Wellness Exams

Regular veterinary visits help your pet live a long, healthy life. Annual examinations help detect emerging health problems and give pet parents the chance to ask questions or discuss concerns one-on-one with their veterinarian. At each annual check-up, our veterinarians will thoroughly examine your pet's eyes, ears, mouth and teeth, skin, heart and lungs, abdomen, muscles, joints, and bones. Pets are excellent at hiding illness, and annual wellness exams are vital for early disease detection & prevention.

Annual parasite screening is also an important part of your pet's preventative care, since many pets can carry internal parasites without showing symptoms. We recommend checking a stool sample every year for intestinal parasites. For dogs, we also recommend a yearly blood screening for heartworms and tick-borne diseases. These diseases can all be present for months or longer without symptoms.

Vaccinations are another important part of your pet's preventative care. Pet diseases like Leptospirosis, Distemper, Parvo, FIV/FELV, Rabies, and others, can be deadly, expensive to treat, and some can even be zoonotic (transmissible between pets and people). Our veterinarians will create a vaccine plan with you tailored to your pet's lifestyle and environmental exposures to disease.

Senior Pet Health

Just like humans, our pets have changing medical needs as they enter their "golden years". Dogs and cats are considered seniors starting around 7 years of age. Senior pets require extra care and attention to keep them comfortable and healthy through their older years.

Senior pets are prone to many of the same diseases older humans experience, including diabetes, renal disease, heart disease, cancer, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, arthritis, and dental disease. Since many of these diseases cannot be detected by a physical exam alone, we recommend senior bloodwork panels to check blood chemistries for early signs of disease. Early disease detection gives us a better chance to slow disease progression and give older pets a longer, more comfortable life. Our veterinarians will discuss your senior pet's individual needs and give specific recommendations to help you maintain your pet's healthy lifestyle.

Puppy and Kitten Care

Adding a new puppy or kitten to your family is an exciting time. Puppies and kittens come with a lot of responsibility, and the doctors and staff at Willow Wood Animal Hospital are here to help you care for the new addition to your family. It's important to bring your puppy or kitten in for a full exam, and to get them familiar with our veterinary hospital from a young age. There are numerous topics to be aware of and discuss, including vaccinations, nutrition, behavioral training, socialization, and many more. We are excited to meet your new furry family member!

Parasite Prevention

Parasites can affect your pet in a variety of ways, ranging from simple irritation to life-threatening conditions. We have researched parasite disease transmission and the products needed to keep your pets safe. We have flea, tick, heartworm and other parasiticides in stock to help keep you and your pet as safe and protected as possible.

Surgery

Before any anesthetic procedure, our doctor will perform a complete physical exam, blood tests, and an electrocardiogram, which is evaluated by a board certified cardiologist. This testing can detect underlying illness or concern and reduce potential risks associated with anesthesia. We have a dedicated technician anesthetist with each pet while they are under anesthesia monitoring the pet’s vitals along with the veterinarian. Every patient that undergoes a procedure requiring general anesthesia is provided with pain control. We take all necessary steps to relieve any pain before, during and after your pet’s surgical procedure.

Dental Cleanings

Dental disease is one of the most common problems older dogs and cats face today. Routine dental cleanings are recommended for the comfort of your pet, preventing tooth decay and tooth loss. Advanced dental disease is painful for the animal and often results in tooth extraction. Dental procedures include a thorough oral exam, radiographs (x-rays) of all teeth, ultrasonic cleaning of the teeth, and polishing. Most of our dental cleanings are performed by Dr. Connolly, Dr. Hess, and our skilled medical team.

Special Services

Travel Certificates

Our doctors are accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This accreditation allows our doctors to endorse both international and domestic health certificates. Because the requirements for traveling with your animal vary from country to country, it is best to plan ahead to avoid unnecessary delays or quarantines. Please contact your airline for specific airline guidelines and visit the USDA pet travel website at www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel for additional information.

Technician Appointments

Our Registered Veterinary Technicians can see appointments for toenail trims, anal sac expressions, bloodwork, as well as some vaccines. These provide a quick and efficient visits for our furry friends.

Microchipping

Every year, thousands of pets go missing. Not knowing where your pet is or how to bring them back can be a helpless, hopeless feeling. Implanting a microchip is a simple, safe, and effective way to ensure your pet's safety and retrieval should they ever become lost. Microchipping is a procedure that implants a small chip underneath your pet's skin. It is a fast procedure, and is completely safe. The microchip is registered with your pet's vital information, and can be scanned by any veterinarian or animal shelter so that they can return your pet directly to you.

Daytime Hospitalization

We offer daytime hospitalization for patients that need more intense treatment than can be performed at home.

End of Life/Euthanasia

End-of-life care is one of the most difficult parts of pet ownership. Saying goodbye to our beloved pets is a difficult experience for us, but euthanasia is a loving decision for our companions who are suffering due to illness or old age.

Our hospital offers a quiet, private room and qualified doctors who provide a compassionate euthanasia experience. We partner with a local pet crematory service to ensure that you have the highest quality memorial options to remember your companion. Our Willow Wood medical team is here to give your pet a gentle, respectful goodbye.