Preventative Care: The Key to a Long and Happy Life

Trumann Animal Clinic’s mission is to be the premier veterinary hospital in Northeast Arkansas by providing quality, progressive veterinary medicine that meets all the needs of our clients and their pets. We offer a wide range of preventative medical services as well as acupuncture, pain assessments, surgeries, advanced diagnostics, emergency and critical care services, behavioral counseling, and much more.

Dr. Norette Underwood is experienced in all types of conditions and treatments, and one of very few veterinarians in the area that offer holistic services to include: acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, cold laser therapy, laser acupuncture, chiropractic care, and Tui Na (Chinese massage). Beyond first rate pet care, we strive to offer the best customer service in the area. Dr. Underwood is Fear Free Certified and uses her skills and training so that your pet looks forward to their trip to the vet.

The basis of our model of care is prevention. As medical professionals, we understand that the most effective means to provide your pet a long and happy life while minimizing the lifetime cost of care is through preventative medicine. This is why we highly recommend regular pet wellness exams, appropriate vaccines, microchip lost pet identification, nutritional and behavioral counseling, dental care, and proper grooming.

Preventative medicine also includes being very good at communication. We believe that educating our clients and being as open as possible to your questions and concerns are vital aspects of ensuring a lifetime of good health for your pet. Our medical knowledge is of little value if we don't share it with you in order to help you make the best decisions possible for your pet.

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we realize our pets may experience illness or injury. The skill, experience and extensive education of the doctors and staff at Trumann Animal Clinic mean we can effectively manage complex medical challenges. Additionally, our relationships with veterinary specialists ensure that your pet will receive the prompt and appropriate care of a specialist when necessary.

In all that we do, Trumann Animal Clinic works each day to provide you and your pet with the highest level of service within a safe, clean and welcoming Trumann veterinary facility.

Please take a look at the services we offer and why we believe they are important to the proper care of your pet. If you would like to set up an appointment or have any questions please call us at 870-483-6275.

Wellness Exams

The basis of any preventative medicine regimen is regular wellness exams. Trumann Animal Clinic recommends a complete physical examination at least once a year, but more frequent exams are encouraged.

A routine examination provides you and your doctor with the opportunity to develop a picture of your pet's overall health as well as to spot potential medical issues before they become serious health concerns. It's also an opportunity for you to ask Dr. underwood important questions about your pet's health, habits and daily care. We also use this time to inform you about home healthcare for your pet and offer important advice and new information on the care of your type and breed of animal.

During your pet's wellness checkup, your veterinarian will:

• Listen to your pet's heart — Early signs of cardiac disease such as heart murmurs and abnormal heartbeat patterns known as arrhythmias can be heard through a stethoscope. Discovering these initial indicators of trouble ahead can lead to identifying and treating the underlying condition before it becomes a more serious health threat.
• Listen to your pet's lungs — Health issues such as infections, obstructive diseases and other problems can be detected by listening to your pet's lungs through a stethoscope. The doctor can also assess the overall pulmonary health of your pet.
• Check your pet's teeth and oral cavity — Examining your pet's teeth and mouth is an important part of preventing serious systemic diseases, which is why dental care is an import piece of preventative care. Very young animals, such as kittens and puppies, also need to be checked to ensure they are developing an appropriate bite and that they are losing their baby teeth at the right time. We also take the time to discuss proper home dental care with you.
• Evaluate your pet's vision — All diseases follow relatively predictable processes and if found early can be more easily treated. Ocular conditions, which can also be prevented through regular care and screenings, are no exception.
• Look into your pet's ears — As with dental disease, ear disease is relatively common in many types of pets. Issues such as low-grade allergies, swimming or bathing, reactions to certain foods, mites and other parasites can all cause and contribute to otitis or ear disease. Though you may feel this is an area that can be well-handled at home, the fact is that many ear diseases are difficult to detect and require medical treatment.
• Palpate the lymph nodes, abdomen, and skin — By feeling the skin, we are looking for unusual lumps or swellings as well as evaluating for skin discolorations, lesions or patterns of hair loss or thinning. These can indicate the presence of more systemic problems, especially metabolic diseases, which most commonly occur in middle-aged animals.
• Palpate joints and muscles — By examining the joints, legs and other areas of the body, we can evaluate for swollen joints, decreased muscle tone and variations in muscle size between the legs. We also observe your pet's gait for developmental issues. In puppies, we look for early indications of hip or elbow problems. For older pets, we look for signs of arthritis, which can be well treated if found early.
• Lab work — A complete physical includes a heartworm test, fecal flotation test for intestinal parasites, and a red blood cell count as anemia (decrease in the number of red blood cells) can indicate the presence of several disease processes. For pets seven years of age or older, we also like to perform a complete blood cell count and a chemistry profile in order to create a baseline of systemic health and to detect any emergent disease processes.