- Mon to Sat: 8:00Am-6:00Pm
- Sun & STAT Holidays: Closed
Healthy pets start with consistent, proactive care. At Alma Animal Hospital in Dunbar, Vancouver, our pet care services are designed to keep your dog or cat protected, comfortable, and thriving at every stage of life. Conveniently located for pet owners in Dunbar, Point Grey, and Dunbar-Southlands, we offer personalized preventive care in a calm, welcoming environment. From core vaccinations and parasite prevention to microchipping and routine nail trims, we are here to answer every question you bring through our door.
Vaccination is the single most effective tool for protecting your pet from preventable illness. At Alma Animal Hospital, we follow current AAFCO and CVMA guidelines to develop a vaccine schedule tailored to your pet's age, lifestyle, and risk profile. Core vaccines for dogs include DA2PP, Rabies, Leptospirosis, and Bordetella. Core vaccines for cats include FVRCP, Rabies, and FeLV for cats with any outdoor access. We take time at every visit to review your pet's schedule, discuss any updates, and make sure you understand what each vaccine protects against. Vaccines are always preceded by a full physical assessment to confirm your pet is healthy enough to receive them.
Fleas and ticks are active year-round in Vancouver's mild climate. Fleas can infest a home within days of a single exposure, and ticks can transmit serious illness to both pets and people. Our team recommends year-round flea and tick prevention for all dogs and cats in the Dunbar area, including indoor-only pets who may be exposed through shoes, clothing, or other animals. We will review your pet's routine and lifestyle and recommend the most appropriate prevention option. We stock a range of veterinary-grade prevention products at our clinic for your convenience.
Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause serious cardiac and respiratory damage in dogs. While risk is lower in Metro Vancouver than in some other regions, heartworm is present in BC, and pets that travel to higher-risk areas require reliable prevention. We discuss heartworm risk at every annual wellness visit and recommend a prevention plan suited to your pet's exposure level. We also offer heartworm testing as part of our annual screening protocol. Prevention is simple, effective, and far less difficult than managing a heartworm infection after the fact.
A microchip is a permanent, tamper-proof form of identification that dramatically increases the chance of being reunited with a lost pet. The microchip, about the size of a grain of rice, is inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades in a quick, low-stress procedure. Once implanted, it is registered in a national database linked to your contact information. We recommend microchipping for all pets, regardless of whether they are kept indoors or outdoors. We also verify and update microchip records during wellness visits to ensure your contact information is current.
Intestinal parasites are common in pets of all ages and can be transmitted to humans. Puppies and kittens are frequently born with parasites passed from their mothers and require a deworming schedule beginning at 2 weeks of age. Adult pets benefit from annual fecal testing and deworming as needed. Common parasites in the Vancouver area include roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and giardia. Regular deworming, combined with good hygiene practices, protects your entire household. We provide age-appropriate deworming at every puppy and kitten visit and review parasite risk at annual wellness checks.
Regular nail trims are an important part of your pet's comfort and mobility. Overgrown nails can curl into paw pads, cause pain while walking, and lead to posture problems over time. We offer nail trims as a standalone service as well as during wellness visits. Our team handles every nail trim with patience, using positive reinforcement to keep your pet as calm as possible. For pets who are anxious or reactive during nail care, we offer sedated nail trims through our Medical Grooming service as a gentler alternative.
Ear infections are one of the most common reasons dogs visit the veterinarian, particularly in breeds with floppy ears or heavy hair around the ear canal. Regular ear cleaning helps prevent the buildup of debris and moisture that bacteria and yeast thrive on. We assess ear health at every wellness visit and demonstrate home ear cleaning techniques for owners of high-risk breeds. Anal gland expression is another routine service that helps prevent discomfort and impaction, particularly in small and medium-sized dogs. Both services can be performed during your scheduled wellness appointment.
Giant breed dogs have unique health considerations that benefit from proactive, breed-aware veterinary care. They are prone to orthopedic conditions, have different nutritional requirements than small and medium breeds, and benefit from delayed spay and neuter timing to support proper musculoskeletal development. At Alma Animal Hospital, we provide wellness care tailored to the specific needs of large and giant breed dogs, including weight monitoring, joint health assessment, and life-stage feeding guidance. We partner with you throughout your giant breed dog's growth to support a healthy, comfortable life.
A fecal test checks your pet’s stool for intestinal parasites including roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and giardia. Many parasites cause no obvious symptoms until the infection is significant. We recommend annual fecal testing for all pets as part of their preventive care routine at Alma Animal Hospital.
Your pet deserves proactive care from the start. Book a wellness visit at Alma Animal Hospital in Dunbar today. Call (604) 229-5564 or book online at almavets.ca/make-an-appointment/.
