Veterinary care costs have risen dramatically in recent years, and pet owners may consider routine wellness care for their pets more a luxury than a necessity. Our Neighborhood Veterinary Centers teams understand that finances are a major factor in pet care decisions, and we strive to make pet care more accessible and affordable. Our new wellness plans provide pet owners with a convenient way to secure necessary preventive care, which we believe is the foundation for a healthy pet. 

Wellness plans allow pet owners to pay a low monthly payment for a pre-packaged, carefully curated, discounted service bundle. Rather than pay for each service as you go, the monthly payments help you budget and prevent surprises. We offer plans for puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats, plus available add-ons, that will work for your needs and remove the guesswork from your four-legged friend’s care. Here, we explain the main components included in our pet wellness plans and their value.

#1. Pet examinations

Each plan includes multiple examinations per year to cover wellness visits, plus a few extras you can use as needed. Regular examinations check your pet from head to tail to identify brewing issues before they become bigger problems. Early interventions for newly diagnosed conditions typically cost less and result in better overall treatment outcomes. Because of the additional exams included in a wellness package, you’ll pay less when your pet is ill or injured.

#2: Pet vaccinations

Vaccinations are crucial for pets of all ages, because they prevent common, preventable, infectious diseases. We can vaccinate pets against many serious or potentially deadly diseases, and when you follow the recommended vaccine schedule, you are protecting not only your pet but also other pets and humans in the community. Puppies and kittens require a series of multiple vaccinations, which are all included in the plans, during their first several months.

#3: Preventive care pet diagnostics

Diagnostic testing recommendations vary depending on your pet’s age. Our plans include all recommended diagnostics for each age group, including fecal examinations to check for parasites, heartworm testing, feline viral testing, routine blood work, and urinalysis. Some plans also include blood pressure screening and chest X-rays to screen for heart conditions. Diagnostics are crucial in understanding your pet’s whole health and facilitating early disease detection.

#4: Pet nutrition and exercise counseling

Nutrition, exercise, and weight control counseling are included in all our wellness plan preventive-care examinations. Your pet’s nutritional requirements change throughout their life, and we can recommend specific diets or types that will accommodate their needs. We also screen for obesity, which can shorten your pet’s life by up to two years and increase their risk for certain diseases. Pets carrying a few extra pounds may need a special diet and customized exercise plan that our team will prescribe.

#5: Pet behavioral consultations

As recent human health trends have shown, mental and emotional wellbeing and physical health are equally important. We can discuss basic behavior or training problems during routine wellness visits or use an extra included examination for further discussion about complex behavior problems. We create treatment plans for behavior issues with you and your pet’s holistic needs in mind, so you can feel less hesitant about scheduling a visit included in your plan.

#6: Pet oral health assessment and treatment

Several of our plans include annual professional dental cleanings, which can be cost-prohibitive for some pet owners, because cleanings include the expense of anesthesia that is involved. The plans do not cover costs relating to advanced oral health care treatments, such as oral surgery, but annual cleanings greatly reduce your pet’s chances of requiring these treatments. 

Pets with untreated dental disease suffer from pain, reduced quality of life, and increased risk for organ damage from oral bacteria spreading through the bloodstream. Our wellness plans prioritize preventive oral health care the same way as your human dentist, and we rely on routine cleanings to prevent problems, rather than treatment later when the price point is likely less affordable.

Our basic plans include additional services and optional add-ons, including heartworm prevention, flea and tick prevention, spay or neuter surgery, and microchipping. With all your pet’s routine care needs wrapped in a single monthly payment, you’ll never feel blindsided by a bill, and you can budget and plan for unexpected expenses. Contact a Neighborhood Veterinary Centers location to learn more or to sign up for a wellness plan and ensure your furry pal has the ultimate in health protection.