Pets often do an excellent job of masking illness and pain until their problems are very advanced. Regular veterinary visits can help to unmask and address these problems. We recommend physical exams be performed every 6-12 months, depending upon your pet’s health and age.

Routine screening of organ function can be accomplished with simple blood and urine tests.

Blood pressure monitoring should be performed yearly. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can affect your pet’s health greatly and cannot be identified without testing. Our blood pressure monitoring equipment is designed specifically for use in animals and will give us an accurate picture of any issues that need to be addressed.

When you come in for a visit at McHale Animal Hospital, please bring a stool sample along when your pet has a physical exam. The stool sample will be sent to a reference laboratory to obtain the most accurate results available. This test screens for common intestinal parasites that can affect your pet’s health. Many of the parasites in our area also have the potential to be passed on to other pets and people in the household. 

Vaccinations are an important tool in preventing both infection and transmission of disease. We will discuss your pet’s lifestyle and help you to determine which vaccinations are appropriate for your individual pet.