SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS available
Early Care Essentials for a Happy, Healthy Pet
Setting your furry family member up for a life of success starts with appropriate care early on. We recommend having a full physical examination performed as soon as you bring your little one home to ensure that your new pet is healthy.
Getting Ready for Your New Furry Family Member
Welcoming a new puppy or kitten into your family is a joyous occasion worth celebrating. Their playful antics and affectionate personalities quickly fill your home with love and happiness.
Caring for Your New Pet
Just like human babies, puppies and kittens need extra care and attention to support their growth and development. To set them up for a long, healthy life, they require more frequent veterinary visits than adult pets. These visits help ensure they’re developing properly and receive all necessary vaccinations.
If you’ve recently welcomed a new puppy or kitten, the first step is to schedule their initial vet visit. During this appointment, we’ll review recommended care and services, such as spaying or neutering, microchipping, and vaccinations, to keep your new family member healthy and happy.
Spay/Neuter Procedure
At Fox Creek Veterinary Hospital, our skilled veterinary surgeons are experienced in performing safe and effective spay and neuter procedures. We recommend scheduling these surgeries once your pet is fully vaccinated, at least six months old, and not intended for breeding.
Preventing unwanted litters saves you time and expense—and helps reduce the number of animals euthanized each year due to overcrowded shelters. Spaying or neutering your pet is not only responsible but also benefits the wider community.
Pets who undergo spay or neuter surgery often live longer, exhibit calmer behavior, and make better family companions. Additionally, the procedure provides numerous health and behavioral advantages, including:
Spay surgery in female pets helps prevent:
- Unplanned pregnancies
- Heat cycles
- Mammary gland and uterine problems, including infections and cancer
- Unwanted behaviors like urine marking and excessive vocalization
Neuter surgery in male pets helps prevent:
- Unplanned litters
- Prostate problems and testicular cancer
- Aggression
- Unwanted behaviors like urine marking and roaming tendencies
At Fox Creek Veterinary Hospital, every veterinary surgery is performed with the highest level of care and compassion, ensuring both you and your pet feel confident and supported throughout the process.
Pet Vaccinations
Routine vaccinations are a vital first line of defense against numerous potentially deadly diseases. Since their invention, vaccines have transformed medicine and saved millions of lives—both human and animal. Because of vaccines, many once-common fatal illnesses have become rare. Ensuring your pet receives the recommended core vaccinations is essential for protecting their health and preventing disease.
Core Vaccinations for Dogs
- Rabies
- DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvo)
- Bordetella (kennel cough)
- Leptospirosis
Non-Core Vaccines for Dogs
- Influenza
- Lyme
Core Vaccinations for Cats:
- Rabies
- FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia)
Non-Core Vaccines for Cats:
- Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
- Feline Leukemia (FeLV) Feline
- Herpesvirus
At Fox Creek Veterinary Hospital, we also offer Distemper/Parvo titer testing for dogs as an alternative to routine vaccination. Titer testing measures your pet’s existing immunity, helping determine whether a booster is truly needed. It’s important to understand that vaccines expose the immune system to a safe, controlled version of the threat—without causing illness—so the body is prepared to respond effectively in the event of real exposure. Our team follows strict safety protocols and takes every precaution to ensure your pet’s comfort and well-being during the vaccination process.
Pet Wellness Exams in Wildwood
A pet wellness exam is a complete evaluation of your pet’s overall health, giving our Wildwood veterinarians a clear picture of their current well-being. This head-to-tail assessment allows us to detect any early signs of illness and ensure your pet stays healthy and happy.
Key Aspects of a Wellness Examination:
- Assessing your pet’s weight and overall body condition
- Listening to the heart and lungs for any irregularities
- Examining the mouth, teeth, and gums for signs of dental disease
- Inspecting the eyes, ears, skin, and coat for abnormalities or irritation
- Gently checking the abdomen and lymph nodes for swelling or discomfort
- Evaluating the joints and muscles for signs of pain or stiffness
- Performing blood work or other diagnostic tests if needed