PREVENTATIVE CARE

From fleas and ticks to bloodwork and surgeries, we educate each pet parent on what we can do to keep their pet happy and healthy! As a general practice, our priority is to prevent illnesses and ensure a long, fulfilled life. This is done through educating our clients about all forms of prevention, including preventatives against fleas, ticks, and heartworms, dental care, vaccines, x-rays, and more! We curate each pets plan based off their individual way of life, and change it as needed from the time they are a baby, to when they are a senior!

Vaccines

Vaccinations are a main priority at Chittenden Veterinary Clinic. Yearly vaccinations are the main prevention method against various diseases and infections that are prevalent all around Ohio and across the US, some of which are zoonotic, which means they can be passed from pet to human! For pets getting vaccines for the first time, or the first time in a few years, the best way to guarantee the highest level of prevention is to get the vaccines boostered 3-4 weeks after the initial vaccines, then once a year after that.

Parasite Prevention

The parasites that can affect your pets range from worms in the digestive tract or the heart, to fleas, ticks, and mosquitos which can carry diseases. We have a variety of prevention options, both in clinic and our online pharmacy. Here in Ohio, we recommend prevention year-round, as we are seeing an increase in parasite infections, and parasite-related diseases even in the winter months. Check out our educational page on parasites and prevention under the 'Services' tab for more information!

Labwork

Labwork is one of our very first stepping-stones to diagnosing your pets illness. We can test urine, fecal samples, skin samples, blood samples, and organ tissue to gain insight on how your pets body is working and what could be affecting them. We also utilize bloodwork as a prevention measure to make sure your pets internal systems are working as they should, see how their organs functionality changes with age, and catch illnesses early  before they even present symptoms.

Dentistry

Dental cleanings are an important preventative procedure that we offer! Getting your pets teeth cleaned and using teeth cleaning products helps prevent infection in your pets mouth, which can spread in their bodies if left untreated. We offer cleaning products you can use at home that prevent tartar buildup, and we offer dental cleaning procedures to get your pets teeth back to a sparkling white so they can show off their smiles! Every dental procedure we perform includes X-rays of the tooth roots to help us catch fractures, infections, or decay that we cannot see above the gumline.

Imaging

Digital Radiography and Ultrasound play a vial role in catching life-threatening ailments and in answering questions about the symptoms your pet presents with. From asthma, to cancerous masses, to bowel obstructions, X-rays and Ultrasound give us a look inside your pets body to see what may be hiding. We utilize these tools to get the answers we need to treat the symptoms impacting your pets day to day life.

Spays and Neuters

We perform over 150 spays and neuters a year at our clinic! We believe spaying and neutering pets is an important prevention measure, as it reduces the risk of certain cancers, prevents accidental litters, and reduces the risk of an accident happening to an escaped pet in heat or in search of a heat. Spaying and neutering your pet also reduces the amount of stray pets and pets that end up in shelters.

Other Services

Other services include: allergy testing, DNA testing, behavior consulting, and referral to specialist for complicated cases.  Dr. Cunningham also does both domestic and international health certificates for traveling with your pet.