9802 Herriot Ln, Peoria, IL 61615
Preventative Care That Keeps Your Pet Healthy for Life
Preventative care is the foundation of a long, healthy life for your pet. At Meadowbrook Veterinary Clinic, we take a multi faceted approach to wellness that starts with a thorough evaluation of your pet's overall health and their risk factors for disease.
Based on your pet's exam findings, our veterinarians build a customized plan that may include nutrition guidance, dental care, vaccinations, parasite prevention and microchipping. Every recommendation is tailored to your pet's age, breed, lifestyle and health history, so you get a prevention strategy that fits your pet, not a one size fits all checklist.
What a Preventative Care Visit Includes
Every preventative visit at our veterinary clinic in North Peoria is designed to catch small issues before they become big ones. A typical visit includes:
- A nose to tail physical exam, including heart, lungs, joints, skin and coat
- Weight check and body condition scoring
- Eye and ear examination
- Dental assessment
- Vaccination review and updates based on your pet's schedule
- Heartworm, flea and tick prevention screening and refills
- Parasite testing, including fecal exams when appropriate
- Nutrition and lifestyle counseling
- Behavioral counseling, if needed
- Microchip check or placement
Because every pet is different, our veterinarians may add or adjust services based on age, breed predispositions, travel plans or exposure to other animals.
Protect Your Pet With Routine Vaccinations
Vaccines work by triggering your pet's immune system to build protective antibodies against disease causing organisms, so their body is ready to fight off infections it may encounter later. This protection has a real impact. Widespread pet vaccination over the last century has prevented countless illnesses and deaths in dogs and cats.
Here are five reasons vaccinating your pet matters:
- Vaccines prevent many common and serious pet illnesses
- They help you avoid costly treatment for diseases that are preventable
- They protect against diseases that can spread between animals, and in some cases from animals to people
- They guard against diseases carried by wildlife, such as rabies and distemper
- Many local and state ordinances require certain vaccinations for household pets
Vaccination does not guarantee your pet will never get sick, but for most pets it is highly effective at preventing disease or reducing how severe symptoms become. Sticking to the vaccination schedule your veterinarian recommends helps close any gaps in protection.
Why Puppies and Kittens Need a Vaccine Series
Young puppies and kittens are especially vulnerable to infectious disease because their immune systems are still developing. They get some early protection from antibodies in their mother's milk, but that protection fades over time and can leave gaps before their own immune system takes over. Maternal antibodies can even interfere with how well a vaccine works, which is why a series of vaccines, rather than a single dose, gives the best long term protection.
The first vaccine in a series primes the immune system, and the following doses help build lasting antibody protection. Most puppies and kittens complete their vaccine series about every three to four weeks, finishing around four months of age, though our veterinarians may adjust this schedule based on your pet's individual risk factors.
Finishing the full series matters. An incomplete vaccine series can leave puppies and kittens vulnerable to infections the vaccine was meant to prevent.
Core vs. Non-Core Vaccines
Not every pet needs the exact same vaccines. Core vaccines are recommended for nearly all pets because they protect against serious diseases that pose a widespread risk.
For dogs, core vaccines include Rabies, DHPP (also called DAPP), and Leptospirosis. Non-core vaccines may be recommended based on your dog's lifestyle and exposure risk, including Bordetella (Kennel Cough), Canine Influenza, and Lyme disease.
For cats, core vaccines include Rabies and the FVRCP vaccine, which protects against Feline Herpesvirus, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. Depending on your cat's lifestyle, we may also recommend non-core vaccines such as Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).
During your visit, we'll discuss your pet's age, lifestyle, travel habits, outdoor activities, and contact with other animals to determine which vaccines are appropriate and create a vaccination schedule based on their individual risk factors.
Dental Care
Dental disease is one of the most common health problems we see in dogs and cats, and it can affect far more than just the teeth. Left untreated, oral bacteria can contribute to heart, liver and kidney issues. Our preventative visits include a full dental assessment so we can catch tartar buildup, gum disease and other concerns early, along with guidance on at home dental care between visits.
Eye Care
Just like dental health, your pet's eye health plays a major role in their quality of life. Our veterinarians are experienced in diagnosing and treating a wide range of eye conditions, and eye exams are a standard part of every routine check up at our North Peoria clinic.
If a condition requires specialized treatment, we will refer your pet to a trusted animal eye care specialist to make sure they get the best possible outcome.
Some of the most common eye conditions we see in dogs and cats include cataracts, glaucoma, dry eye and scratched corneas. Eyelid problems are also fairly common.
What to Look for During an At Home Eye Check
- Eyes should be bright and clear, with a white area around the eyeball and pupils equal in size
- Tearing, discharge or crust in the corners of the eyes may signal a problem
- The lining of the lower eyelid should be pink, not red or white
- There should be no cloudiness or change in eye color
- Bulging of the eye can indicate an underlying injury
- A visible third eyelid is worth mentioning to your veterinarian
If your pet's eyes water frequently, or they start pawing at their face as if irritated, it is time for a closer look. Eye injuries and chronic eye conditions are more common in pets than many owners realize.
Microchipping
Microchipping is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your pet if they ever become lost. A microchip is a small identification device, about the size of a grain of rice, that is placed just under your pet's skin in a quick, virtually painless procedure. Each chip carries a unique ID number linked to your contact information in a national pet recovery database.
Collars and tags can fall off or become unreadable over time, but a microchip provides permanent identification that stays with your pet for life. Our North Peoria veterinary team can place a microchip during any preventative visit and register it to your current contact details, giving you peace of mind that your pet can be identified and reunited with you if they ever wander off.
Parasite Prevention
Heartworm, fleas and ticks are a year round concern in Illinois, not just a seasonal one. As part of every preventative visit, our veterinarians will review your pet's current parasite prevention plan, test for heartworm when needed and recommend the right flea and tick protection based on your pet's lifestyle and exposure risk.
Schedule a Preventative Care Visit in North Peoria
Whether your pet is due for vaccinations, a dental check, a microchip or their annual wellness exam, the team at Meadowbrook Veterinary Clinic is here to help. Schedule a preventative care visit today and give your pet the foundation for a long, healthy life.
Compassionate Care and a
Warm Welcome for Every Pet
