Adult Care in Lake in the Hills, IL
Adult Care
Keeping your adult pet healthy starts with consistent preventive care. As dogs and cats move out of the puppy or kitten stage, their medical needs change, and annual wellness exams become essential for maintaining long-term health. Our Adult Wellness FAQ’s are designed to answer the most common questions we hear from pet owners and help you understand what to expect at your pet’s checkups, which services are recommended at this life stage, and how we support your pet’s ongoing health and happiness.
When should my pet have their first adult wellness visit?
1 year and 4 months of age
We target when their Rabies booster is due.
How often should adult pets come in for comprehensive wellness exams?
Once per year
Our goal is to see your pet at a minimum once yearly to do a complete physical exam, perform annual labwork, and administer necessary vaccines. At this visit we discuss any health concerns, behavior, and nutrition. Our goal is to catch medical problems before they become serious. This also allows us to prescribe medications including monthly heartworm, flea, and tick preventative, unless they have some other health issue.
What does an adult comprehensive wellness exam include?
Almost everything
- Nose to tail physical exam
- Nutrition/diet and weight evaluation
- Behavior and lifestyle assessment
- Updated vaccinations (core or lifestyle-based, depending on pet’s risk)
- Parasite prevention/management (heartworm, intestinal parasites, fleas, ticks)
- Wellness lab work (baseline labs, bloodwork, fecal, +/- urinalysis)
- Discussion of preventive care options
Why are wellness exams important, even if my pet seems healthy?
What preventive care (parasite, nutrition, dental, lifestyle) is recommended for adult pets?
- Heartworm, flea/tick, intestinal parasite prevention is recommended monthly and year round.
- Nutrition and weight management. This is especially important as pets become adults and reach their “forever” adult weight.
- Dental care (home care and/or professional dental cleanings)
- Behavior, exercise, enrichment – to support mental & physical health.
What core vaccines are included (or when boosters are due)?
For all pets
DAP, Rabies (ideally 3 year), Leptospirosis
What non-core vaccines are considered based on lifestyle or risk (e.g. travel, outdoors, local risks)
For some pets
Bordetella/Parinfluenza, Canine Influenza, Lyme
What should you expect between visits?
Information
We strive to send reminders when vaccines are due, heartworm preventative purchase is due, and appointment reminders.