Adult Wellness Care for Dogs & Cats in Lenexa, KS
Regular wellness care keeps your adult pet healthy and helps catch problems early, when they are easiest to treat. At Mariposa Veterinary Wellness Center in Lenexa, KS, our adult wellness exams include a thorough physical exam, pain assessment, nutrition guidance, customized vaccines or titers and parasite screening tailored to your dog or cat.
Why Annual Wellness Exams Matter
We recommend wellness exams every year for young adult dogs and cats to prevent and detect medical problems, and semi-annual exams for pets seven years of age and older. Pets age faster than we do, so health problems can progress much more rapidly. Regular wellness exams confirm that your pet is healthy or help us catch problems before they become serious.
What Your Pet’s Wellness Visit Includes
Your pet’s visit may include some or all of the following:
- A health consultation to discuss changes in behavior, appetite or activity
- A complete physical examination
- A pain assessment
- Blood work when appropriate
- Nutritional counseling
- Vaccinations or titers if needed
- Intestinal parasite screening and heartworm testing
- An oral exam and dental care recommendations
- A personalized ongoing wellness plan
Our Approach to Nutrition
Quality nutrition is a key component of wellness, and feeding a quality food means different things to different people. Some veterinarians recommend processed kibble such as Science Diet. We take a different approach. Many conventional veterinarians may disagree with some of our views, but we have seen the long-term benefits of grain-free and even raw diets. Most importantly, every pet is an individual, and no single food is right for every dog or cat. Our veterinarians will help you explore the best options for your pet and, if needed, address weight concerns or food allergies.
What Vaccines Do We Use?
Pet owners sometimes want to know exactly which vaccines we use. All of our vaccines are thimerosal-free, and we follow AAHA and AAFP guidelines for vaccination protocols, including injection location.
Distemper Vaccines for Dogs
- DAPP: A modified live vaccine made by Nobivac (Merck Animal Health) protecting against Distemper, Adenovirus Type 2, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza. Once the puppy series is completed, we recommend a booster at 1 year, or we can perform a vaccine titer if preferred.
- Distemper-Parvo: A simpler modified live Nobivac vaccine without Adenovirus or Parainfluenza, preferred by owners who follow the Dr. Jean Dodds vaccination protocol.
Rabies Vaccines
- Imrab 1: A 1-year rabies vaccine primarily used for a puppy’s first rabies shot.
- Imrab 3: A 3-year rabies vaccine for dogs and cats, though we prefer Purevax for cats when possible. Imrab 3 is also used for ferrets, where it is licensed for 1 year.
- Purevax Rabies 1-year (cats only): Used for a kitten’s first rabies shot.
- Purevax Rabies 3-year (cats only): Our preferred feline rabies vaccine. It is one of the more expensive cat vaccines due to its licensing process, but we believe it is the best and safest option. Call us for pricing or more information.
Feline Vaccines
- FVRCP: Purevax Feline 3 RCP, a non-adjuvanted modified live vaccine. After the kitten series, we recommend an FVRCP vaccine one year later, with further vaccination determined case by case. We also routinely perform vaccine titers for cats.
- FeLV: Purevax FeLV for feline leukemia when it is in the cat’s best interest, such as for outdoor cats.
Beyond the Basics
Adult wellness care is also the time to address early signs of arthritis, ear problems or dental disease. Integrative options like acupuncture and herbal medicine are available when needed. As your pet ages, we will transition to senior wellness care. See all of our life stage care options.
Adult Wellness Care FAQs
How often should my adult pet have a wellness exam?
We recommend yearly wellness exams for young adult dogs and cats and exams every six months for pets seven years and older.
Does my adult dog need yearly vaccines?
Not necessarily. After the puppy series and 1-year booster, we tailor vaccines to your dog’s risk and can perform titer testing to check immunity.
What is a vaccine titer?
A titer is a blood test that measures antibody levels to see whether your pet is still protected against certain diseases.
What food do you recommend for adult pets?
Every pet is an individual. We have seen benefits from grain-free and raw diets in many pets, and we help each owner choose the best diet for their pet’s needs.
Are your vaccines safe?
We use thimerosal-free vaccines, prefer non-adjuvanted vaccines for cats and follow AAHA and AAFP guidelines to keep vaccination as safe as possible.
Do adult cats need wellness exams if they stay indoors?
Yes. Indoor cats can still develop dental disease, weight problems, kidney disease and other conditions that are best caught early.
Schedule Your Pet’s Annual Wellness Exam
Keep your adult dog or cat healthy and happy. Call (913) 825-3330 or request an appointment with Mariposa Veterinary Wellness Center.