Pet Wellness Care for Dogs & Cats in Northern Baltimore County
At Mount Carmel Animal Hospital, we know that proactive wellness care is one of the most important ways to support a pet’s lifelong health. Regular checkups, routine diagnostics, and preventive strategies give our medical team the insight to detect concerns early—when they’re easier and more cost-effective to treat. By building long-term relationships and keeping a close eye on your pet’s health over time, we’re able to offer thoughtful guidance, more options, and better outcomes for the pets you love.
Wellness diagnostics are an important part of every visit at MCAH. They allow us to look beyond the physical exam—using bloodwork, urinalysis, and fecal screening to detect changes that may not yet be visible on the outside. These tests help us establish baselines, monitor developing conditions, and screen for internal parasites—all of which support early detection and more personalized, proactive care. With better insight into your pet’s internal health, we’re able to offer more tailored guidance and catch problems before they become harder to treat.
Wellness Care for Puppies & Kittens
Puppies and kittens need attentive, proactive care in their early months to get off to a healthy start. At MCAH, we recommend a series of wellness visits to monitor growth, administer initial vaccines, begin parasite prevention, and address any questions about behavior, nutrition, or development. These visits allow us to catch potential issues early and guide you through the important milestones of your pet’s first year.
Wellness Care for Senior Pets
As pets age, their needs change—and regular wellness care becomes even more important. Senior dogs and cats are more likely to develop chronic conditions like arthritis, kidney disease, or thyroid disorders, often with subtle signs. At MCAH, we recommend more frequent exams and expanded diagnostics for senior pets to detect changes early, manage ongoing issues, and maintain the best possible quality of life. These visits also give us the opportunity to talk with you about mobility, pain management, nutrition, and any changes in behavior—so we can support your pet’s comfort and health at every stage.
Wellness Care Recommendations for Dogs
Preventative Care
Regular wellness care is one of the most effective ways to support your dog’s health, comfort, and longevity. At MCAH, we tailor our care to each dog’s life stage and individual needs—focusing on prevention, early detection, and thoughtful guidance to help you make confident decisions every step of the way.
Wellness Exams
- Puppies: Every 3–4 weeks until 16 weeks of age, then again at 14–16 months.
- Adult Dogs: Annually
- Senior Dogs (8+ years): One to two times per year, depending on health status.
- Note: Very large breeds such as Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, etc. are considered senior pets at an earlier age.
Wellness Diagnostic Profiles
May include bloodwork, urinalysis, and other routine screenings:
- We recommend annual diagnostic testing for all dogs, starting in early adulthood.
- These screenings help establish baselines, detect early signs of disease, and monitor changes over time—so we can tailor care to your pet’s individual needs.
Heartworm & Tick-Borne Disease Screening
- We recommend annual testing for all dogs, regardless of their preventive use.
- Annual screening helps us detect infections early and is especially important in our region, where tick-borne diseases are prevalent and year-round parasite exposure is common.
- For dogs not on consistent prevention, testing is also required before restarting medication and again six months later.
- Note: Annual testing is required by most manufacturers to maintain the guarantees associated with heartworm and parasite prevention products.
Year-round heartworm and flea/tick prevention is the best defense—and strongly recommended in our region.
Fecal Screening for Intestinal Parasites
- Annual screening is recommended—even if no symptoms are present.
- Retest four weeks after a positive result and treatment to ensure parasites are fully cleared.
Untreated parasites can affect growth, cause weight loss, or lead to chronic inflammation.
Dental Health
Dental care is an essential part of your dog’s overall wellness—but we know that brushing your pet’s teeth at home can be a challenge. We recommend starting early—even during the puppy stage—to help build the habit.
Daily brushing is ideal, but even if that’s not realistic, remember:
Weekly is better than monthly, and monthly is better than never!
Every bit helps reduce plaque, support gum health, and extend the time between professional cleanings.
We assess your dog’s dental health annually as part of every wellness exam. Professional cleanings and dental X-rays are recommended as needed based on your pet’s exam findings and overall health.
Visit our Pet Dental Care page
Parasite Prevention
Protecting your dog from parasites is an important part of year-round wellness care. At MCAH, we recommend consistent, preventive protection against fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites—all of which are common in our region and can pose serious health risks if left untreated.
Flea & Tick Prevention
- We recommend year-round flea and tick prevention for all dogs.
- Bravecto is our preferred oral chewable, offering 12 weeks of protection with each dose
Recommended starting age: 6 months and older.
- For puppies under 6 months, we recommend Bravecto 1-Month, an oral chewable that provides one month of protection per dose.
Heartworm & Intestinal Parasite Prevention
- We strongly recommend year-round protection against internal parasites, including heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms.
- Sentinel Spectrum is our preferred oral chewable, providing monthly protection against all of the above.
Recommended starting age: 8 weeks.
- If a puppy has not started prevention by 5–6 months of age, a screening test is required before starting.
- All dogs must be tested before starting or restarting heartworm prevention.
- If a dog misses a dose by more than 7 weeks, a follow-up retest is needed 6 months after the last dose to ensure no infection occurred.
Looking for an all-in-one parasite preventative for dogs? We recommend Credelio Quattro over other products currently on the market.
Core Vaccines for Dogs
Vaccines are a key part of preventive care—protecting your dog from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. At MCAH, we follow current medical guidelines and tailor vaccine schedules to each dog’s age, health, lifestyle, and risk factors.
Rabies
- Required by law in Maryland and Pennsylvania for all dogs.
- Puppies: Vaccinate between 14–20 weeks of age, with a booster at 1 year.
- Revaccinate every 3 years thereafter.
- If your pet gets into a scuffle with wildlife or a pet with unknown vaccine status, a booster is recommended within 7 days, even if otherwise current.
DAPP / DALPP
(Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza / Leptospirosis)
- Begin vaccinations at 6–8 weeks of age.
- Administer booster vaccines every 3–4 weeks until 14–16 weeks.
- Revaccinate at 1 year, again at 2 years, then every 3 years thereafter.
- If DALPP (which includes Leptospirosis) is given, a separate Leptospirosis booster is required annually.
Leptospirosis
- Can be given as part of DALPP or as a separate vaccine.
- Initial series: Vaccinate at 12 weeks, booster at 16 weeks.
- Revaccinate annually.
Non-Core Vaccines for Dogs
Recommended based on your dog’s lifestyle, activity level, travel, exposure risk, and overall health.
Bordetella (Kennel Cough)
- Recommended for dogs who are in contact with other dogs at boarding or grooming facilities, dog parks, training classes, dog shows, or other group environments.
- Often required by boarding and daycare facilities.
- Administer a single dose at 8 weeks of age or older.
- Revaccinate annually.
Lyme Disease
- Due to the high prevalence of ticks and Lyme disease in our region, we recommend vaccination for all dogs, even those who spend limited time outdoors.
- Initial dose at 12–14 weeks, followed by a booster in 3–4 weeks, then annually thereafter.
Canine Influenza
- Currently considered low risk in our region.
- In the event of a local outbreak, we may recommend vaccination for dogs that are in contact with others at group settings.
- Initial dose at 12–14 weeks, booster in 2–4 weeks, then annually thereafter if risk persists.
- Required by some daycare and boarding facilities.
Wellness Care Recommendations for Cats
Preventative Care
Regular wellness care is one of the most effective ways to support your cat’s health, comfort, and longevity. At MCAH, we tailor our care to each cat’s life stage and individual needs—focusing on prevention, early detection, and thoughtful guidance every step of the way.
Wellness Exams
- Kittens: Every 3–4 weeks until 16 weeks of age, with a follow-up visit at 14–16 months.
- Adult Cats: Annually.
- Senior Cats (10+ years): One to two times per year, depending on health status and individual needs.
Wellness Diagnostic Profiles
May include bloodwork, urinalysis, FeLV/FIV screening, and other lab-based assessments:
- We recommend annual diagnostic screening for cats of all ages to help detect illness early and establish important health baselines.
- These screenings help us identify subtle changes and ensure your cat receives proactive, personalized care.
- For kittens and adult cats with unknown health history, we also recommend testing for Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)—especially before introducing a new cat into a multi-cat household.
Fecal Screening for Parasites
- Recommended annually to check for intestinal parasites, which may not cause visible symptoms.
- Left untreated, parasites can lead to inflammation, weight loss, or other complications.
- If your cat tests positive and is treated, a follow-up fecal test should be performed four weeks later to confirm the infection has cleared.
Dental Health
Dental care is essential to your cat’s long-term health, but we understand that brushing can be challenging. We recommend starting home care early—even during the kitten stage—to build good habits.
- Daily brushing is best, but even occasional brushing helps.
Daily is better than weekly. Weekly is better than monthly. Monthly is better than never.
- We perform an annual dental health assessment during every wellness exam.
- Professional dental cleanings and dental X-rays are recommended as needed.
Brushing at home can help extend the time between in-hospital cleanings.
Visit the Pet Dental Care page.
Parasite Prevention for Cats
Protecting your cat from parasites is an essential part of year-round wellness—whether they live indoors, outdoors, or somewhere in between. Parasites like fleas, ticks, and intestinal worms can carry disease, cause discomfort, and lead to more serious health issues if left untreated.
Flea, Tick & Intestinal Parasite Prevention
- We recommend year-round parasite prevention for all cats, including those who live primarily indoors.
- NexGard Combo is our preferred monthly topical treatment. It treats and controls:
- Fleas and ticks
- Heartworms
- Roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms
- Recommended starting age: 8 weeks.
Core Vaccines for Cats
Vaccination is a vital part of preventive care—protecting your cat from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. At MCAH, we follow current medical guidelines and tailor vaccine schedules based on your cat’s age, lifestyle, and overall health.
Rabies
- Required by law in Maryland and Pennsylvania for all cats.
- Kittens: Vaccinate at 16 weeks of age, with a booster at 1 year.
- Revaccinate every 3 years thereafter.
- If your cat is involved in a scuffle with wildlife or an unvaccinated pet, we recommend a booster within 7 days, even if the vaccine is up to date.
FVRCP
(Feline Rhinotracheitis Virus, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia)
- Begin vaccinations at 6-8 weeks of age.
- Administer booster vaccines every 3–4 weeks until 14–16 weeks.
- Revaccinate at 1 year, then every 3 years thereafter.
FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus)
- Considered a core vaccine for cats that spend any amount of time outdoors, where they may come into contact with other cats.
- Considered non-core for cats that are strictly indoor.
- Begin vaccinations at 6–8 weeks of age, with a booster in 3–4 weeks.
- Revaccinate annually.
FAQs
Why does my pet need an annual wellness exam?
An annual exam is one of the most important ways to protect your pet’s health. Even if your pet seems healthy, routine exams help us catch changes early, track trends over time, and provide guidance that’s tailored to their age and lifestyle.
In Maryland, an annual physical exam is required by law for us to prescribe or dispense any medications or prescription products. Maintaining an active, up-to-date relationship allows us to provide timely support, respond more effectively in urgent situations, and deliver care that’s consistent, informed, and personal.
Why does my pet need diagnostic testing if they look and act healthy?
Do indoor cats or healthy pets really need lab work every year?
What kinds of tests are included in a wellness diagnostic profile?
Depending on your pet’s age and health status, a wellness profile may include:
- Bloodwork to assess organ function, blood cell counts, and signs of inflammation or infection
- Urinalysis to evaluate kidney function, hydration, and detect urinary tract concerns
- Fecal testing to screen for internal parasites
- Additional tests may be recommended based on breed, history, or clinical findings.
Why does my dog need a heartworm test if they’re on prevention year-round?
The test we run each year isn’t just a “heartworm test”—it’s the IDEXX 4Dx® Plus, a comprehensive screening that checks for:
- Heartworm disease
- Lyme disease
- Ehrlichiosis
- Anaplasmosis
In our region, tick-borne diseases are very common, and even dogs on regular tick prevention can be exposed. Annual screening allows us to detect these infections early—often before symptoms appear—so we can act quickly to protect your pet’s long-term health.
While heartworm disease has historically been less common locally, that’s changing due to climate change, and as pets (and people) travel more frequently between regions. Even with year-round prevention, annual testing helps ensure that protection is working and provides critical peace of mind.
Annual testing is also required by many manufacturers to maintain their product satisfaction guarantees—so it protects both your pet and your investment in their care.
Does my pet really need parasite prevention year-round?
Do indoor pets need parasite prevention too?
What does parasite prevention actually cover?
That depends on the product. Our recommended preventatives provide broad-spectrum coverage:
- Dogs: Bravecto and Sentinel Spectrum together protect against fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites.
- Cats: NexGard Combo treats and controls fleas, ticks, heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.
We’ll help you choose the right product based on your pet’s age, size, and health status.
Is there an “all-in-one” parasite prevention option for dogs?
Yes. For dog owners looking for a single monthly preventive, we recommend Credelio Quattro—a monthly oral chewable that treats and controls fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites, including roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms.
At MCAH, we recommend Credelio Quattro over other all-in-one products on the market because it offers:
- Faster kill times, which means parasites are eliminated before they can spread disease
- Broader spectrum coverage for more comprehensive protection
- A convenient, once-a-month chewable format that’s easy to give
Faster kill times are especially important in preventing the transmission of vector-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis. With Credelio Quattro, you’re giving your dog faster, stronger, and more complete protection.
Why did my dog test positive for intestinal parasites if he’s on preventatives?
Parasite prevention doesn’t stop your dog from being exposed to parasites—it disrupts the life cycle of the parasite to prevent infection and disease. That means your pet may still ingest parasite eggs or larvae, but the medication prevents them from maturing, reproducing, or causing harm.
In short, preventatives don’t stop exposure—they stop the problem. However, some parasites (like Giardia or coccidia) aren’t covered by most standard preventives, and missed doses or timing gaps can leave pets vulnerable.
That’s why we recommend annual fecal testing, even for pets on consistent, year-round preventives—to ensure any exposure is detected and addressed early.
Why does my dog need a heartworm test if they’re on prevention year-round?
The test we run each year isn’t just a “heartworm test”—it’s the IDEXX 4Dx® Plus, a comprehensive screening that checks for:
- Heartworm disease
- Lyme disease
- Ehrlichiosis
- Anaplasmosis
In our region, tick-borne diseases are very common, and even dogs on regular tick prevention can be exposed. Annual screening allows us to detect these infections early—often before symptoms appear—so we can act quickly to protect your pet’s long-term health.
While heartworm disease has historically been less common locally, that’s changing due to climate change and as pets (and people) travel more frequently between regions. Even with year-round prevention, annual testing helps ensure that protection is working and provides critical peace of mind.
Annual testing is also required by many manufacturers to maintain their product satisfaction guarantees—so it protects both your pet and your investment in their care.
Why does my dog need a Lyme vaccine if they’re already on tick prevention?
Tick prevention is essential, but no product is 100% effective at stopping every tick bite—especially in heavily wooded or high-risk areas like ours. The Lyme vaccine adds an extra layer of protection by helping your dog’s immune system respond if exposed to the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
Together, tick prevention and vaccination work as a team:
- Tick meds aim to prevent the bite or kill the tick quickly
- The Lyme vaccine helps prevent infection if a tick does transmit the disease
In our region, where Lyme disease is very common, both are recommended to give your dog the best protection possible.
Why does my dog need tick prevention if they’ve been vaccinated against Lyme disease?
The Lyme vaccine only protects against one specific disease—it doesn’t prevent other serious tick-borne illnesses like Ehrlichiosis or Anaplasmosis, which are also common in our area.
Tick preventives are still essential because they:
- Protect against multiple tick-borne diseases
- Reduce the risk of fleas and other parasites
- Help stop ticks before they can transmit infections, including Lyme
Vaccination and prevention work best together, offering broader, more reliable protection than either one alone.