Canine Wellness & Preventive Care

Canine Wellness & Preventive Care — Long Island, NY

West Hills Animal Hospital & Emergency Center | 800 W. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 11743 | Diagnostics available 24/7 | (631) 351-6116

The best veterinary care is the kind that prevents emergencies from happening in the first place. At West Hills Animal Hospital, our canine wellness program is built around a simple philosophy: we know your dog better than any veterinarian ever could in a single visit. We track changes over time, catch subtle warning signs early, and build a relationship with your pet that makes every exam more accurate and every treatment more effective.

Preventive care is not just maintenance. It is the single most powerful investment you can make in your dog’s long-term health, happiness, and the number of years you spend together.

What Happens During a Canine Wellness Visit

A wellness visit at West Hills is not a quick once-over. It is a comprehensive health assessment designed to give us a complete picture of your dog — physically, nutritionally, and behaviorally. Our veterinarians take time with every patient, and every finding is documented in your dog’s permanent medical record.

Full Physical Examination

Weight, body condition score, and growth tracking
Skin and coat health — texture, hydration, lesions
Eyes, ears, nose, and oral cavity
Heart and lung auscultation
Abdominal palpation
Joint mobility, muscle mass, and posture
Lymph node assessment

Lifestyle and History Review

Vaccinations and Parasite Prevention

No two dogs have the same lifestyle or risk profile. Our vaccination and parasite prevention programs are individualized — built around your dog’s age, health history, and how they live.

✓ When to Schedule

Puppies

Every 3-4 weeks during the developmental series (8-16 weeks).

Adult dogs

Twice annual wellness exam minimum.

Senior dogs (7+)

Twice annual wellness exam minimum, with expanded bloodwork panel.

✓ Parasite Prevention

Heartworm testing

Annual blood test, essential for all Long Island dogs.

Flea and tick prevention

Year-round prevention critical on Long Island.

Intestinal parasite screening

Fecal testing for roundworm, hookworm, giardia, and more.

✓ Vaccinations

Rabies
Required by law, protects against fatal neurological disease.
Distemper
Combination vaccine (DHPP) covering distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza.
Parvovirus
Highly contagious and potentially fatal — especially in puppies.
Adenovirus (Hepatitis)
Covered within the DHPP combination.
Bordetella
Recommended for dogs with kennel exposure or grooming visits.
Lyme disease
Essential for Long Island dogs given tick prevalence in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Leptospirosis
Recommended for dogs with outdoor or water exposure.
Canine Influenza
Canine influenza vaccination helps reduce the risk of severe coughing, fever, pneumonia, and widespread outbreaks among dogs.

Early Detection — Catching Problems Before They Become Emergencies

Many of the most serious diseases in dogs — kidney disease, diabetes, thyroid disorders, and cancer — show no obvious symptoms in early stages. By the time a dog seems sick, the condition is often already advanced. Routine wellness visits with in-house diagnostics allow us to detect these diseases before your dog feels them.

Complete bloodwork: evaluates organ function, red and white cell counts, clotting & Glucose
Urinalysis: early indicator of kidney disease, diabetes, and urinary tract infections
Thyroid screening: especially important for senior dogs and certain breeds
Chest and abdominal X-rays: when indicated by physical exam findings
Cardiac screening: murmur detection and echocardiography referral when needed

Senior Dog Wellness — When It Matters Most

Dogs age faster than people. A year in a dog’s life can bring meaningful health changes — especially after age 7. Our senior wellness program is designed to catch those changes early and keep your older dog comfortable, mobile, and happy for as many years as possible.

Twice-yearly exams (every 6 months)
Expanded bloodwork panel including organ function markers
Pain and mobility assessment — arthritis, joint degeneration
Cognitive function evaluation
Dental health review — gum disease accelerates systemic disease
Nutritional adjustments for senior metabolism
Blood pressure monitoring

FAQs — Dog Wellness Visits

How often should my dog have a wellness exam?

Adult dogs should be seen at least twice annually. Senior dogs (7+ years) benefit significantly from twice-yearly visits due to the faster rate of age-related change. Puppies need more frequent visits during their vaccine series.

My dog seems perfectly healthy — do we still need an annual exam?

Yes — and this is exactly why. Many serious conditions show no outward symptoms in early stages. A healthy-seeming dog can have early kidney disease, a heart murmur, or a developing mass that a trained veterinarian will detect during a thorough physical exam.

What is the difference between a wellness visit and an emergency visit?

A wellness visit is scheduled, preventive care — exams, vaccines, parasite prevention, and screening. An emergency visit is for urgent or life-threatening conditions that require immediate attention. Both are available at West Hills, and your wellness records are always available to our emergency team if needed.

Your Pet Deserves the Best. We Are Ready Right Now.

800 W. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 11743 | Open 24/7, 365 days a year | (631) 351-6116