Pet Preventative & Wellness Care

At Panova Animal Hospital, personalized preventive care is the foundation for the lifelong health partnerships we form with dogs and cats in Fountain Valley and throughout Orange County. With regular exams and proactive planning, we develop a care plan to support your pet’s lasting wellness and comfort.

Book Appointment
black and brown shorthaired dog being pet by their owner while resting in their dog bed

What Is Preventive & Wellness Care?

Preventive veterinary care is exactly what it sounds like—getting ahead of health problems before they become serious. Routine pet checkups allow our team to evaluate your pet’s overall health, catch early warning signs, and make recommendations tailored to their age, lifestyle, and individual needs.

We don’t use a one-size-fits-all wellness protocol. Every care plan we develop is built around your specific pet.

Our Wellness Services

Our preventive care program supports every stage of your pet’s life, from their first puppy or kitten visit through their senior years. Combined with insights from our imaging and diagnostic services – along with essential services such as pet dentistry – we provide comprehensive, personalized care designed to support your pet’s overall health and help them enjoy a long, healthy, and comfortable life with you.

Wellness Exams

K
L

A thorough nose-to-tail physical exam is the cornerstone of every visit. We assess your pet's weight, coat, eyes, ears, teeth, joints, organ health, and more—establishing a health baseline we can track over time.

Puppy & Kitten Care

K
L

Early veterinary care sets the stage for lifelong health. We guide new pet owners through vaccination schedules, nutrition, parasite prevention, and behavior foundations during those critical first months.

Adult Wellness Care

K
L

Annual pet checkups for adult dogs and cats help us monitor ongoing health, update preventive treatments, and catch developing conditions early—when they're most treatable.

Geriatric Wellness Care

K
L

Senior pets benefit from more frequent exams and targeted screening. We watch closely for age-related changes and adjust care plans as your pet's needs evolve.

Parasite Prevention & Screening

K
L
We provide flea, tick, and heartworm prevention recommendations along with routine parasite screening to help protect your pet year-round from parasites that remain active in Southern California.

Deworming

K
L
Internal parasites are more common than many pet owners realize and can contaminate the environment or, in some cases, affect people. We include routine screening and deworming as part of a comprehensive preventive care plan.

Obesity Prevention & Treatment

K
L
Obesity is one of the most preventable health problems in pets, yet its effects can be far-reaching—contributing to joint disease, metabolic problems, reduced mobility, and a shorter lifespan. We provide nutritional guidance and ongoing weight monitoring to help pets achieve and maintain a healthy body condition for better quality of life and long-term health.

Behavior Consultations

K
L
Behavior is an important part of your pet’s overall well-being. Whether you’re noticing anxiety, fear, reactivity, or other changes at home, we’re here to help. We combine medical evaluation with practical behavior guidance and, when needed, can connect you with trusted behavior specialists or trainers for additional support.

Vaccinations for Dogs & Cats

Vaccines are one of the most effective tools we have for protecting pets from serious, potentially life-threatening diseases. At Panova Animal Hospital, we help you develop a vaccination plan based on your pet’s age, lifestyle, and individual risk factors—and we track their schedule so you don’t have to.

Core Vaccines

Core vaccines are recommended for all dogs and cats regardless of lifestyle, because the diseases they prevent are widespread, severe, or transmissible to humans.

Core Vaccines for Dogs

K
L
For dogs, core vaccines may include:

  • Rabies
  • Distemper
  • Parvovirus
  • Adenovirus (typically given as a combination vaccine)
  • Parainfluenza virus

Core Vaccines for Cats

K
L

For cats, core vaccines may include:

  • Rabies
  • Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis
  • Calicivirus
  • Panleukopenia (typically given as a combination vaccine)

closeup of a labrador retriever puppy being kissed by their owner outdoors
alert gray spotted cat with auburn eyes sitting by window

Non-Core (Lifestyle) Vaccines

Non-core vaccines are recommended based on your pet’s specific environment, habits, and exposure risk. We’ll discuss these with you during your pet’s wellness exam.

Non-Core Vaccines for Dogs

K
L

For dogs, non-core vaccines may include:

  • Bordetella (kennel cough)
  • Leptospirosis
  • Lyme disease
  • Canine Influenza
  • Rattlesnake toxoid

Non-Core Vaccines for Cats

K
L

For cats, non-core vaccines may include:

  • Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
  • Bordetella
  • Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
  • Chlamydia felis

Keeping Your Pet’s Vaccines on Track

We maintain your pet’s vaccination records and send reminders when boosters are due. Staying current on vaccines protects your individual pet—and helps protect the broader pet community around them.

black and white dog resting happily on a luxury hotel bed

Pet Wellness & Preventative Care FAQs

How often does my pet need a wellness exam?

K
L

Most healthy adult dogs and cats benefit from an annual exam. Senior pets—generally dogs over 7 and cats over 10—may benefit from checkups every 6 months. Puppies and kittens need more frequent visits during their first year to complete their vaccine series and monitor development.

What should I bring to my pet's wellness visit?

K
L

If you're a new client, bring any prior medical records or vaccine history you have. If your pet takes any medications or supplements, bring those along as well. If possible, bring a fresh stool sample so we can screen for intestinal parasites.

My pet seems healthy—do they still need a checkup?

K
L

Yes. Many health conditions develop silently and don't produce visible symptoms until they're advanced. A wellness exam allows us to detect changes your pet can't communicate and you may not be able to see.

Do you remind me when vaccines are due?

K
L

We do. We track your pet's vaccination schedule and follow up when boosters are due.

Does my indoor cat really need vaccines?

K
L
Yes. Indoor cats can still be exposed to airborne pathogens, and while California law does not mandate rabies vaccination for cats, rabies is a lethal zoonotic disease that can be transmitted to humans. For this reason, rabies vaccination is strictly required for all cat patients at our practice, along with core vaccines tailored to your cat's specific lifestyle and risk factors.

Proactive Care with a Personal Approach

Preventive veterinary care is most effective when it’s consistent and tailored—not generic. At Panova Animal Hospital, we take the time to understand each patient’s history, lifestyle, and individual risks before making any recommendations. Our goal isn’t just to keep pets healthy today; it’s to build a long-term relationship with you and your pet so we can support their health at every stage of life. Families throughout the Fountain Valley area and across Orange County trust us to be their partner in proactive, personalized pet care.