NEW CLIENT OFFER
Pay $0 for your pet's first wellness exam
Serving pets and pet parents in Grimes, Iowa for 10+ years.
What's Included in a Wellness Check?
Think of it like your pet’s annual physical—it may not seem urgent, but it’s one of the most important things you can do for their long-term wellbeing.
Nose-to-Tail Exam
We check your pet’s: Heart and lungs, Eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, Teeth and gums Skin and coat, Joints and muscles, Weight and body condition, Lymph nodes and abdomen. We also look for signs of lumps, pain, parasites, or early symptoms of disease.
Vaccination Recommendations
Vaccines protect your pet from potentially deadly and costly diseases like rabies, distemper, and parvo. We’ll review your pet’s lifestyle and risk factors to determine what they need and when.
Parasite Prevention Recommendations
Fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites don’t take breaks—especially in rural or wooded areas like Pine Mountain Club. We’ll recommend safe, year-round protection.
Diagnostic Testing
We may recommend: Bloodwork to assess organ function, blood cell counts, and detect hidden disease. Fecal testing to check for intestinal parasites. Urinalysis for kidney and urinary tract health. These tests create a health baseline and help us catch conditions early.
Nutrition & Lifestyle Counseling
We’ll discuss your pet’s weight, diet, dental care, activity levels, and any concerns you have—like anxiety, aging, or behavior.
Are Wellness Checks Necessary?
Early detection means a happier, healthier pet and protects you from potentially thousands of dollars in preventable medical expenses.
Insights
1 in 7 young dogs (1-3 yrs) and 1 in 5 young cats (1-7 yrs) had clinically relevant abnormalities, an IDEXX study found.
1 in 5 healthy mature dogs (4-8 yrs) and 1 in 3 mature cats (7-9 yrs) had significant findings, highlighting the need for all life stages.
Pets with regular checkups were 30% less likely to develop chronic diseases than those with inconsistent visits, according to Academic International Journal of Veterinary Medicine.
Vaccinated pets showed a 40% lower incidence of contagious diseases, highlighting their protective role, notes the Academic International Journal of Veterinary Medicine.
Around 70-80% of dogs and cats over age 3 have dental disease, which untreated, can cause pain, infection and decrease lifespan, according to AAHA.
Why Prairie View Animal Hospital?
61 years
Of combined experience caring for animals among our 4 Veterinarians
New Client Offer: Wellness Exam for $0
Our front desk will apply the offer at the end of your pet’s wellness exam.
Nose-to-Tail Exam
Select Vaccinations
Routine Lab Work
Conditions Apply: See details at end of page.
FAQs About Pet Wellness Exams
How often should my pet have a wellness exam?
For healthy adult pets, we recommend a visit once a year. Senior pets or those managing chronic conditions benefit from check-ups every six months. Puppies and kittens, however, need to see us every 3–4 weeks during their first few months to ensure they grow up strong.
My pet seems healthy, do they still need a check up?
Yes. Animals are experts at masking pain and illness—it’s a natural survival instinct. Regular exams allow our vets to spot subtle changes early, catching potential issues before they become serious (and expensive) problems.
What if I can't afford a wellness check?
Prevention is almost always more affordable than a cure. Catching illness early reduces the likelihood of costly emergency visits, surgeries, or hospitalization down the road. Our limited time promotion of $50 off to new clients also goes a long way to reducing the cost of your visit. Additionally, we’ve partnered with CareCredit and ScratchPay to help make care more affordable.
What if my pet is nervous at the vet?
We understand that vet visits can be scary. Our team uses low-stress, gentle handling techniques to keep your pet calm. If you have a particularly anxious pet, let us know ahead of time so we can prepare a quieter, slower-paced experience for them.
Contact
Hours
Mon-Tue: 7:30am - 7:00pm
Wed-Fri: 7:30am - 5:30pm
Sat-Sun: Closed
Address
Meet Our Veterinarians
Dr. Thilges
“The thing I love the most about veterinary medicine is helping our clients take the best care of their pets.”
Dr. Kauffman
“I love the challenges of veterinary medicine. There’s never a dull moment in practice…this work is my purpose and it really feeds my soul.”
Dr. Schmidt
“I love developing long-lasting relationships with the pets and clients I serve.”
Dr. Storbeck
“I love all areas of veterinary medicine but have a special interest in dermatology, cardiology, and preventative care.”
Promotion Conditions: The Free First Exam promotion applies exclusively to a new client’s pet’s first visit to Prairie View Animal Hospital. Existing patients/clients are not eligible. This promotion applies only to the exam fee and may not be applied to other services or items, including urgent care and referral services. Your appointment must be scheduled within 60 days of the appointment request; the appointment itself can be outside of that time limit. Limit one per household. This discount/coupon is not eligible with other discounts/coupons and is only applicable to the exam fee. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out via phone at (515) 986-2841 or email by visiting our “Contact” page on our website.