Wellness Care for Your Pet
As an accredited member of the American Animal Hospital Association, we earn our standing as leaders in the veterinary profession every day. It is our commitment to the highest standards of veterinary care that makes us unique and it is our way of demonstrating our commitment to providing your pet with the level of care he or she deserves.
As professionals who have dedicated our lives to the care of companion animals we understand that preventative care is the best means to protect your pet’s wellbeing while keeping the lifetime cost of care low. This includes appropriate vaccines, thorough wellness exams, dental care, nutritional counseling, microchip lost pet ID, flea and tick control, and more.
We also strongly believe that client education and communication are vital aspects of good preventative care. Our promise to you and the work of caring for your pet does not begin and end at our doors. It is continuous and requires empowering you with the information you need to provide the best and most compassionate care for your beloved pet.
However, despite the most aggressive preventative treatment, our pets may yet experience a periodic illness or injury. The skill, experience and extensive education of the doctors at Bethany Animal Hospital allow us to effectively diagnose and manage complex medical and surgical challenges beyond those typically handled in general veterinary practices.
Our level of expertise, capabilities and resources reduces the frequency of referrals to specialists and allows our clients to receive care for their pets from people they know, in a comfortable and familiar setting. However, there are those times when a specialist is required. In this event, Bethany Animal Hospital maintains close, collaborative working relationships with area specialists to ensure your pet receives prompt and appropriate care.
In all, we strive to provide the highest level of service to you and care to your pet in a warm, safe and inviting atmosphere. Please take a look at the services we offer and why we believe they are important for the care of your pet. Then feel free to give us a call at (815) 756-8926 to make an appointment.
Superior Client Care
Living up to our high standards for care and client service requires making the extra effort to be convenient and available to you. For this reason we have extended hours to 7:30 p.m. on most weekdays and only offer half-hour appointments. This means we are available when you have the time to bring your pet in and are willing to spend a little extra time during appointments with you and your pet.
For our Spanish speaking clients: Se Habla Espanol. Language should not be a barrier to the proper care of any animal.
Your Pet’s Wellness Exam
Has your pet had a recent nose-to-tail physical?
A comprehensive physical exam is as important for your pet as it is for you, which is why we recommend one each year, though more frequent exams are encouraged. In fact, since our pets can’t tell us how they feel, a wellness exam is even more important for developing an overall picture of your pet’s health as well as spotting potential medical issues before they become serious health concerns.
Routine wellness exams are also a great opportunity for you to ask any important questions you may have regarding your pet’s health habits and daily care. Your veterinarian will also use this time to inform you about home health care for your pet as well as to offer new information on the care of your particular type and breed of animal.
During your pet’s wellness exam, your veterinarian will:
Listen to your pet’s heart – Early signs of cardiac disease such as heart murmurs and abnormal heart beat patterns known as arrhythmias can be heard through a stethoscope. Discovering these initial indicators of trouble ahead can lead to identifying and treating the underlying condition before it becomes a more serious health threat.
Listen to your pet’s lungs – Health issues such as infections, obstructive diseases and other problems can be detected by listening to your pet’s lungs through a stethoscope. The doctor can also assess the overall pulmonary health of your pet.
Check your pet’s teeth and oral cavity – Examining your pet’s teeth and mouth is an important part of preventing dental disease, which is one of the most common health concerns in pets. Very young animals, such as kittens and puppies, also need to be checked to ensure they are developing an appropriate bite and that they are losing their baby teeth at the right time. We also take the time to discuss proper home dental care with you.
Evaluate your pet’s vision – All diseases follow relatively predictable processes and if found early can be more easily treated. Ocular conditions, which can also be prevented through regular care and screenings, are no exception.
Look into your pet’s ears – As with dental disease, ear disease is relatively common in many types of pets. Issues such as low-grade allergies, swimming or bathing, reactions to certain foods, mites and other parasites can all cause and contribute to otitis or ear disease. Though you may feel this is an area that can be well-handled at home, the fact is that many ear diseases are difficult to detect and require medical treatment.
Examine the lymph nodes, abdomen and skin – By feeling the skin, we are looking for unusual lumps or swellings as well as evaluating for skin discolorations, lesions or patterns of hair loss or thinning. These can indicate the presence of more systemic problems, especially metabolic diseases, which most commonly occur in middle-aged animals.
Examine joints and muscles – By examining the joints, legs and other areas of the body, we are able to evaluate for swollen joints, decreased muscle tone and variations in muscle size between the limbs. We also observe your pet's gait for developmental issues. In puppies, we look for early indications of hip or elbow problems. For older pets, we look for signs of arthritis, which can be treated better if found early.
Perform Lab work – A complete physical should include a heartworm test, parasite screening, and a full blood workup. Not only can a full chemistry panel and complete blood count identify the presence of underlying disease processes, but these tests help create a baseline should your pet become ill between routine examinations. Additionally, blood work is necessary if your veterinarian recommends a dental cleaning, removal of skin masses, or any other procedure that requires anesthesia.