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The Care That Happens Between Checkups

Not every health concern shows up during a once- or twice-a-year checkup, which is why Bearss Animal Hospital in Lutz, Florida, offers ongoing preventative and internal medicine to catch and manage conditions between visits. Call 813-961-1222 to talk with our team about a long-term care plan for your pet.

What Preventative and Internal Medicine Covers

Preventative and internal medicine is about the health work that happens between wellness exams, not instead of them. It includes vaccination protocols tailored to your pet's lifestyle and risk factors, year-round parasite prevention, nutrition and weight management, and ongoing monitoring for pets managing chronic conditions like diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney disease, and heart disease.

How this differs from a Wellness Exam:

A wellness exam is a once- or twice-a-year snapshot. This is the ongoing care and monitoring in between.

Managing Chronic Conditions Over the Long Term

Some pets, especially as they age, need more than an annual exam to stay healthy. Chronic conditions require regular monitoring, medication adjustments, and a veterinarian who understands your pet's full history, not just a single visit.

Dr. Antonio Flores works with pet owners to build treatment plans that adapt as your pet's needs change, rather than reacting only when something goes wrong.

Prevention as the First Line of Defense

Our team helps you stay ahead of seasonal risks common to the Tampa Bay area, so prevention becomes a routine part of your pet's care rather than an afterthought.

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Fleas and ticks

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Heartworm-carrying mosquitoes

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Vaccination protocols

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Why Lutz Pet Owners Trust Us With Ongoing Care

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Personalized vaccination and parasite prevention schedules based on your pet's lifestyle

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Long-term management plans for chronic conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, and heart disease

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Nutrition and weight management guidance built into every visit

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Continuity of care from a veterinarian who knows your pet's full history

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Family-owned practice with decades of hands-on experience managing complex cases

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Same-day sick visits available when a chronic condition flares up unexpectedly

Common Questions About Preventative and Internal Medicine

  • What's the difference between this and a wellness exam?

    A wellness exam is a snapshot of your pet's health at one point in time. Preventative and internal medicine is the ongoing management in between, including ongoing prevention and ongoing monitoring for chronic conditions.

  • My pet was just diagnosed with a chronic condition. What happens now?

    We build a management plan around your pet's specific diagnosis, which may include medication, dietary changes, and a monitoring schedule to track how they're responding over time.

  • How often will my pet need to be seen for an ongoing condition?

    It depends on the condition, but most chronic cases are monitored more frequently than a typical healthy pet, often every few months, to adjust treatment as needed.
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Talk to Us About Your Pet's Long-Term Care

If your pet has an ongoing health condition or you'd like to build a preventative care plan, call or text us at 813-961-1222.