Veterinarian Service
Pet Health Screening Tests in Southaven, MS
We provide health screening tests at the Desoto County Animal Clinic, including heart worm disease, hip dysplasia, and annual blood work.
Pet Health Screening Tests
Heartworm Disease –
All dogs should be tested annually for heartworm infection during a routine visit for preventative care. Annual testing is necessary, even when dogs are on heartworm prevention year-round, to ensure that the preventive program works. Heartworm medications are highly effective, but dogs can still become infected. If you miss just one dose of a monthly medicine – or give it late – it can leave your dog unprotected. We offer Proheart6, an injection that lasts six months to reduce missed doses. Please ask us about which preventative is best for your pet!
Hip Dysplasia –
Canine hip dysplasia (abnormal development of the hip joint) begins when the hip joint in a young dog becomes loose or unstable. If left undiagnosed and untreated, this instability causes abnormal wear of the hip cartilage and ultimately progresses to osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease. Signs of this condition are pain, reluctance to get up or exercise, difficulty climbing stairs, a “bunny-hopping” gait, limping, and lameness, especially after periods of inactivity or activity.
Hip dysplasia most commonly affects large- and giant-breed dogs; however, smaller dogs may also be affected. Although genetics often play a role in this disorder, young dogs that grow or gain weight too quickly or get too much high-impact exercise are also at risk. Being overweight can aggravate hip dysplasia.
Our team can help prevent or slow this condition by monitoring food intake and ensuring that your dog gets proper exercise as they ages. We can screen your dog for hip dysplasia using one of two methods. The earlier we can diagnose hip dysplasia, the better the possible outcome for your dog.
OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Certification:
We can x-ray your dog’s hips for hip dysplasia at two years of age. We will forward these radiographs to the OFA, where board-certified radiologists will evaluate and grade your dog’s hips for OFA certification. Correct positioning of your dog is essential for proper radiographic evaluation, so a general anesthetic is required to make the procedure less stressful for them.
Annual Bloodwork –
Desoto County Animal Clinic offers screening Canine and Feline bloodwork panels to check for any underlying health problems your pet may be experiencing. Unfortunately, our pets cannot verbalize any issues they may have. Bloodwork is an excellent way to monitor your pets’ health.