Pet Preventive Care

Pediatric Care

Good preventative health care starts out on the right foot! Puppies and kittens should start having wellness visits between 6-8 weeks of age and should occur every 3 weeks until they are 4 months old. The veterinarian will perform all necessary vaccinations, deworming, and any appropriate diagnostic tests during the visit. We tailor our vaccine recommendations based on lifestyle, breed, and suggested medical guidelines. We will discuss training, nutrition, heartworm and flea prevention, and how to integrate your new pet into the family.

We know appropriate socialization is important! We also offer puppy socials every three to four months to further assist in this endeavor.

Healthy Adult Care

Regular examinations are our chance to assess your pet’s overall health and discuss any questions or concerns you may have. Most adult pets will see us yearly for a comprehensive physical exam, vaccinations, and heartworm and intestinal parasite screening. We will also discuss any additional recommended preventative screenings based on your pet’s breed and lifestyle.

Senior Care

At Harbor Point, we team with you to provide the best care for your pets as they age. We will help guide you to keep your pet happy and comfortable during the aging process.

As pets age, they may need to be seen more frequently. Symptoms of disease or a chronic condition may not be readily apparent. In some cases, conditions that may look like the usual signs of old age may be indications of a more serious condition. At Harbor Point, we recommend a comprehensive physical examination every six months.

You have an important role to play as your pet’s primary caregiver. Even though you can’t control age-related decline, you can impact your pet’s activity level, daily nutrition, environment, and access to quality veterinary care. With help from the Harbor Point Team, you can manage these factors to prolong your pet’s good health, even if their pace slows down a bit.

Heartworm Disease Prevention

Heartworm disease is a serious, life-threatening condition that affects both dogs and cats. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. Because of the large mosquito population in the Southeast, heartworm disease is very prevalent inNorth Carolina.

Clinical symptoms of Heartworm disease develop slowly and may not be noticeable until advanced stages of the disease. Pets with heartworm disease may have a lack of energy, exercise intolerance, coughing, and difficulty breathing.

The good news is that heartworm disease is easily prevented with a monthly oral or topical treatment. We recommend that all pets be on monthly heartworm prevention and be tested annually. Talk with us about the medication that is best suited for your pet.

Flea and Tick Prevention

In North Carolina, fleas are a year-round problem for pets and their owners. They are not just a nuisance; they carry diseases that can be dangerous to you and your pet. For example, fleas can transmit tapeworms, and often you can see segments of the tapeworm in your pet’s stool. Your pet can also be allergic to fleas, and just one flea bite can cause an intense allergic reaction, resulting in a severely painful skin infection.

Ticks are not a problem for every pet, but they can carry a variety of serious illnesses, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Talk to a member of our medical team about which flea and tick prevention products are right for your pet.