Pet Care Services for Dogs and Cats in New Westminster
Keeping your dog or cat healthy begins long before any illness appears. Columbia Square Animal Hospital provides a full range of preventive pet care services for dogs and cats in New Westminster, built around the idea that routine visits, early detection, and consistent preventive care are the most effective tools available for protecting a pet’s long-term wellbeing. Our family-owned clinic is open seven days a week, including weekday evenings until 10:00 PM, so preventive care appointments fit into your schedule rather than the other way around.
Vaccinations and Wellness Exams in New Westminster
Vaccinations are one of the most reliable and cost-effective ways to protect your pet from serious infectious disease. At Columbia Square Animal Hospital, we follow evidence-based vaccination protocols for dogs and cats that account for each pet’s age, lifestyle, and local disease risks in the Lower Mainland. Core vaccines for dogs include protection against distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, and rabies. Core vaccines for cats include feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia, and rabies. Lifestyle vaccines, such as leptospirosis for dogs with outdoor or water exposure, are recommended based on your pet’s individual risk profile rather than applied universally.
Wellness exams are the foundation of your pet’s preventive care. A thorough physical examination allows your veterinarian to assess your pet’s body condition, organ function, dental health, skin and coat, ears, eyes, and musculoskeletal system as a whole. Many conditions, including early dental disease, heart murmurs, and weight changes, are identified during wellness exams before they cause noticeable symptoms. Healthy adult dogs and cats benefit from a wellness exam once a year. Senior pets benefit from exams every six months, as health can change more rapidly with age.
Flea and Tick Control, Deworming, and Parasite Prevention
Flea and tick control is recommended year-round for most dogs and cats in New Westminster and the broader Lower Mainland. Ticks are active throughout the year in our mild coastal climate, and fleas are a consistent presence in urban environments. Leptospirosis, spread through the urine of wildlife including raccoons and skunks, is a confirmed risk for dogs who access parks, waterways, or areas with wildlife activity. Columbia Square Animal Hospital provides parasite screening and recommends year-round preventive products appropriate to your pet’s age, weight, and lifestyle. Deworming schedules for puppies and kittens, and for newly adopted adult pets, are also discussed at your first visit.
Microchipping is a permanent form of identification that gives your pet the best chance of being returned to you if they are ever lost. A microchip is a small device injected beneath the skin, typically between the shoulder blades, in a procedure no more involved than a routine injection. Microchips are ISO-standard, readable by scanners at shelters, clinics, and animal control facilities across Canada. Registration of your current contact information is essential and should be updated whenever you move or change your phone number.
Nail Trimming, Ear Cleaning, Anal Gland Expression, and Dematting
Routine grooming care supports your pet’s comfort and helps your veterinarian detect early signs of skin, nail, ear, or coat conditions. Columbia Square Animal Hospital offers nail trimming, ear cleaning, and anal gland expression as part of the preventive care services available at the clinic. Overgrown nails affect posture and gait and can become painful if left unaddressed. Ear cleaning is particularly important for dogs with floppy ears or a history of ear infections. Anal gland expression is needed periodically for dogs whose anal glands do not empty naturally during defecation.
For cats with matted coats, dematting cats is a service available at the clinic. Severe matting pulls painfully on the skin and can create conditions for skin irritation and infection beneath the mat. Cats who are uncomfortable during grooming or whose mats are extensive may require sedation, which our team can discuss with you based on your individual cat’s temperament and coat condition.
FAQs
How often does my pet need a wellness exam at Columbia Square Animal Hospital?
Does my dog need flea and tick prevention year-round in New Westminster?
What is anal gland expression and how do I know if my dog needs it?
Ready to book a wellness exam or preventive care visit for your dog or cat? Columbia Square Animal Hospital in New Westminster is open seven days a week. Call us at (604) 521-5572 or walk in during clinic hours.