Because proactive care is the greatest gift you can give your pet.
At The Animal Doctors of Orange County, we believe preventative veterinary care is one of the most important investments you can make in your pet's long-term health and quality of life. We believe proactive medicine helps pets live longer, healthier, and more comfortable lives — focusing on early detection, disease prevention, and routine wellness monitoring before problems become more serious or costly to treat.
Our preventive care services are designed to support dogs and cats through every stage of life, from puppies and kittens to senior pets. Whether your pet needs an annual checkup, vaccine boosters, heartworm prevention, flea and tick prevention, or routine diagnostic testing, our veterinary team at our Buena Park, Anaheim, and Mission Viejo locations is here to help keep them healthy and thriving.
What Is Preventive Veterinary Care?
A Partnership Built on Consistency and Trust
Preventive veterinary care means focusing on your pet's health before problems arise — not just responding to illness or injury. It is the foundation of good veterinary medicine. Dogs and cats age significantly faster than humans — for an adult dog, each human year is approximately four to five dog years, which means a lot can change between visits. Regular wellness exams and preventive services ensure that changes in your pet's health are caught early, when they are most treatable.
Preventive care is the cornerstone of keeping pets healthy and happy, offering not only protection from disease but also significant long-term cost savings by helping pet owners avoid expensive emergency or specialty treatments down the road.
Comprehensive Preventive Care Services for Dogs & Cats
What We Offer at Every Stage of Life
We provide a full range of preventive veterinary services for dogs and cats at all three of our Orange County locations:
- Annual and biannual wellness exams
- Dog and cat vaccinations (core and lifestyle-based)
- Puppy care and kitten care
- Senior pet wellness screenings
- Heartworm testing and prevention
- Flea and tick prevention
- Intestinal parasite screening and prevention
- Routine bloodwork and urinalysis
- Fecal examinations
- Dental evaluations and oral health care
- Nutritional counseling and weight management
- Microchipping
- Early disease detection screenings
- Spay and neuter counseling
- Behavioral guidance
The Annual Wellness Exam — More Than Just a Checkup
A Full Nose-to-Tail Evaluation
A wellness exam is a comprehensive head-to-tail physical that helps your veterinarian catch health problems early, before they become serious. During every wellness visit at The Animal Doctors of Orange County, our veterinarians conduct a thorough physical examination of your pet's:
- Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Teeth, gums, and oral cavity
- Skin and coat condition
- Heart and lung function
- Abdominal organs
- Lymph nodes
- Musculoskeletal and joint health
- Neurological reflexes and responses
- Weight and body condition score
How Often Should My Pet Be Seen?
Adult dogs and cats should be seen annually for wellness exams. Once pets reach their senior years — generally age 7 and older — every six months is the recommended cadence, as health can change more rapidly with age. Puppies and kittens require multiple visits during their first year of life to complete their vaccination series, monitor growth and development, and address early health concerns.
Vaccinations for Dogs & Cats
Evidence-Based Protection Against Serious Disease
Vaccinations are one of the most powerful tools in preventive veterinary medicine. The 2024 World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Vaccination Guidelines strongly recommend that all dogs and cats receive core vaccines — not only to protect individual animals, but to minimize the risk of contagious disease outbreaks within communities.
The 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines, updated in 2024, classify the following as core vaccines for dogs: distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and rabies. Leptospirosis was added as a recommended core vaccine for all dogs in the 2024 update.
For cats, core vaccines include feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, panleukopenia (FVRCP), and rabies. Additional lifestyle-based vaccines — such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) — are recommended based on your cat's exposure risk. At every wellness visit, our veterinarians assess your pet's vaccination status and lifestyle to ensure they are receiving the right protection — not simply following a one-size-fits-all schedule.
Parasite Prevention for Dogs & Cats
Year-Round Protection Is Essential in Southern California
Southern California's warm climate makes year-round parasite prevention critical for dogs and cats. Fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites are not seasonal concerns here — they are present throughout the year.
Heartworm Disease
According to the American Heartworm Society, more than a million pets in the United States have heartworm disease — a serious and potentially fatal condition transmitted by mosquitoes — and cases are on the rise. Heartworm disease has been diagnosed in pets across all 50 states, including California.
For dogs, heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs, and arteries — and can affect your dog's health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone. Prevention is by far the safest and most affordable option. The American Heartworm Society recommends annual testing for all dogs and year-round prevention.
For cats, heartworm disease is particularly dangerous because there is no approved treatment for heartworm infection in cats — making prevention the only protection. Even indoor cats are at risk, as mosquitoes can enter the home.
Flea, Tick & Intestinal Parasite Prevention
Fleas and ticks are not just a nuisance — they transmit diseases including Lyme disease, bartonellosis, and tapeworms. Most adult dogs and cats should have a fecal examination at least once a year to check for intestinal parasites, and young animals benefit from fecal testing at every puppy or kitten visit. Our veterinarians will recommend the most appropriate parasite prevention protocol based on your pet's lifestyle, age, and local risk factors.
Dental Health — The Most Overlooked Part of Preventive Care
Oral Health Affects Your Pet's Entire Body
Periodontal disease is the number one health problem in small animal patients. By 2 years of age, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of periodontal disease. Despite being almost entirely preventable, it is frequently undertreated.
Periodontal disease has been associated with systemic conditions including cardiac, renal, and hepatic disorders — meaning poor oral health doesn't stay in the mouth. It can silently impact your pet's kidneys, heart, and liver over time.
Regular dental evaluations and professional dental cleanings are a core part of our preventive care approach at all three of our Orange County locations. Our veterinarians will evaluate your pet's oral health at every wellness exam and recommend a dental care plan appropriate for their age, breed, and individual needs.
Routine Bloodwork & Diagnostic Screening
Seeing What the Eye Can't
Routine bloodwork and diagnostic testing are among the most powerful tools in preventive veterinary medicine. Many serious conditions — including kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, thyroid disease, and anemia — show few or no outward signs in their early stages. Blood panels and urinalysis allow our veterinarians to detect abnormalities before your pet appears unwell.
A middle-aged dog may benefit from early arthritis screening, while a senior cat may need more frequent bloodwork to monitor organ function. Establishing a baseline of your pet's normal values when they are young and healthy makes it far easier to identify meaningful changes as they age.
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Comprehensive metabolic panel
- Thyroid screening
- Urinalysis
- Fecal parasite examination
- Heartworm testing
- FeLV / FIV testing for cats
- Blood pressure measurement
- Early kidney disease screening (SDMA)
Senior Pet Preventive Care
More Frequent Visits, More Comprehensive Monitoring
Senior dogs and cats — generally those 7 years and older — are at increased risk for a wide range of conditions including arthritis, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, dental disease, cognitive dysfunction, and cancer. Many of these conditions can be managed effectively when caught early, but may progress silently without regular monitoring.
Keeping your pet at their ideal body weight reduces their risk for harmful conditions including arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and potentially some cancers. Senior wellness screenings at The Animal Doctors of Orange County include diagnostic services, joint assessments, blood pressure monitoring, and a thorough quality-of-life evaluation. We recommend twice-yearly visits for senior pets — because six months in a senior pet's life represents a significant amount of time.
Puppy & Kitten Preventive Care
Starting Right Sets the Foundation for a Lifetime of Health
The first year of your puppy or kitten's life is one of the most important from a preventive care standpoint. During this period we establish their vaccination series, screen for congenital conditions, discuss parasite prevention and nutrition, and build a baseline health profile that will guide their care for years to come.
Puppies and kittens require several wellness visits during their first year, typically at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age, and again at one year. These visits are also a wonderful opportunity to ask questions about behavior, training, socialization, diet, and spay/neuter timing.
Why Early Detection Saves Lives — and Money
The Real Cost of Skipping Preventive Care
Wellness exams allow veterinarians to assess the state of a pet's health, identify issues as early as possible, and work to prevent disease. Pets are masters at hiding discomfort and illness — by the time signs are obvious, conditions have often progressed significantly.
Early detection of conditions like kidney disease, heart disease, or dental infections almost always means:
- Less invasive treatment options
- Better long-term outcomes
- Significantly lower overall treatment costs
- A longer, more comfortable life for your pet
In addition to saving your pet from unnecessary suffering, preventive care can also save you money by helping you avoid costly treatments.
Read more: Understanding the Cost of Veterinary Care & Your Payment Options
Serving Dogs & Cats Throughout Orange County
Preventive Veterinary Care Near You
The Animal Doctors of Orange County proudly provides preventive veterinary care, wellness exams, dog and cat vaccinations, parasite prevention, senior pet care, dental evaluations, and routine health screenings for families throughout Buena Park, Anaheim, Mission Viejo, and surrounding communities including Fullerton, Cypress, La Palma, Garden Grove, Orange, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, and Aliso Viejo.
Whether you're searching for a veterinarian in Buena Park, a wellness exam for your dog in Anaheim, cat vaccinations near Mission Viejo, or comprehensive preventive veterinary care in Orange County, CA — our team is here for every stage of your pet's life.
The Animal Doctors of Anaheim
Serving Anaheim, Orange, and Garden Grove
(714) 535-1141
The Animal Doctors of Buena Park
Serving Buena Park, La Palma, Cypress, and Cerritos
(714) 521-4595
The Animal Doctors of Mission Viejo
???????Serving Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, and Aliso Viejo
(949) 472-3555
Our goal is to help your pet stay happy, healthy, and by your side for as many years as possible. Because they deserve it all.
Don't forget to follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram.
Service FAQ
How often should my pet have a wellness check-up?
We recommend annual check-ups for most pets, though senior pets or those with health concerns may need more frequent visits. These exams help monitor your pet’s overall health.
Why is parasite prevention important?
Parasites like fleas, ticks, and heartworms can cause serious health problems for your pet. Regular prevention treatments are vital to keeping your pet protected from these harmful pests.
Can preventative care help detect cancer early?
Yes, regular check-ups and diagnostic tests can help identify cancer and other serious conditions early, improving the chances of successful treatment.
What vaccines does my pet need?
Vaccinations vary based on your pet’s age, lifestyle, and health status. Core vaccines typically include rabies and distemper, while other vaccines depend on your pet’s risk factors.
How do routine blood tests benefit my pet?
Blood tests help us monitor organ function, detect diseases early, and establish baseline health markers. Regular testing is especially important as your pet ages.
What is included in a routine wellness exam?
A wellness exam typically includes a physical exam, weight check, dental check, vaccinations, and a discussion of your pet’s diet and behavior. It’s a comprehensive look at your pet’s overall health.