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Preventive Care
Many shelter pets receive preventive care prior to adoption.
Depending on the shelter's protocols and how long the pet
was in their care, however, the extent of this care can vary.
Shelters may also differ in how well they communicate the
pet's prior care and future needs to the client, and clients
may not absorb this information during the excitement of
adopting a new pet.
During a shelter pet's initial visit, carefully review medical
records and discuss them with the client. In addition
to entering vaccine booster reminders in your practice
software, discuss your recommendations with the client.
Talk about lifestyle factors and determine whether the pet
needs any non-core vaccines. Many pets need vaccines
beyond those provided at the shelter, which may take some
clients by surprise.
Parasite prevention should also be discussed at the initial
visit. While the shelter may have already performed
parasite testing and administered prevention, it's often
up to your team to recommend a preventive for long-term
use. Additionally, talk to clients about the limitations of
heartworm testing. A negative heartworm test in a dog
with an unknown history doesn't necessarily mean the dog
is free of heartworms; it only means that there was not
enough circulating heartworm antigen for a positive test at
the time of the test. Shelter dogs should be retested at
6 and 12 months to rule out prepatent infection.
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Shelter pets may have unique nutritional needs, especially
if they are underweight or malnourished. Recommend an
appropriate diet for weight gain, if appropriate, and talk to
owners about a reasonable rate of weight gain to reduce
the risk of obesity. Encourage regular weigh-ins at the
veterinary practice, providing feedback at each visit until
the pet reaches a healthy weight.
The Unique Needs of Shelter Pets
