Lifelong Wellness Care for Your Pet’s Health
At Caring Hands Bristow, we believe in the importance of preventative care and regular checkups for all pets. From the playful puppy and kitten years to adulthood and the senior stage, routine wellness visits help protect your pet from diseases and detect health issues early, ensuring a longer, healthier life.
Individualized Medicine
At Caring Hands Animal Hospital in Bristow, we customize preventive care based on your pet’s age, environment, and lifestyle. Our veterinarians may recommend the following as part of your pet’s lifelong health plan:
Puppies and kittens should visit the veterinarian at around 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age for a full checkup, fecal testing, parasite deworming, vaccinations, and the start of flea, tick, and heartworm prevention. Learn more about Puppy & Kitten Care here.
Spaying or neutering dogs and cats is typically recommended around 6 months of age to prevent pregnancy. During these visits, the doctor will discuss the best time to spay or neuter your pet, help reduce pet overpopulation, and eliminate the risk of uterine or testicular cancer.
Adult Pets (1–6 years) should have an annual wellness exam, fecal testing, vaccine boosters, and continued flea, tick, and heartworm prevention.
Dental health of your pets is assessed during each exam, and a professional cleaning may be recommended if tartar or gum disease is present. Learn more about Dental Care here.
Senior Pets (7+ years) should visit the vet twice a year for a checkup, fecal testing, vaccine updates, continued flea, tick, and heartworm prevention, and lab tests to monitor their health and detect age-related conditions early. Learn more about Senior Pet Care program here.
Preventatives
At Caring Hands Animal Hospital, we recommend year-round protection against fleas, ticks, and heartworms for all pets—whether they live indoors or outdoors. Fleas and ticks are active throughout the year and can enter your home on shoes or clothing. Using a vet-approved oral or topical treatment can help keep your pet safe from these pests and the diseases they carry. Ask your veterinarian which preventative is best for your pet.
Heartworms, spread by mosquitoes, can cause severe lung disease and may be fatal for both dogs and cats. Preventing heartworms is easy with a monthly topical treatment or a chewable tablet. Based on your pets needs, your veterinarian will make a recommendation for lifelong protection. For more details on parasites, visit the Companion Animal Parasite Council, and for heartworm information, check the American Heartworm Society. All recommended preventatives are available through our competitively priced online pharmacy.
Microchipping
Microchipping is a simple and effective way to ensure your pet is always identifiable, even if they get lost. At Caring Hands Animal Hospital, we offer this quick, painless procedure that provides a permanent ID for your pet. A microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, is inserted just under your pet’s skin. The chip contains a unique identification number that can be read by scanning devices at shelters, veterinary offices, or rescue organizations to reunite you with your pet.
Benefits of Microchipping Your Pet:
- Lifetime Identification: Unlike collars and tags, which can be lost, a microchip remains with your pet for life.
- Quick and Safe Process: The procedure is quick, simple, and minimally invasive, causing very little discomfort to your pet.
- Reunites Lost Pets: If your pet ever gets lost and is brought to a shelter or clinic, the microchip can help identify them and bring them home quickly.
- Peace of Mind: Microchipping gives pet owners peace of mind, knowing their pet will always have a secure form of identification.
Vaccinations
Your veterinarian is the best person to determine the correct vaccinations based on your pet’s lifestyle. Below is a list of vaccines offered at Caring Hands Bristow. Click on each one for more details.
1. Rabies
Rabies is a deadly virus carried by wildlife and other mammals in our area. It is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can spread from animals to humans.
The virus is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal or pet, usually via bites or scratches.
Virginia and Maryland state laws require all dogs and cats to be vaccinated against rabies.
Symptoms:
- Fever
- Seizures
- Change in behavior (over excitability, shyness, aggression)
- Excessive Salivation
- Paralysis
- Inability to swallow
The rabies vaccine is first given as an annual vaccination for cats and dogs. After that, dogs receive it every 3 years to stay protected.
2. Distemper (DHPP and FVRCP)
Distemper is a highly contagious virus with no cure, affecting dogs, cats, ferrets, and some wildlife. The disease spreads through both direct and indirect contact.
Symptoms:
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Nasal discharge
Available vaccines protect against multiple common viruses:
For dogs – The DHPP vaccine guards against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus.
For cats – The FVRCP vaccine protects against Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia.
Distemper vaccines are given in a series for puppies and kittens, annually for young adult pets, and every three years for older pets.
3. Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis, or “Lepto,” is a bacterial disease spread through the urine of infected wildlife. Pets can catch it by drinking or coming into contact with contaminated water, such as puddles, ponds, or slow-moving creeks.
Your veterinarian will assess your pet’s lifestyle to determine if the Lepto vaccine is needed.
Leptospirosis can lead to kidney and liver failure. It is also a zoonotic disease, meaning it can spread from animals to humans.
Symptoms:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Decreased appetite
- Increased thirst
- Vomiting
- Unusual urine output (either too much or too little)
- Muscle and joint pain
- Bleeding or bruising
The vaccine is initially given in two doses, then annually for adult and senior dogs.
4. Lyme Vaccine
Lyme disease is a common infection spread by ticks to both humans and dogs. It is widespread in Northern Virginia, and your vet may recommend the vaccine based on your pet’s lifestyle.
Ticks carry the bacteria from wildlife and pass it to pets when they bite. A tick must stay attached for at least 48 hours to transmit the disease. Since Lyme-carrying ticks are tiny and hard to spot, both vaccination and tick prevention are important.
Unlike humans, dogs don’t develop a bulls-eye rash, making it harder to detect. In a few cases, dogs show no symptoms at all, despite being infected.
If your pet tests positive for Lyme disease, antibiotics can help reduce the bacteria, but completely eliminating it is difficult. Even after treatment, a mild infection may remain.
Symptoms:
- Some dogs show no symptoms (asymptomatic)
- Pain
- Limping
- Lameness
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- In severe cases, kidney and heart disease occur
Lyme vaccines are given in a series of two for puppies, then annually for adult and senior dogs.
5. Bordetella
Bordetella, or Kennel Cough, is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection in dogs.
It spreads easily through direct contact and the air, so vaccination is recommended for dogs that spend time around other dogs at boarding facilities, daycare, dog parks, or groomers.
Puppies, young dogs, and those with weak immune systems may experience more severe symptoms.
Symptoms:
- Dry, hacking cough
- “Honking” cough
- Nasal discharge
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Fever
The Bordetella vaccine can be given as an injection or orally and is recommended every 6–12 months. If your dog will be boarding or attending daycare, check their vaccination requirements.
6. Canine Influenza
Canine Influenza emerged in 2012 as a new virus that mutated from an existing strain. Since dogs had no prior immunity, those exposed were highly likely to become infected.
A vaccine was developed to help protect dogs and is available if needed. The virus does not spread to humans.
Symptoms:
- Discharge from the nose or eyes
- Coughing (productive or dry)
- Labored or rapid breathing
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
If your pet visits boarding, grooming, or daycare facilities, check their vaccination requirements. You can also consult your vet to determine if this vaccine is necessary for your pet’s lifestyle.
The Canine Influenza vaccine is given in a series of two for puppies, then annually for adult and senior dogs.
7. Feline Leukemia
Feline Leukemia (FeLV) is a viral infection spread among cats through saliva, feces, and nursing. Kittens, feral or outdoor cats, and those in multi-cat homes are at higher risk. There is no cure for FeLV, but early testing can help manage care.
A blood test at the clinic can confirm if a cat has Feline Leukemia.
Symptoms:
- Some cats show no symptoms
- Respiratory issues (coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge)
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
The FeLV vaccine is given in a two-part series for kittens and annually for adult and senior cats.
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