Pet Wellness in West Los Angeles

Pets are members of the family, and they deserve the highest level of veterinary care throughout every life stage. West LA Veterinary Group offers wellness services for pets of all ages, with an emphasis on preventive care. We recommend that all dogs and cats have a comprehensive wellness exam at least once a year. We also recommend that pets are current on their vaccinations (schedules vary from pet to pet according to their age and lifestyle) to protect them from potentially fatal diseases.

Comprehensive Pet Wellness Exam

When bringing your pet to our clinic for a comprehensive wellness exam—or for any other reason—we ask that you use a leash and/or carrier to keep your pet safe. If you’re a cat owner, consider the following handout for tips on How to Get Your Cat in the Carrier. Each wellness exam consists of a thorough nose-to-tail assessment of your pet. These exams allow us to determine whether or not your pet is healthy and to provide treatment recommendations if there are any symptoms that indicate a health issue. At this time, we may recommend routine blood work, a fecal exam, or a heartworm test, depending on the need of each patient. With the results of each pet exam, we can establish a wellness profile that can be used as a baseline for future visits.

Senior Pet Care

Bi-annual wellness exams are recommended for geriatric (senior) pets, due to potential health risks that come with age. Cats and dogs that are 7 years of age and older are considered seniors. In addition to the bi-annual wellness exam, routine blood work and urinalyses are recommended every 6 to 12 months for senior pets. With more frequent health care for your senior pet, we can detect illnesses in their early stages and treat them more effectively.

Dog and Cat Vaccines

Vaccines are an essential part of preventive care and are typically administered as part of the wellness visits. Just like human vaccines, pet vaccines protect against diseases—some of which can be fatal. We base our vaccine recommendations and schedules on each pet’s breed, age, and lifestyle. However, we typically recommend a series of core vaccines for dogs and cats, which are listed below. We only use mercury-free vaccines, and our feline vaccines are non-adjuvanted for your pet’s safety.

We also offer vaccine titers for distemper, parvovirus, calicivirus, herpesvirus, and panleukopenia. Vaccine titers help us assess your pet’s protection (immunity) against these diseases, helping us to determine if a booster vaccination is needed.

If it’s time for your pet’s annual or bi-annual wellness exam, or if you have any questions about West LA Veterinary Group’s wellness services, give us a call at 310-478-5915.