Preventative Care and Wellness at Maui Lani Veterinary Hospital
At Maui Lani Veterinary Hospital, we treat every pet like our own and strive to provide the best care possible using state-of-the-art equipment, excellent doctors, and a well-trained and friendly staff — making your pet's visit, and yours, as stress-free as possible.
Just like humans, a pet's needs change as they get older. Since animals age more quickly than we do, regular checkups are essential to maintaining long-term health.
Visiting us annually allows us to detect potential conditions that can become severe problems down the road if left unattended. These may include heart disease, dental disease, cataracts, diabetes, arthritis, spinal issues, and much more.
General wellness visits work hand in hand with our approach to preventative care, making sure your pet is strong, healthy, and equipped for a long lifespan. Even if your pet is currently in good health, bringing them in allows us to ensure there are no hidden issues and that they remain on the road to a long and happy life.
This is why an annual wellness exam is such an important part of keeping your pet healthy and happy.
What to Expect at Your Pet's Annual Wellness Exam
Preventative care is an essential part of keeping your dog happy and healthy. It provides peace of mind and increases the likelihood of detecting underlying health conditions before they become advanced and expensive.
Think of your dog's annual exam like your own yearly physical. During the appointment, we will:
- Perform a comprehensive head-to-tail examination
- Take your pet's temperature
- Examine the eyes, ears, teeth, and skin
- Listen to the heart and lungs
- Evaluate joint health
We will also:
- Update and discuss vaccines
- Discuss and recommend heartworm preventatives as well as flea and tick medication
- Perform diagnostic testing, including heartworm testing to ensure your pet is heartworm free
- Conduct fecal testing to rule out intestinal parasites
- Recommend preventative care blood work
We recommend annual wellness visits for both dogs and cats. Consistent wellness care allows us to truly get to know your pet and ensures that any issues are addressed as early as possible.
Preventative Care Blood Work and Annual Blood Profiles
We also strongly recommend preventative care blood work as part of your pet's annual visit.
Key Benefits of Routine Blood Testing
- Early Disease Detection – Identifies kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, and thyroid disorders before symptoms develop.
- Monitoring Chronic Conditions – Ensures pets with ongoing medical issues (such as diabetes or kidney disease) receive appropriate treatment adjustments.
- Medication Safety – Tracks how long-term medications affect organ function and overall health.
- Baseline Health Data – Establishes normal values for your pet, making it easier to detect even subtle changes in future tests.
Many pets show no visible signs of illness until a disease has progressed. Annual bloodwork helps identify hidden health problems, allowing for earlier intervention and less invasive, more effective treatments.
We recommend annual blood profiles to screen for early signs of illness or disease. Blood profiles are especially important for pets who may be sick, elderly, or require surgery or anesthesia. As your pet ages, conditions such as kidney failure, liver failure, diabetes, and cancer can occur. Detecting these problems early can make a tremendous difference in the course of treatment.