Life Stage Care

At Animal Care Clinic West & Metro Cat Hospital, we follow your pet through the many phases of their lives. From specialized and preventative care during their younger years to regular wellness checks as they age in order to prevent and detect problems before they arise. We know your pet is important to you, that's why we work hard to ensure they are given only the best in care through all the years of their lives. Read below for more information on life stage care for your pet.

Puppy & Kitten Care

Newly adopted puppies and kittens should visit Animal Care Clinic West & Metro Cat Hospital in West Des Moines for a complete physical examination as soon as possible. The first step is to screen for fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites or any other health problems to ensure that your new family member is healthy and that disease is not transmitted to other animals or humans in your household. Puppies and kittens are especially vulnerable to parasitic infections that can threaten their health. Proper screening and preventive products can help protect them against intestinal worms, fleas and heartworm disease.

Juvenile pets also have immature immune systems which makes it difficult to fight off disease. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, vaccinations are the most effective preventive measure you can take for the health of your pet.

A visit to your veterinarian is imperative if you notice any of the following:

Unexplained weight loss
Excessive drinking and/or urination
Loss of appetite or lethargy
Behavior changes
Diarrhea or vomiting
Skin lumps, bumps or irritation
Bad breath, plaque on teeth or bleeding gums
Ear odors, redness, scratching or head shaking
Trouble urinating or defecating

Important Animal Vaccines

Some of the most important vaccines for your young pet include:

Dogs

Rabies
Canine Distemper
Canine Parvovirus
Canine Bordetella

Cats

Feline Distemper
Feline Rhinotracheitis/Feline Calicivirus
Feline Leukemia Virus
Rabies

Additional vaccines may be necessary based on lifestyle (indoor or outdoor pet) and regional considerations. Finally, puppies and kittens are in a high growth stage therefore they require specially formulated food to meet their nutritional needs. Talk to your veterinarian at Animal Care Clinic West & Metro Cat Hospital about the best food for your pet.

Request an appointment to vaccinate your puppy or kitten

Adult Pet Care

We recommend all pets be examined twice a year in order to prevent/detect medical problems. Pets age faster than we do and as a result, health problems can progress much more rapidly. Regular wellness examinations will confirm that your pet is healthy or help catch problems before they can become more serious. Your pet's semi-annual veterinary visit will include some, if not all of the following: a health consultation, blood work, a physical examination, pain assessment, nutritional counseling, vaccinations if necessary, an intestinal parasite screening and a recommendation for an on-going wellness routine.

Diet and nutrition are also important to maintaining your pet's health. Feeding your pet a specially formulated diet to meet the needs of adulthood helps encourage a long and healthy life. Please feel free to consult your veterinarian to help you find the right food to fit with your pet's lifestyle, body condition and health needs.

We will assess your pet’s comfort level and address any concerns about pain. Even younger cats and dogs can experience chronic pain due to joint disease (osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, cruciate (ACL) disease) and dental disease.

Request a Semi-Annual Wellness Exam

Senior Pet Care

Thanks to the advancements in veterinary medicine, pets are living longer than ever. However with this increased lifespan comes an increase in the variety of conditions and diseases that they are susceptible to including osteoarthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease, cancer and diabetes. And because pets age faster than we do, health problems can progress much more rapidly. We pay special attention to your senior pet's comfort level and address any concerns about pain.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, scheduling regular veterinary examinations is one of the most important steps pet owners can take to keep their pets healthy. AAHA recommends that healthy senior dogs and cats (age 7+) visit the veterinarian every six months for a complete exam and laboratory testing.