Preventative Care

Vaccines are one of the most effective ways to protect your pet from serious illness over the course of a lifetime. Animal Hospital of San Luis Obispo offers a variety of core and non-core vaccinations to suit your pet’s unique health profile. Your veterinarian will discuss your pet’s risk factors and medical considerations with you to make the most informed decision about each vaccine. You can learn more about our vaccine protocol on our Vaccinations page.

Spaying or neutering your pet is one of the best ways to decrease the chances of both acute and chronic illness. Pets who are “fixed” experience much lower rates of certain types of cancers (such as breast, prostate, uterine, and testicular cancer), as well as a reduction in uterine infections (pyometra) and a wide variety of behavioral problems. Here at Animal Hospital of San Luis Obispo, we understand that the decision to spay or neuter your pet is an important one, and our veterinarians are happy to discuss all the benefits and risks involved in your pet’s case to help you decide what is best.

A microchip is a small, electronic chip implanted under the skin that carries a link to your personal identification information. Microchipping your pet greatly increases the chance and speed with which your pet is returned to you after being lost. We can place your pet’s microchip during a routine vet visit, and the lifetime registration of your pet’s chip (and your ability to update your information) is included in the initial cost.

There are many internal and external parasites that can infest your cat or dog and cause illness. Examples of common external parasites include fleas, ticks, and mites. Examples of common internal parasites include heartworms and intestinal parasites such as tapeworms. Most external and internal parasites can be prevented by the use of monthly topical and/or oral medications. Your veterinarian may also recommend a variety of annual tests and treatments, such as a heartworm test or a fecal panel, to help screen for a variety of internal parasites that could be affecting your pet’s current or future health.

Whether your pet requires sedation for grooming, or you simply prefer the convenience of coming into your regular vet, we’re happy to offer a variety of grooming services to keep your pet looking and feeling their best! We are able to provide nail trims (clip and dremel), ear cleanings, ear plucking, anal gland expression, medical baths (except skunking), sanitary clips, and even full lion cuts for our long-haired feline friends. If your pet needs grooming and you need assistance, give us a call at 805-543-0985 to see how we can help you.

Pet insurance is a great option to make caring for your pet more affordable while ensuring they receive the treatment they need, when they need it. Animal Hospital of San Luis Obispo accepts a variety of pet insurance plans. We encourage pet parents to visit www.petinsurancereview.com to compare plans and determine which insurer is the best fit for your pet and your family.