Regular preventative care is essential to promoting the long-term health and well-being of your pet. At The Drake Center, we recommend:
  • Annual fecal exam for screening of intestinal parasites
Many intestinal parasites can be detected with a microscopic examination of a small stool sample. An annual fecal exam allows for rapid diagnosis and treatment if parasites are present. Most dogs with parasites have normal stool.
  • Annual heartworm infection testing
Heartworms are parasites that live in a dog’s heart or pulmonary arteries. An annual blood test is recommended to ensure your pet is not infected. The tick-borne disease screening is recommended in our area. The three diseases tested for are Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma. These are combined into one simple blood test for your pet.
  • Annual Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine
This intra-nasal vaccine should be administered to puppies and boostered regularly in adult dogs. The vaccine may need to be given every six months for dogs that frequent boarding or daycare facilities.
  • Annual Leptospirosis vaccine
Annual boosters of the Leptospirosis vaccine will keep your dog immune to this re-emerging disease. Leptospirosis is transmitted by wildlife, including rats, and causes kidney infections which can be fatal to dogs and humans. It’s recommended in dogs with large play groups or boarding as well since it can be passed from asymptomatic dogs through urine.
  • Distemper vaccine every three years
This vaccine should initially be administered in a series to puppies and again at one year of age. Revaccination should occur every three years. Distemper is an often fatal virus that causes vomiting/diarrhea, pneumonia, and seizures
  • Parvovirus vaccine every three years
The canine parvovirus vaccine should initially be administered in a series to puppies and again at one year of age. Revaccination should occur every three years. Parvo is a severe and often fatal intestinal virus without treatment and even sometimes fatal with treatment
  • Rabies vaccine every three years
This vaccination is required by law in California for all dogs. The first vaccine should be given by 16 weeks of age, and then again 1 year later. Revaccination should then occur every three years
  • Regular blood work and urine screening tests
We recommend one blood panel and urine screening test on each pet before six months of age and then every one to two years as needed. We recommend annual labs for all dogs over eight years of age.
  • Monthly flea and internal parasite control
We recommend Sentinel for life. This will protect your dog against intestinal parasites and heartworms, and also acts as a flea birth control. Adulticide flea control may be added as needed. Tick control should also be used for pets that frequent hiking trails or other wooded areas.
  • Regular home dental care
Daily brushing is recommended for the health and maintenance of your dog’s teeth. In addition, a thorough COHAT dental cleaning is recommended for most pets by three to four years of age.