a dog and cat wellness exam in Chattanooga, TN. Regardless of the life stage of your pet, our experienced veterinarians are ready to care for your pets, just as they care for their own!

Taking care of your precious pet’s health starts with a thorough veterinary exam. To make an appointment for your pet, call us at (423) 756-6011.