Preventive care for adult dogs and cats

At Banfield, we’re all about preventive care — but what does that really mean? Preventive care is essentially medical attention that helps prevent health problems. Instead of waiting for pets to get sick and then providing care (which can worsen illness and increase costs), it’s about supporting health and monitoring for signs of potential problems before they happen.

We’ll talk about what preventive care for an adult dog or cat looks like, along with how our Optimum Wellness Plans can help.

What preventive care should my adult dog or cat receive?

Comprehensive exams
Adult dogs and cats should be seen by the vet at least twice a year for a comprehensive exam. And when we say “comprehensive,” we really mean it! These typically include ear, eye, and oral exams; neurological, cardiovascular, urogenital, musculoskeletal, pulmonary/lung, and abdominal evaluations; weight and nutrition advice; and a coat and skin check.

Diagnostic testing
Diagnostic testing is also essential to preventive care because it gives us a better picture as to what’s going on inside your pet’s body. Here’s what we recommend (and how often) for adult dogs and cats, but keep in mind that certain problems or chronic conditions might require additional or more frequent testing.

Recommended testing for adult dogs:

• Fecal testing for parasites: two times a year
• Tick-borne disease: annually
• Heartworm: annually
• Complete blood count: annually
• Chemistry panel: annually
• Urinalysis: annually

Recommended testing for adult cats:

• Fecal testing for parasites: two times a year 
• Complete blood count: annually
• Serum biochemistry panel: annually
• Urinalysis: annually
• Blood pressure: annually

Vaccinations
At Banfield, we offer all routinely recommended vaccinations, including: rabies, DAPP (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza), Bordetella, leptospirosis, feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia (feline distemper), and feline leukemia (FeLV). These vaccines help your dog or cat fight off preventable diseases and are important throughout all stages of their lives.

Parasite control
Parasites like fleas and ticks love dogs and cats, which means it’s all the more important for your pet to be on yearly parasite prevention. These nasty parasites can transfer potentially life-threatening diseases such as heartworm and Lyme disease. Keeping your pet on continuous parasite prevention can help protect them from contracting these preventable diseases.

Does my adult dog or cat need vaccinations or parasite control?

The answer is yes! Vaccinations and parasite control are an important part of preventive veterinary care since it’s challenging to prevent disease in creatures that like to explore everything on the ground with their nose and tongue. Even if your dog or cat are primarily indoor pets, it’s still important to keep them up to date with their vaccinations and parasite prevention.

Is dental care an important part of preventive care?

Did you know that most dogs and cats have some degree of dental disease before age 3? Yikes! That’s why performing regular oral care at home and scheduling a dental cleaning at your pet’s veterinary hospital is super important.

For a step-by-step overview of how pet dental cleanings can help prevent disease, tooth loss, and infection, watch our video on professional dental cleanings.

For more info on why early preventive dental care matters, check out this blog.

What preventive care does my senior dog or cat need?

In addition to many of the services listed above, our senior sweeties sometimes need a little extra TLC.

Recommendations for senior dogs include:

• Fecal testing for parasites: Every 6 months
• SNAP test for heartworm and common tick-borne diseases: Annually
• Complete blood count: Every 6 months
• Chemistry panel: Every 6 months
• Urinalysis: Every 6 months
• Blood pressure: Every 6 months

Recommendations for senior cats include:

• Complete blood count: Every 6 months
• Serum biochemistry panel: Every 6 months
• Urinalysis: Every 6 months
• Blood pressure: Every 6 months

Weight gain is not uncommon for older pets since sometimes it’s harder for them to move around due to conditions like osteoarthritis. Your veterinarian may put your pet on a therapeutic diet with antioxidants and essential fatty acids, or recommend regular exercise, physical therapy, or prescription medication for pain relief if they’re experiencing OA.

How can Banfield help my dog or cat with preventive care?

We’re all about preventive care at Banfield! We are here to support your dog or cat with all of their preventive care needs, whether that’s a diagnostic test, a vaccination, or parasite control.

A great way to get your pet on the path to preventive care is through our Optimum Wellness Plans — smart, budget-friendly packages of preventive care services. Each one is designed to deliver routinely recommended comprehensive exams, vaccines, and more. For an overview of how Optimum Wellness Plans work, watch this helpful video.

Our baseline package for adult dogs is called Active Care. Here’s everything that’s included:

Unlimited office visits 

Office visit fees are included in your pet’s package.

Two virtual visits

Perfect for rechecks and follow-ups with your vet from the comfort of your home.

24/7 medical advice with Pet Chat™

Get petcare advice from a veterinary professional — whether it’s 3 a.m. or 3 p.m. (Not available in all states.)

Pet Wellness coaching session on nutrition

How much food should I feed my dog? How do I read this pet food nutrition label? A trained advisor will answer your questions about diet and nutrition.

Comprehensive exams for nose-to-tail wellness

Includes ear, eye, and oral exams; neurological, cardiovascular, urogenital, musculoskeletal, pulmonary/lung, and abdominal evaluations; weight and nutrition advice; and coat and skin check.

Routinely recommended vaccinations (based on your pet’s vaccination schedule)

Includes distemper/parvo (1x/year), Bordetella (2x/year), leptospirosis (1x/year), Lyme disease (1x/year), and rabies (1x/year).

Diagnostic testing to help catch early signs of parasites and disease

Includes internal organ screens and testing for heartworm, mites, and tick-borne diseases like Lyme and Ehrlichia. Plus, blood work with complete blood count to check for any signs of infection, anemia, and blood-clotting issues, as well as a chemistry panel to detect proper nutrient absorption, diabetes, liver and kidney function, and calcium/phosphorous levels for bone health.

Fecal exams to help detect worms, parasites, and other health issues.

Deworming meds to help routinely eliminate roundworms, hookworms, and other organisms.

10% discount on most other Banfield products and veterinary services.

We have different Optimum Wellness Plans for different needs. For example: Our Active Care Plus plans include all the services above plus a dental cleaning. Our Senior Care plans include all the services above plus additional care tailored to your senior sweetie. And our Special Care plans are designed for dogs and cats with chronic issues.

Learn more about the different wellness plan options here.

Can I customize my pet’s Optimum Wellness Plan?

Yes, you can add a variety of customizations for your dog’s or cat’s health needs, lifestyle, and risk factors. Here are just a few of the customizations you can choose from:

• Parasite control to protect your pet from harmful fleas, ticks, heartworms, and more
• Canine influenza vaccine to help prevent canine flu for dogs at high risk or who live where it’s more common
• Wisdom Panel™ DNA test to screen for over 150 genetic disease mutations and detect more than 350 canine breeds, types, and varieties
• Adult spay or neuter to prevent unwanted pregnancies and reduce the risk of certain health issues
• Additional dental cleaning to help support oral health for pets with periodontal disease
• Dermatology testing package to help diagnose common skin and ear conditions in dogs and cats
• Screening radiographs with consultation to monitor changes in bones, joints, and organs, and help detect potential health issues
• Dental radiographs (full mouth set) to detect signs of periodontal disease under the gumline and for pre- and post-extractions
• Medically assisted sedation or immobilization to help reduce your pet’s stress when coming in for visits and receiving care. This option also includes two additional virtual visits to provide another layer of support and access to care for your pet’s needs, when applicable.

Learn more about our customizations

Ready to sign up for a budget-friendly Optimum Wellness Plan? Start your pet’s enrollment now.

Important Notice: The information provided on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult a veterinarian with any questions regarding your pet's health or medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional veterinary advice based on information from this page.