Scheduling regular wellness exams is one of the best, if not the best, thing you can do for your pet. Unlike humans, pets can’t tell us how they are feeling. This means it’s up to us to make sure they are as healthy as possible! At Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital, our veterinarians are highly trained to perform the most comprehensive nose-to-tail examinations. This gives us the opportunity to detect any abnormalities or unforeseen conditions.
Annual or semi-annual visits are preventive and recommended for all pets. Your pet’s veterinarian will make a recommendation for your pet based on your pet’s age and health status.
Vaccines protect pets from life-threatening conditions. At Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital, we follow AAHA and AAFP guidelines for vaccination of dogs and cats. We provide core vaccines that are recommended for all pets, and non-core vaccines that are recommended for some pets based on age, lifestyle, and risk of exposure. Your pet’s veterinarian will discuss which non-core vaccines are beneficial to your pet’s complete wellness.
We are here to keep your pet healthy and protected. Fleas, ticks, heartworms, and other parasites put your pet at grave risk for serious, harmful conditions. Some of these pests and conditions are transmissible to you and your family, too! Our veterinarians will recommend a beneficial preventive program for your pet based on lifestyle and risk factors. Be prepared to discuss parasite control at your pet’s wellness visit!
Fleas can cause minor to life-threatening conditions in your pet, ranging from severe itching, irritation, and allergies to disease and tapeworms. Dogs, cats, and pocket pets are at-risk, so be sure to keep your pet on monthly preventives year round. This will protect you and your family as well.
Give us a call if you need assistance controlling or eliminating fleas on your pet or in your home.
Ticks are pesky parasites that can lead to serious, deadly diseases such as tick paralysis, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis. Regular prevention is a safe and effective way to control ticks and the conditions they carry. This is true for indoor pets, too! Let us know right away if you notice your pet develops a cough, joint point, difficulty breathing, weakness, fever, or has a lessened appetite, weight, energy, or coordination.
If you find a tick on your pet, don’t panic! Certain preventives actually kill ticks after they’ve come in contact with your pet. As an added measure of protection, we recommend checking your pet for ticks during regular grooming and when they come inside.
Mosquitos transit heartworm infection, which is deadly and difficult to treat. Heartworms cause irreversible damage to the blood vessels, heart, and lungs. Prevention is critical as symptoms often do not appear until disease progression is severe.
In dogs, symptoms of heartworm disease include coughing, weight loss, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and a swollen abdomen. If left untreated, heartworms can also cause liver failure, which is usually fatal if surgical intervention does not occur right away.
Cats are less susceptible, however, infection is still possible and diagnosis is more difficult. In fact, as little as two adult heartworms can wreak havoc on your cat’s health! Heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD) is a syndrome that presents symptoms similar to asthma or allergic bronchitis, such as coughing, wheezing, panting, vomiting, loss of appetite and weight, and rapid or difficult breathing.
Treating heartworm disease is lengthy, costly, and painful for your pet. That’s why we always recommend year round prevention to keep your pet safe. A majority of heartworm preventives also control other parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, ear mites, fleas, and ticks.
Losing a pet is an unnerving experience for a pet owner, and just imagine how scared a lost pet is. That’s why the medical team at Oakhurst Veterinary Hospital recommends all pets be microchipped. Collars and ID tags are also encouraged. The more identification, the better!
Microchip identification is for a lifetime. Implantation is simple and painless. Your pet won’t feel a thing! A tiny microchip is gently implanted beneath the skin and between the shoulder blades similar to a routine vaccination. Once your pet is microchipped, be sure to register your current contact information. If you ever move or change phone numbers, make note to update your pet’s microchip too!
Located directly East of Oakhurst Bay and Crossing at the Narrows on the corner of Park Blvd N and Oakhurst Rd.
Phone: 727-391-9784
Kennel Phone: 727-397-8844 Grooming Hours: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday: 7:30am-5:00pm Boarding Hours: Monday-Friday: 7:30am-5:30pm Saturday: 7:30am-5pm Sunday: 3pm-4pm (pick-ups only) Daycare Hours: Monday-Friday: 7:30am-5:30pm Saturday & Sunday: Closed
