Rabies Rabies vaccination is required by law for dogs. Not only is there no cure for rabies but there is also a human health risk since people can contract rabies from an infected animal.
Wellness care
Wellness care for dogs
Preventing and protecting pets from health problems is the heart of veterinary care.
Preventative care
The foundation of health care
- Comprehensive physical examinations
- Immunization and intestinal parasite program
- Wellness services bundled into packages
Several ingredients are needed
What will help my pet live a healthier and longer life?
Prevention of disease
Vaccinations, heartworm preventative, flea & tick protection, proper nutrition, etc.Detection of disease
Comprehensive health assessments: physical examinations, blood screenings, fecal exams, urinalysis, etc.Health care plans & therapeutics
If needed, choosing and implementing the most appropriate therapies for any medical condition(s) that are detected.Monitoring
Evaluations and diagnostic tests to evaluate progress.
Check-ups
Why regular exams matter
Why should I bring my pet in when he or she seems healthy?
People often think that the purpose of an exam or “office visit” is to receive vaccinations. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The most important reason to have your pet seen by a veterinarian is for comprehensive physical examination and medical care designed to prevent and detect disease. Prevention and early disease detection are the keys to your pet having a longer and healthier life!
How often should I bring my pet in for a check-up?
Semi-annual physical examinations are the focal point for keeping your pet on the road of good health. Regular comprehensive examinations are critical to preventing and detecting disease because:
- Our pets age 5–7 times faster than us.
- Animals by nature tend to hide illness, so it can be difficult for you to detect problems at home.
- Pets cannot always tell us when it hurts.
3–5 years
How much your pet ages in the 6 months between exams
5–7×
How much faster our pets age than we do
Vaccinations
Protection tailored to your dog
Vaccinations are designed to effectively reduce the extent and severity of infectious disease in our pets. It is recommended that vaccination protocols are selected for each individual animal based on risk of exposure, health status, age, and the individual needs and lifestyle of your pet.
Potential risks. There is always a potential risk for an adverse reaction to a vaccine. Although the risk is very low, it is still there. Possible reactions include an immediate hypersensitivity reaction, auto-immune disease from over-vaccinating and the development of vaccine associated sarcomas in cats.
Our vaccination guidelines. We tailor your pet’s vaccination program to your pet’s lifestyle to reduce the risks of both diseases and possible side effects. We are happy to discuss any questions or concerns that you may have regarding our vaccination protocol.
Dog vaccines
DAP A combination vaccine commonly referred to as the “Distemper” vaccine. This 3-way vaccine protects against the core group of viral disease in dogs: Distemper, Adenovirus and Parvovirus. Our 3 year vaccine provides the protection from these diseases while eliminating the concern of vaccinating every year.
Kennel cough An upper respiratory “complex” generally caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterium and parainfluenza virus. Our intranasal vaccine offers faster protection, and is recommended and often required for all dogs exposed to other dogs (e.g. shows, training classes, boarding facilities).
Lyme disease Lyme disease is caused by an organism called Borrelia burgdorferi, transmitted to dogs by infected ticks. Wisconsin is an endemic area for Lyme disease and we recommend vaccination for any dog with the potential to come into contact with ticks (wooded areas, etc.).
Leptospirosis A bacterial disease spread primarily by wildlife: raccoons, skunk, opossum, small rodents, deer and livestock such as cows. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease (it can be spread to people from animals). It is recommended that all dogs at risk be vaccinated.
We also offer Vaccination Titer Screening as an alternative to reduce the risk of overvaccinating. Explore holistic care
Parasite prevention
Year-round, not just in heartworm season
The old concept of “heartworm season” is a thing of the past. “Heartworm” medication now prevents many other parasites from developing in your pet. Monthly parasite prevention includes not only heartworms, but also roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, flea and tick protection.
A blood test is required to check for possible heartworm infection prior to beginning the parasite preventative (except for puppies less than 6 months of age). Heartworms will live in your dog’s heart and lung arteries and can cause heart failure and death. Most pets with heartworms do not show evidence of the disease in the early stages of infection, so early detection with blood tests and monthly heartworm medication are vital. ALL dogs are at risk of heartworm disease because it is transmitted by infected mosquitoes.
Fleas Fleas can make your dog very uncomfortable and also allow a flea infestation into your home. Parasite prevention includes stopping a flea infestation before it starts. Flea control is also important since some fleas transmit intestinal tapeworms to your pet.
Ticks Ticks can attach to the skin under the hair coat where you may not notice them for many days. Some ticks are also responsible for transmitting Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Intestinal worms Roundworms, hookworms and whipworms are abundant in the environment, and pets can acquire them from infected soil or feces. They can cause vomiting, bloody diarrhea, anemia and stunted growth, and hookworms and roundworms also pose a threat to human health.
Every 6 months
A fecal examination to check for intestinal parasites
Recommended by Countrycare and the Centers for Disease Control. A fecal flotation can also detect other types of parasites, which should be addressed accordingly.
Aging
Extra care for the senior years
As animals move through life, they go through many of the same aging processes that humans do. Their hair may turn gray, their body seems to wear out and their senses dim. Diseases that are commonly known to afflict humans also affect our pets: kidney, heart, and liver disease, tumors, cancer, diabetes, depression, “Alzheimer’s”, etc.
As a rule of thumb, smaller breeds of dogs live longer than larger breeds, and different breeds and lifestyles can also affect the aging process. The old saying was seven dog years for every “human” year; by a more accurate chart, if your dog is 75 lbs. and 8 years old, it would be equivalent to a 55 year old human.
Aging is not a disease, but rather a manifestation of the body’s diminished repair response. In animals, “old age” is generally referred to as the last 25% of their lifespan, and it is affected by genetics, nutrition and environment. While dogs begin to undergo aging changes starting at about age 5–7 years, different pets show the signs of growing “old” at different rates. The best time to recognize your pet’s “senior” status and need for extra TLC is long before advanced problems are apparent.
To increase the length and quality of your pet’s life, it is important to realize the speed of the aging process and take preventative steps to manage risk factors related to your pet’s health.
Important steps
- Have regular wellness check-ups by your veterinarian. Every 3–6 months is appropriate for seniors.
- If you only have your pet examined once every calendar year, your pet has actually aged 4–8 years!
- The correct nutrition and supplements are especially important as the body ages and cannot assimilate nutrients as well as when younger.
- Exercise keeps their bodies from deteriorating physically. Use common sense for the appropriate type and amount.
- Watch for any (even subtle) physical or behavioral changes so that they can be addressed as soon as possible.
From our blog
Reading for healthy dogs
Vaccines for Dogs and Cats: What Every Pet Owner Should Understand Most of us know what vaccines are. We’ve had them. Our kids have had them. But what do vaccines actually do? Read more 
Hidden Dangers of Warmer Weather: Fleas and Ticks With warmer weather finally here, that means the creepy crawly bugs are here too! Fleas hang out on pets and wildlife and drop eggs into the… Read more 
The Top 5 Health Problems Your Pet May Be Hiding We all do our best to make sure that our pets are staying healthy and happy. We make sure they have their favorite snacks and toys, and we give their… Read more In their words
The hearts we’ve touched
“I arrived with a bag of pills and not much hope for Fina’s quality of life. Dr. Strickfaden listened, and within weeks my German Shepherd was on the road to recovery.”
“Years ago when all other vets gave up on my older dog Katy, Dr. Strickfaden got her back to agility competition form with acupuncture. I’m a big fan!”
“Countrycare Animal Complex is what I wish for all pets. Your compassion and genuine caring makes all the difference. Duke is a happy dog because of you.”
“Everyone there was great — from making the appointment to the vet tech to our vet. Everyone was super friendly and nice. They took their time. We didn’t feel rushed. We were very happy and grateful to the staff.”
“Dr. Heintz was so gentle and compassionate with our dog. The vet tech was so kind and understanding with all of the questions that I asked her. They made me feel comfortable with the decisions that we made for Maddie.”
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