278 Easton Rd, Horsham, PA 19044, United States
Comprehensive Pet Care at Family Pet Clinic
At Family Pet Clinic, we're dedicated to helping you keep your pet healthy, happy, and living their best life with you! Our preventative care includes age - and health-appropriate exams, vaccinations, and parasite control. To ensure your pet stays fit and healthy, we offer guidance on nutrition and weight management. Ask us about the benefits of microchipping - the most reliable way to reunite with your pet if they’re lost and found by a good Samaritan.
Examinations
Even if your pet seems healthy, it's essential to bring them in for an annual check-up. Pets are experts at hiding signs of illness or disease, but a simple routine examination can help us detect early signs that might otherwise go unnoticed.
For kittens, puppies, senior pets, and pets with health conditions, more frequent visits are recommended. For younger pets, this ensures their vaccinations and growth are on track. For older pets or those with health concerns, it allows us to closely monitor their well-being.
At Family Pet Clinic, our experienced medical team works closely with you to ensure your pet lives a long, healthy, and happy life. During routine exams, we’ll thoroughly check your pet from nose to tail, review any findings, and discuss follow-up care if needed.
A complete physical exam will assess:
- Heart rate and respiratory function
- Oral health, including teeth and gums
- Joint and muscle condition
- Abdominal health
- Eyes, ears, and nasal passages
- Weight and overall body condition
- Skin health and coat condition
- Body temperature
To assist in evaluating your pet’s overall health, please bring a fresh stool sample to their routine examination. If any parasites are found during the fecal exam, we’ll go over treatment options with you.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask! Feel free to bring a list - we’re here to offer guidance and help ensure your pet lives their best life.
Some things that are frequent concerns of clients:
- How long is it safe to leave my pet alone?
- Why does my pet seem to have phobias or anxiety?
- How can I create a comfortable sleeping space for my pet?
- Why doesn’t my pet get along with other people or animals?
- Why doesn’t my pet enjoy playtime?
If you have any questions that would be better addressed by a specialist, we’re happy to refer you to trusted facilities we know and trust.
Vaccinations
There are many factors that can affect your pet's health, but vaccinations offer a reliable line of defense against many of them. By providing both core and non-core vaccines, we can help protect your pet from infectious diseases, ensuring their safety as well as the well-being of other pets and the human community.
Since every pet is unique, Family Pet Clinic offers customized vaccination plans tailored to your pet’s specific needs. Our knowledgeable team is experienced in preventive care through vaccination and will create a plan based on your pet’s species, age, lifestyle, and any health conditions.
Core Vaccines Are Highly Recommended for All Pets. Rabies is Required by PA Law.
Core Canine Vaccines
- DHPP vaccination protects against four diseases: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Since nearly all dogs are exposed to at least one of these diseases, this vaccination is crucial.
- Rabies vaccination prevents dogs from contracting rabies, a fatal disease that affects both animals and humans. This vaccine is legally required.
Core Feline Vaccines
- FVRCP vaccination protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. Also known as the feline combo or feline distemper vaccine, it’s a combination vaccine that provides protection against three common and potentially serious airborne viruses.
- Rabies vaccination prevents cats from contracting rabies, a fatal disease affecting both animals and humans. This vaccine is legally required.
Non-core Vaccines Are Based on Your Pet’s Age, Lifestyle, Health, and Risk of Exposure.
Non-core Canine Vaccines
- Bordetella vaccination protects against kennel cough, a highly contagious condition causing a dry throat and severe hacking cough that can last over a month. This vaccine is recommended for pets that visit boarding facilities, dog parks, or other pet-friendly locations.
- Leptospirosis vaccination protects against a bacterial disease spread through the urine of infected animals. The bacteria can survive in water or soil for weeks or even months and can be transmitted from dogs to humans.
- Lyme vaccination protects against diseases transmitted by a specific species of tick.
- Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) vaccination helps prevent the spread of the flu among dogs.
Non-core Feline Vaccines
- FeLV/FIV vaccination protects cats from Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. It’s recommended for cats living in multi-cat households or those who spend time outdoors.
Vaccines for pets work similarly to those for humans. They expose the body to very small, controlled amounts of the disease-causing organisms. This controlled exposure allows the immune system to develop antibodies against the disease. When the body later encounters the actual virus, these antibodies help protect it.
If you have any questions or concerns about your pet's vaccination recommendations, please feel free to reach out to us - we're happy to help!
Parasite Control
Parasites are more common than you might think, but there's no need to worry. Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and intestinal parasites can pose serious risks to your pet, but administering year-round parasite preventatives can help keep them safe.
Prevention is always easier than treating an infestation. At Family Pet Clinic, we use a two-step prevention approach to effectively protect your pet: continuous preventative medication and annual parasite testing.
Our medical team will assess your pet's lifestyle, environment, and risk factors to determine the most suitable preventative medication. Our recommendations are easy to administer and typically come in the form of a pill, treat, or collar. Parasite testing is conducted during your pet’s annual visit with a simple fecal or blood test.
Fleas
Fleas are more common during the warmer months but can be found year-round. They reproduce quickly and can be transmitted from animals to humans. Flea bites can lead to various health issues, including tapeworms, allergies, and bacterial infections. In severe cases, flea bites can even be life-threatening.
Ticks
Ticks can transmit serious diseases such as ehrlichiosis, Bartonella, anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tick paralysis, and Lyme disease. Make it a habit to check your pet (and yourself) for ticks every time you go outside. Ticks are most commonly found in grassy areas and wooded environments.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes may cause itchy and uncomfortable bites for your pet, but they also transmit heartworm larvae, which can lead to a life-threatening infection. While dogs are more likely to contract heartworms, cats are also at risk.
Heartworms
Heartworms are among the most harmful parasites, affecting vital organs like the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. They can cause irreversible damage, leading to a slow and painful death for your pet. Protect your pet from this devastating parasite by staying on top of monthly preventatives.
Intestinal Parasites
Intestinal parasites are common in pets and can lead to serious health issues if left untreated. These include hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms, roundworms, as well as giardia and coccidia. These parasites are often spread through contact with soil or the stool of other animals, so your pet is at risk whenever they go outside.
Puppies and kittens are particularly vulnerable to intestinal parasites due to their developing immune systems. That’s why it’s crucial to bring your new pet in as early as possible for testing, treatment, and to stay on track with their preventatives.
Humans can also contract intestinal parasites, so by protecting your pet with preventative care, you're also safeguarding yourself and your family. Along with preventatives, it’s important to maintain proper pet hygiene and wash your hands after handling a pet that has been outside recently.
- Roundworms resemble angel hair pasta. In some cases, pets may pass roundworms in their stool.
- Hookworms look like fish hooks and are about one inch long. They can attach to the stomach lining, causing painful ulcers.
- Whipworms are curly in shape and typically measure 2-3 inches in length.
- Tapeworms are common in pets and can cause gastrointestinal blockages.
- Giardia and coccidia are more likely to affect younger pets and are not visible to the naked eye. Symptoms may include vomiting and diarrhea.
Microchipping
At Family Pet Clinic, we understand that accidents happen. Each year, one in three pets goes missing, gets lost, or is stolen—around ten million pets annually!
For this reason, we strongly recommend that all pet owners ensure reliable pet identification. Microchipping offers a modern solution to help reunite lost or stolen pets with their families. It significantly increases the chances of your pet being returned to you if such an event occurs. Microchips can be inserted at any age, but the earlier, the better!
The microchip insertion process is quick, easy, and painless. It can be done during other procedures, such as a dental cleaning or routine wellness visit. Once the microchip is in place, you can register your current contact details in the national online database, and it’s easy to update your information if you move or change phone numbers.
Each microchip contains a unique serial number. When a lost pet is brought to a shelter or clinic, a special scanner is used to retrieve the microchip’s information, allowing them to contact the pet's rightful owner.
Along with microchipping, our veterinary team recommends that all pet owners use collars and ID tags. While not foolproof, these additional measures provide extra resources to help reunite you with your pet if they are lost or stolen.
Nutrition & Weight Management
Obesity in pets has become a growing concern. A 2017 survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention found that approximately 56% of dogs and 60% of cats in the United States are overweight or obese.
Obesity can lead to a wide range of health problems, including kidney dysfunction, liver disease, respiratory issues, chronic inflammation, metabolic and endocrine disorders, cancer, high blood pressure, and a reduced quality of life.
Given these risks, our medical team is committed to closely monitoring your pet’s weight and offering advice on how to maintain a healthy body size for your pet.
Obesity in pets can result from a variety of factors. When evaluating your pet's body condition, consider the following:
- Food: Giving your pet extra food from the table or offering a few extra treats may seem harmless, but those additional calories can quickly add up and lead to obesity.
- Lack of exercise: Even if your pet spends time outdoors, they may not be getting the exercise they need. A daily walk can help dogs maintain a healthy weight, while for cats, interactive toys that encourage running, jumping, and chasing are great for keeping them active.
- Medications: Some medications can have side effects that contribute to weight gain, either by increasing appetite or affecting metabolism.