Preventive & Wellness Veterinary Care in Valparaiso, Indiana for Dogs, Cats & Exotic Pets
At Arbor View Animal Hospital, we believe preventive medicine is one of the most powerful tools we have to help pets live longer, healthier lives.
We provide comprehensive wellness care for:
- Dogs/Puppies
- Cats/Kittens
- Rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas
- Ferrets
- Reptiles & amphibians
- Birds (including parrots, chickens, geese, ducks)
- Pot-bellied pigs
- Raccoons, foxes, and skunks (with proper permits)
- Non-human primates
- Fish & aquatic pets
- Other zoo and wildlife species
In Valparaiso and throughout Northwest Indiana, pets face unique environmental and infectious disease risks. Our goal is to detect disease early — before it becomes advanced, costly, or untreatable.
Why Preventive Care Matters
Many animals, especially exotic and non-traditional pets, are extremely good at hiding illness. By the time visible symptoms appear, disease may already be advanced.
We recommend:
- Wellness exams every 6 months
- Annual preventive bloodwork (CBC and chemistry panel)
- Annual routine fecal screening
- Species-specific vaccine protocols
- Parasite prevention plans tailored to lifestyle and our regional risk
Early detection through diagnostics often means:
- Easier treatment
- Lower long-term cost
- Longer lifespan
- Better quality of life
Preventive medicine truly is worth a pound of cure.
What Happens During a Wellness Exam?
A wellness visit at Arbor View is comprehensive and medically focused.
Our typical wellness appointment includes:
- Thorough physical examination
- Nutrition evaluation
- Husbandry and environmental review (especially critical for exotic species)
- Dental health assessment
- Parasite screening discussion
- Vaccine risk assessment
- Behavior consultation (if applicable)
- Preventive labwork recommendations
For many exotic species, improper diet or housing is directly linked to disease. This is why education is a key component of every wellness visit.
Fear-Free & Low-Stress Veterinary Visits
At Arbor View Animal Hospital, our goal is not only to keep your pet healthy — but to make their veterinary visits as positive and stress-free as possible.
We strive to create an experience your pet can feel comfortable returning to.
Our approach includes:
- Getting pets into exam rooms quickly to reduce waiting room stress
- Using treats generously and appropriately
- Moving at your pet’s pace whenever possible
- Utilizing low-stress handling techniques
- Training our team in species-specific restraint and comfort methods
Many pets develop anxiety around veterinary visits due to rushed or stressful past experiences. By slowing down, offering positive reinforcement, and handling pets gently, we work to build trust over time.
Our goal is for your pet to associate their visit with positive experiences, not fear, so future exams and medical care can be performed more comfortably and safely.
Preventive Labwork for All Species
Yearly screening bloodwork is one of the most effective ways to detect early organ dysfunction before symptoms appear.
This is especially critical for any patients we see but our exotic pet species frequently mask illness until it becomes severe. Preventive labwork allows earlier intervention and improved outcomes.
We commonly recommend:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Chemistry panel
- Fecal parasite screening
- Heartworm testing (for dogs)
For dogs, we use a 4DX heartworm test, which screens for:
- Heartworm disease
- Lyme disease
- Ehrlichia
- Anaplasmosis
Early detection of these tick-borne diseases can prevent serious and potentially fatal complications.
Parasites & Infectious Disease in Northwest Indiana
Our region has significant exposure risks due to wildlife, wooded areas, and proximity to Lake Michigan.
We commonly diagnose:
- Giardia
- Coccidia
- Roundworms
- Hookworms
- Whipworms
- Tapeworms
Lyme disease is highly prevalent in Northwest Indiana.
We also see leptospirosis due to wildlife exposure and environmental contamination.
Our preventive recommendations are tailored specifically to the risks present in Valparaiso and the surrounding Northwest Indiana communities.
Species-Specific Vaccination Protocols
Not all veterinary hospitals carry or are trained in administering vaccines for non-traditional species. At Arbor View, vaccine recommendations are tailored to species, lifestyle, and local risk factors.
We provide vaccines for:
Dogs (puppies):
Rabies, Distemper/Parvo, and leptospirosis (Core vaccines) and bordetella, lyme and canine influenza vaccines (determined if needed based on lifestyle or environmental risk).
Cats (kittens):
Rabies, distemper vaccines (Core vaccines) and FELV vaccine (determined if needed based on lifestyle risk).
Ferrets (kits):
Rabies (imrab 3), Ferret Distemper (both vaccines are specifically labeled for ferrets)
Rabbits:
Rabbit Hemmorhagic Viral Disease (RHDV). For more information: https://arborviewah.com/rhdv/
Pot-bellied pigs
Tetanus & Erysipelothrix
Raccoons, foxes, & skunks
Rabies and distemper.
Non-human primates:
Rabies, Tetanus and TB testing.
Advanced Diagnostics Without Referral
If wellness screening identifies concerns, we are equipped to pursue advanced diagnostics in-house.
Our hospital offers:
- Advanced imaging (including dental and radiographs)
- CT
- Fluoroscopy
- Endoscopy
- Ultrasound
- In-house laboratory diagnostics
This allows many patients to receive timely advanced care without immediate referral to a specialty center.
Why Choose Arbor View Animal Hospital for Preventive Care?
Preventive medicine is only as strong as the team behind it.
At Arbor View Animal Hospital, wellness care is not a checklist, it is a medically driven, species-specific plan designed to protect your pet’s long-term health.
Comprehensive Care for Dogs, Cats & Exotic Pets
While many hospitals focus only on dogs and cats, we provide preventive care for traditional and non-traditional species. Each species has unique health risks, nutritional needs, and vaccine protocols.
Early Detection Through Diagnostics
We strongly believe in proactive screening. Annual bloodwork, fecal testing, heartworm screening, and parasite evaluation allow us to detect disease before it becomes advanced.
Species-Specific Expertise
Many exotic species develop preventable diseases related to diet and husbandry. Our team provides detailed guidance to help owners avoid common but serious medical conditions.
Local Knowledge of Northwest Indiana Disease Risks
We understand the parasite and infectious disease risks unique to Valparaiso and the surrounding region, including Lyme disease, heartworm, leptospirosis, and tick-borne illnesses.
A Collaborative, Educated Team
From reception to assistants, registered veterinary technicians, and doctors, our entire team is trained to provide accurate, consistent preventive care information. Educated owners make empowered decisions for their pets.
Preventive care is an investment in your pet’s future. Our goal is simple: help your pet live a longer, healthier life through early detection, education, and proactive medical care.
Arbor View Animal Hospital is an AAHA-accredited, multi-doctor veterinary hospital serving Valparaiso and the greater Northwest Indiana region.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should my pet have a wellness exam?
We recommend exams every 6 months. Pets age faster than humans and can hide illness well.
Does my dog, cat or exotic pet really need bloodwork?
Yes. Dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, small mammals and other exotic species frequently mask illness until disease is advanced. Preventive labwork helps detect early problems.
What parasites are common in Northwest Indiana?
We frequently diagnose Giardia, coccidia, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, heartworm disease, and tick-borne diseases such as Lyme.
What does the 4DX test check for?
It screens for heartworm disease and exposure to Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis.
Does Arbor View Animal Hospital treat wildlife?
Yes, but there are important distinctions.
1️⃣ Injured Wildlife Intended for Release
If you find an injured wild animal that is intended to be returned to the wild, Arbor View Animal Hospital holds a state rehabilitation permit to treat and rehabilitate injured local wildlife.
In these cases:
- The animal is relinquished to our care
- We assume medical and rehabilitation decision-making responsibility
- Financial responsibility transfers to our wildlife rehabilitation program
- Animals treated under rehabilitation are not returned as pets
- The goal is safe return to the wild
We rehabilitate most local species except deer, bats, skunks, and raccoons.
If you find a healthy-appearing wild animal or orphan, we encourage you to contact Humane Indiana Wildlife directly:
https://www.humaneindiana.org/wildlife-about
Directing healthy wildlife and orphans to Humane Indiana allows our hospital to concentrate our financial and staff resources specifically on injured wildlife that require immediate medical and surgical intervention.
Healthy wildlife should not be removed from their natural environment unless advised by a licensed rehabilitator.
2️⃣ Privately Owned Wildlife (Not Intended for Release)
If you legally own wildlife with no intent to release it, we see these animals as privately owned patients.
In these cases:
- The animal is not relinquished
- The owner maintains financial responsibility
- The owner retains medical decision-making authority
We do see pet raccoons and pet skunks.
Please note that the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires appropriate permits for native wildlife kept in captivity.
For permit information, visit:
https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/licenses-and-permits/permits-commercial-licenses/
Caring medicine for all animals.
Location
Hours
Monday: 8:00am – 8:00pm
Tuesday: 8:00am – 8:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am – 8:00pm
Friday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am – 1:00pm
Sunday: Closed
Contact Info
Get in touch!
