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Pet Care Services for Dogs and Cats in Mission, BC

Preventive care is the most effective investment in your pet's long-term health. At Lougheed Animal Hospital in Mission, BC, our pet care services cover everything your dog or cat needs to stay healthy through every life stage. Whether you are bringing in a new puppy, scheduling a routine wellness check, or picking up heartworm prevention, our team is here to make every visit straightforward and stress-free. We have been caring for pets in Mission and the Fraser Valley since 2004. Call (604) 826-7066 to book your next appointment.

Wellness Exams for Dogs and Cats

Annual and semi-annual wellness exams are the foundation of preventive care. At each visit, our veterinarians complete a full physical assessment from nose to tail, checking weight, body condition, teeth, coat, eyes, ears, joints, and abdominal health. We discuss any changes you have noticed at home, review your pet's lifestyle and risk factors, and update care recommendations as needed. Adult dogs and cats benefit from a yearly exam. Senior pets, generally seven years and older, benefit from twice-yearly appointments to catch age-related changes sooner. Catching a concern at a wellness exam is nearly always simpler to address than managing a more advanced health issue later. Book your pet's next wellness exam today.

Vaccinations for Dogs and Cats

Vaccinations protect your pet from serious, preventable diseases and support the health of the broader pet community in Mission. Our veterinarians follow current AAHA and AAFP guidelines, tailoring each protocol to your pet's age, lifestyle, and health history. Core vaccines for dogs include distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and rabies. Core vaccines for cats include feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, panleukopenia, and rabies. We also discuss lifestyle vaccines including Bordetella, Leptospirosis, and Feline Leukemia based on your pet's exposure risks. Mission's green spaces, river corridors, and wildlife make Leptospirosis vaccination worth discussing for most dogs. All vaccines are tracked in your pet's records.

Flea and Tick Prevention

Mission's proximity to forested trails, green spaces, and the Fraser River makes year-round flea and tick prevention a practical priority for most dogs and cats. Fleas cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, and can transmit tapeworms. Ticks carry bacteria that can affect both pets and people. Our team will recommend a product suited to your pet's species, weight, lifestyle, and any household sensitivities, with topical and oral options available. Consistent prevention is significantly more cost-effective than managing an active infestation or tick-borne illness. Ask us about year-round versus seasonal prevention options at your next visit.

Heartworm Prevention

Heartworm is a serious parasitic infection spread by mosquitoes that damages the heart and lungs before symptoms appear. While Mission's climate keeps local risk relatively low, heartworm is a real concern for pets that travel to or from endemic regions. Because the infection is difficult to manage once established, prevention is the most reliable strategy. Our veterinarians assess your pet's risk based on lifestyle and travel history and recommend an appropriate prevention plan. Annual testing is recommended for dogs on prevention who travel to endemic areas. We will review your pet's travel plans and adjust recommendations accordingly.

Microchipping for Dogs and Cats

A microchip is the most reliable permanent form of identification for your pet. Unlike collars and tags that can be lost or removed, a microchip stays in place for your pet's lifetime. The implant takes only a moment and requires no anesthetic. A unique code linked to your contact information is stored in a national registry, so if your pet is ever lost and scanned at a shelter or clinic, they can be returned to you. We recommend microchipping alongside spay and neuter appointments or at any wellness visit. Ask us about registration and how to update your contact details if you move.

Nail Trim for Dogs and Cats

Overgrown nails are uncomfortable for dogs and cats and can affect how your pet walks and bears weight. Regular nail trims prevent nails from curling into the paw pad, reduce the risk of snagging and tearing, and make everyday handling easier for you and for our team. Our team performs nail trims at wellness visits or as a standalone appointment. For pets who find nail trims stressful, we offer sedated nail trims through our Medical Grooming services. We can also walk you through gentle at-home handling techniques to help your pet build confidence between visits.

On-Site Dispensing

Lougheed Animal Hospital maintains an on-site inventory of veterinary products for your convenience. Our team can provide flea and tick preventives, heartworm prevention, veterinary-grade nutritional supplements, and other commonly needed items directly at your appointment. This means less time sourcing products elsewhere and more confidence that what your pet is receiving is appropriate for their specific needs. Our veterinarians advise on product selection based on your pet's health, weight, and lifestyle. Ask about our reorder process for routine items. Our on-site dispensing is tailored to the needs of pets in Mission and the Fraser Valley.

International Health Certificate

Planning to travel internationally with your dog or cat? Most countries require an official health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian within a specific window before departure. At Lougheed Animal Hospital, we perform the required health examination, review vaccination records, and complete the necessary documentation. Requirements vary significantly by destination country, so we recommend booking your appointment well in advance of your travel date. Call us to discuss what your specific destination requires. We also assist with Canadian Food Inspection Agency export documentation. Bring your itinerary to the appointment so we can confirm the requirements are met.

Therapeutic Pet Food and Supplements

Some dogs and cats benefit from specialized nutrition to support specific health conditions including kidney function, joint health, digestive health, and weight management. Lougheed Animal Hospital carries therapeutic pet foods and veterinary-grade supplements formulated to address these needs. Our veterinarians will assess whether a specialized diet or supplement is appropriate for your pet based on a thorough clinical evaluation and will guide you through the transition. We do not stock over-the-counter foods and recommend only products with a documented clinical basis. All nutritional recommendations are tailored to your individual pet's health status.

Reproductive Health Counseling

Our team provides reproductive health counseling for clients with dogs and cats involved in planned breeding. We advise on timing, progesterone testing for optimal breeding windows, and pre-breeding health evaluations. We also discuss the health implications of spaying and neutering for pets not intended for breeding, including how timing affects long-term joint and hormonal health. Whether you are planning a litter or evaluating the right time for your pet's procedure, our veterinarians are available to walk you through the options and make a recommendation suited to your pet's breed, size, and health.

Explore More

Life-stage wellness exams for puppies and kittens

Spay and neuter timing and scheduling

Sedated nail trims and dematting

FAQs

How often does my dog or cat need a wellness exam in Mission, BC?
Adult dogs and cats should visit us once a year for a full wellness exam. Senior pets, generally seven years and older, benefit from twice-yearly exams to catch age-related changes earlier. Puppies and kittens follow a more frequent schedule during their first year to stay on track with vaccinations and development monitoring. Call (604) 826-7066 to book your pet’s next visit.
When should I start flea and tick prevention for my puppy or kitten?
We recommend starting parasite prevention as early as the product’s minimum age allows. Young pets are just as susceptible to fleas and ticks as adult pets, and early prevention is easier to manage than addressing an active problem. Our team will recommend a product appropriate for your pet’s age, weight, and species at your first visit.
Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
Yes. Core vaccines are recommended for indoor cats because exposure risks still exist, including during veterinary visits, if your cat escapes, or when new animals are brought into the home. Our veterinarians will design a vaccine plan appropriate for your cat’s lifestyle, health history, and local risk factors.
Is microchipping painful for dogs and cats?
The microchip is implanted using a needle similar in size to a standard vaccination needle. Most pets experience only brief, mild discomfort, and no anesthetic is required. We often perform microchipping at the same appointment as spay or neuter surgery to minimize the number of separate visits your pet needs.
What is a therapeutic pet food and is it different from regular pet food?
Therapeutic pet foods are formulated to address specific health conditions, such as kidney disease, urinary health, or weight management. They differ from over-the-counter options in their precise nutrient profiles, which are calibrated to support a particular health need. Our veterinarians assess whether a specialized diet would benefit your pet and guide you through the transition process.

Your pet's health starts with consistent, proactive care. Call Lougheed Animal Hospital at (604) 826-7066 or book online to schedule a wellness exam, vaccination visit, or parasite prevention consultation in Mission, BC.