Preventive & Wellness Care for Pets in Highlands Ranch, CO

Most healthy adult pets do well with a routine pet checkup once a year, while puppies, kittens, and senior pets need to be seen more often. Young animals change quickly and older ones can shift in a matter of months, so the schedule bends to fit the pet in front of us.

• Puppies and kittens: every three to four weeks until roughly four months old
• Healthy adult dogs and cats: once a year
• Senior pets: every six months, since age-related changes move faster

Pets are experts at hiding discomfort, and a steady visit rhythm is the most reliable way to catch a quiet problem while it is still easy to treat.

Because catching a problem early almost always means a gentler, less expensive path forward. Conditions like dental disease, kidney changes, diabetes, and arthritis often begin quietly, and a regular exam is where those first signals surface. National veterinary guidance on the value of regular wellness exams says the same: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

When we know your pet over years rather than single visits, we spot the subtle shifts a first-time doctor would miss, and you get advice built on real history.

Your pet needs core vaccines that protect against serious, widespread diseases, plus any lifestyle vaccines that fit how your pet lives. Core protection for dogs covers rabies, distemper, and parvovirus, and for cats it covers rabies and panleukopenia among others.

Beyond the core, we tailor the plan:

• Dogs who hike, board, or socialize may benefit from leptospirosis, Bordetella, or other regional protection
• Cats who spend time outdoors may need feline leukemia coverage
• Timing is adjusted for age, since young immune systems need a careful series

Dr. Clow explains why each recommendation fits your pet, so the choice always stays yours.

Through year-round parasite prevention matched to your pet’s risk. Our seasons and trails bring real exposure to fleas, ticks, and mosquito-borne heartworm, and prevention is far kinder than treating an established infection.

Our approach usually includes:

• A preventive product chosen for your pet’s size, species, and lifestyle
• Routine fecal testing to catch intestinal parasites early
• Guidance on tick-borne illness and how to check your pet after time outdoors

Expect a closer look and a slower pace. Older pets benefit from twice-yearly visits and from screening beyond the physical exam, because organ changes often show up in lab work before they show up in behavior.

A senior visit often adds:

• Bloodwork and urinalysis to check kidney, liver, and metabolic health
• A mobility and comfort assessment for stiffness or arthritis
• A conversation about weight, appetite, energy, and any new habits at home

Our comfort room and patient handling matter most in these years, treating a senior pet’s dignity as seriously as the diagnosis.

We use Fear Free methods across the whole team, which means we read each pet’s cues and adjust rather than push through the stress. As a Fear Free Certified practice, our staff is trained to lower fear, anxiety, and stress from the moment your pet walks in.

In practice, that looks like:

• Measured voices, gentle handling, and pauses when a pet needs one
• Treats, patience, and time so exams do not feel rushed
• A quiet, orderly environment that many feline patients especially appreciate

When a pet feels safe, the medicine gets better too. Relaxed animals are easier to examine thoroughly, so calm handling is good care, not just a comfort.

Young pets need a guided start: a series of visits in the first months that build immunity, protect against parasites, and set healthy habits. This early stretch also lays the groundwork for a lifetime of low-stress visits.

Early puppy and kitten wellness typically includes:

• A staged vaccine series timed to a developing immune system
• Deworming and starter parasite protection
• Guidance on nutrition, growth, and spay or neuter planning
• Gentle handling that helps your pet learn the vet is a safe place

The cost depends on what your pet needs that day, since a young pet’s first visit, an adult’s annual exam, and a senior’s screening are not the same appointment. Rather than quote a flat number, we walk you through recommendations and pricing before anything is done, so there are no surprises.

We also help you make coverage work for you. Our team provides itemized invoices and estimates for pet insurance, and we are glad to talk through options for larger treatments. Steady prevention now is often what keeps a pet away from a far costlier emergency later.

It depends on your pet’s age and history, but many wellness visits include quick in-house testing that gives us answers before you leave. Because our diagnostics and imaging live under one roof, most care happens in a single place instead of stretching across referrals and return trips.

Depending on need, a visit may include:

• In-house bloodwork, chemistry, and urinalysis for a same-day picture
• Digital radiography and ultrasound when imaging would help
• Microscopy, cytology, and ear or eye testing as indicated

Baseline results from a healthy visit give us a reference point, so the next test shows what has changed for your pet.

Because here, the experience is treated as seriously as the medicine. We are a privately owned, independent practice, not a corporate clinic, and it shows in our work: unhurried visits, clear explanations, and one doctor who knows your pet by name and history.

• Fear Free Certified handling across the entire team
• Advanced on-site diagnostics and surgery for true one-stop care
• A calm, orderly setting with a dedicated comfort room for tender moments
• Generational trust and long local tenure at the same familiar location

Dr. Clow’s work is guided by her faith, and she sees her talents as a way to serve others and do meaningful work, believing that pets are gifts that bring joy and richness to our lives. You can read more about Dr. Nina Clow and the story of our practice, or browse our full range of veterinary services to see how it all connects.