Protection & Prevention
At Northside Animal Clinic, we believe in focusing on preventive care to keep common diseases and disorders from starting to develop.
Combined with regular wellness exams, pet vaccinations and parasite prevention form the foundation of your animal's routine healthcare.
Preventive care gives your pet the best chance at a long, healthy life. Our team will work with you to create a custom preventive care plan for your cat or dog, tailored to their unique needs.
Preventive Care for Puppies and Kittens
It is important that your pet receives the appropriate preventive care as a puppy or kitten. Your veterinarian will discuss the schedule that is best suited to your pet's lifestyle.
Preventive Care for Kittens
- Vaccinations
- In their first year of life, kittens need a range of vaccinations to protect them from serious diseases. Based on your cat's age and lifestyle, your veterinarian will recommend the appropriate schedule of vaccinations.
- Spay & Neuter Procedures
- Spay (females) - Spaying your female cat prevents the birth of unwanted litters of kittens, protects your cat against serious illnesses, and can help to prevent behaviors such as howling and scooting that accompany heat cycles.
- Neuter (males) - Neutering your male cat prevents your pet from fathering unwanted kittens, protects your cat against various illnesses, and can help to prevent territory marking (spraying), roaming, howling, and cat aggression.
- Microchipping
- A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is about the size of a grain of rice and placed under your pet’s skin. Pets that are microchipped have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they are lost.
Preventive Care for Puppies
- Vaccinations
- In their first year of life, puppies need a range of vaccinations to protect them from serious diseases. Based on your dog's age and lifestyle, your veterinarian will recommend the appropriate schedule of vaccinations.
- Spay & Neuter Procedures
- Spay (females) - Dog spaying will prevent your female dog from mothering puppies, but it can also help to prevent certain cancers and regular heat cycles which can attract roaming males to your property.
- Neuter (males) - Dog neutering can help to prevent your male dog from fathering unwanted puppies, as well as protect your dog from a number of serious cancers, and help to reduce the risk of roaming and dog aggression.
- Microchipping
- A microchip is a permanent form of identification that is about the size of a grain of rice and placed under your pet’s skin. Pets that are microchipped have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they are lost.
Parasite Prevention
Parasites pose a serious health threat to people and animals in Jackson and the surrounding area. Left untreated, parasites can threaten the life of your cat or dog, and in some cases can even be transmitted to other people or pets living in your household. Our parasite prevention products can help protect your dog or cat from the following common parasites:
Fleas
Fleas are external parasites that feed on the blood of birds and mammals. Left untreated, fleas can quickly spread throughout your household.
Ticks
These parasites consume the blood of mammals and are responsible for the spread of a number of conditions in people and pets.
Ear Mites
Contagious ear mites live in the ear canals of dogs, cats and other mammals. These parasites reproduce throughout their lifespan.
Heartworm
This thread-like parasitic roundworm is spread through mosquito bites and makes its home in the heart, lungs and blood vessels of infected animals.
Hookworm
These parasites live in the digestive tract of cats and dogs where they feed on the pet's blood. Hookworms can lead to anemia and other serious conditions.
Roundworm
This parasitic worm lives in the intestine and feeds on partially digested intestinal contents. This parasite can rob your pet of vital nutrients necessary to stay healthy.
Tapeworm
Tapeworms are spread through the ingestion of infected fleas during grooming. These hook-like parasitic worms live and grow in your pet's intestines.
Whipworm
Whipworms are spread through the ingestion of soil that has been in contact with an infected dog's feces. Whipworms pose a serious health risk to dogs.