Wellness & Prevention
Wellness & prevention
in Blakehurst
Regular health checks, vaccinations, parasite prevention and practical nutrition advice to help keep your pet healthy through every stage of life.
Preventative Pet Care
Healthy pets,
year after year
Preventative care is about keeping an eye on your pet’s health before something becomes an obvious problem.
For most healthy adult dogs and cats, we recommend a veterinary health check at least once a year. These visits give us an opportunity to examine your pet thoroughly, monitor changes in their weight and overall health, review vaccinations and parasite protection, and talk about anything you have noticed at home.
Puppies, kittens, senior pets and animals with ongoing health conditions may need more frequent visits. The right schedule depends on the individual pet rather than simply their age.
If you would like to know more about routine checks, read our guide to how often your pet should have a health check.
Routine care
What preventative care
includes
Preventative care is not one appointment or one treatment. It changes as your pet grows, ages and their lifestyle changes.
Annual health checks
A thorough physical examination gives us a chance to monitor your pet over time and identify changes that may not yet be obvious at home.
Vaccinations
We review your pet’s age, vaccination history, health and lifestyle before recommending what is actually due. Dogs are commonly protected with C5 vaccination and cats with F3 vaccination.
Read our puppy vaccination guide.
Flea, tick and worm prevention
There is no single parasite programme that suits every pet. We consider whether you have a dog or cat, their lifestyle, where they spend their time and what their current products actually cover.
Cat owners may find our guide to parasite protection for indoor cats useful.
Nutrition and weight
Weight, body condition, diet and feeding can all be discussed during routine visits. We can help you adjust your pet’s nutrition as their age, activity level or health needs change.
Dental health
Your pet’s teeth and gums are checked as part of routine care. If we identify dental disease or your pet needs professional treatment, you can learn more about our dental care services.
Care through every life stage
A puppy or kitten has very different preventative health needs from a senior pet. We adjust the frequency and focus of care as your pet grows older.
Learn more about puppy & kitten care or senior pet care.
Our wellness care
Preventative care at
Blakehurst Vet
A wellness visit is more than checking whether a vaccination is due.
Your veterinarian will examine your pet and consider their age, medical history, lifestyle and any changes you have noticed at home. Depending on the individual pet, we may assess their weight and body condition, eyes, ears, teeth and gums, heart and lungs, skin and coat, joints and mobility, abdomen and any new lumps or changes.
It is also a good opportunity to review vaccinations, parasite protection, nutrition and any everyday concerns you have about your pet. If you have noticed changes in behaviour, we can also help work out whether health, environment or other factors may be contributing.
Because we see many of our patients throughout their lives, regular visits also help us understand what is normal for your individual pet and recognise when something has changed.
For new puppies and kittens, preventative care begins with early health checks, vaccinations, parasite protection, nutrition and development. Our puppy & kitten care service covers those important first months, and eligible puppies can also attend our free Puppy Play sessions.
As pets get older, their needs change again. Many senior pets benefit from more frequent checks and screening, which is covered in detail on our senior pet care page.
Pet health guides
Helpful reading for
keeping pets well
How Often Should My Pet Have a Health Check?
What Vaccinations Does My Puppy Need And When?
Does My Indoor Cat Still Need Flea, Tick and Worming Protection?
Cat and Dog Health Guide: What Every Pet Owner in the Sutherland Shire Should Know
The Blakehurst Guide to Preventative Pet Care
Early Puppy Socialisation: Give Your Pup the Best Start
Questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Can’t find what you need? Call us on 02 9547 2750
How often should my pet have a health check?
We recommend an annual health check for all pets as a minimum. For older pets — generally dogs and cats over seven years — we recommend six-monthly checks, as health can change quickly as pets age and early detection makes a significant difference to outcomes. Annual visits also keep vaccinations up to date and give us a chance to pick up on subtle changes that might not be obvious at home. If you’re unsure when your pet is due, give us a call on (02) 9547 2750.
Does my pet need a health check if they seem healthy?
Yes. Regular health checks are useful even when your pet appears perfectly well. They allow us to monitor changes over time, assess their general health and pick up on subtle problems that may not yet be obvious at home.
A routine visit is also a good opportunity to review vaccinations, parasite prevention, weight, nutrition and any small changes you may have noticed.
What happens during a wellness check?
Your vet will examine your pet and ask about their general health, diet, behaviour and anything you have noticed at home.
Depending on your pet’s age and individual needs, the examination may include their eyes, ears, teeth and gums, heart and lungs, skin and coat, weight and body condition, abdomen, joints and mobility. We can also review vaccinations, parasite protection and nutrition at the same visit. Your existing health-check information supports that broader examination approach
What vaccinations does my dog or cat need?
The vaccinations your pet needs depend on their age, previous vaccination history and lifestyle.
Dogs are commonly protected with a C5 vaccination, while cats are commonly protected with an F3 vaccination. Puppies and kittens need an initial course of vaccinations, followed by boosters as they grow.
At your pet’s health check, we’ll review their vaccination history and let you know what is due rather than giving vaccinations unnecessarily.
You can read more about vaccinations and other preventative care in our Cat and Dog Health Guide for Sutherland Shire Pet Owners.
What flea, tick and worming protection does my pet need?
There isn’t one parasite prevention programme that suits every pet. The right protection depends on whether you have a dog or cat, their age, lifestyle, where they spend their time and their individual risk.
Fleas, intestinal worms and paralysis ticks can all be relevant to pets living in Sydney, so it’s important to know exactly what your current product covers.
If you’re unsure, bring the product or even a photo of the packaging to your appointment and we can check it for you.
For cat owners, our guide Does My Indoor Cat Still Need Flea, Tick and Worming Protection? explains why even indoor cats may still need some protection.
Does preventative care change as my pet gets older?
Yes. Your pet’s preventative care needs change throughout their life.
Puppies and kittens need more frequent visits while they are growing and completing their early vaccination programme. Healthy adult pets should have regular health checks, while senior pets often benefit from more frequent examinations and screening.
As your pet gets older, we may pay closer attention to things such as weight and muscle condition, mobility, dental health, blood pressure and other changes that can develop gradually. The appropriate schedule depends on your pet’s age, medical history and individual health needs.
Keep their routine care on track
If your pet is due for a health check or vaccination, or you would like advice about parasite prevention, nutrition or another aspect of their routine care, book an appointment with Blakehurst Vet.