Wellness Exams

My pet is healthy, why bother going to the vet?

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Your pet's annual wellness exam is a veterinary 'check-up' for your cat or dog. Wellness exams - or pet checkups - take place once or twice a year while your pet appears to be perfectly healthy. These examinations are a great way to help your pet achieve optimal health by focusing on prevention and early disease detection. By taking your healthy dog or cat in to see their vet regularly, you give your veterinarian the opportunity to monitor your pet's overall health and check for diseases that can be difficult to spot in the early stages (such as cancers and parasites).

 

How often should my pet have a routine wellness exam?

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The recommended frequency of your pet's wellness exams depends upon your pet's age, previous medical history, lifestyle, and breed risk for developing diseases. If your animal is healthy at the moment but has a history of illness or a higher than average risk of developing a disease, seeing your vet twice a year can help to ensure that your pet stays as healthy as possible.  For adult pets in good health yearly wellness exams are often ideal.  Animals that are very young or very old tend to be more susceptible to illness, and sometimes your veterinarian will recommend more frequent examinations.   If you have a senior pet, or an animal such as a giant breed dog that faces an increased risk of developing disease, twice-yearly wellness exams are recommended. This will give your veterinarian an opportunity to check your pet for the earliest signs of disease, and get treatment started before the condition becomes more severe.

 

What will happen at my pet's routine wellness exam?

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When you bring your pet in to see us for their wellness exam we will review your pet's medical history and ask if there is anything about your dog or cat's health or behavior that you are concerned about. A veterinary team member will also ask you about your pet's diet, lifestyle, exercise routine, level of thirst, and urination.

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Next, your veterinarian will perform a physical examination of your pet which generally includes the following:

• Weighing your pet

• Checking the animal's stance and gait for irregularities

• Examining your pet's feet and nails for damage or signs of more serious health concerns

• Listening to your animal's heart and lungs

• Taking a close look at your dog or cat's skin for issues such as dryness, parasites, or lumps

• Inspecting the overall condition of your pet's coat, watching for dandruff or bald patches

• Checking eyes for redness, cloudiness, eyelid issues, excessive tearing, or discharge

• Examining your pet's ears for signs of bacterial infection, ear mites, wax build-up, or polyps

• Looking at your pet's teeth for any indication of periodontal disease, damage or tooth decay

• Feeling along your pet's body (palpating) for signs of illness such as swelling, evidence of lameness such as limited range of motion, and signs of pain

• Palpate your pet's abdomen to access whether the internal organs appear to be normal and to check for signs of discomfort

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All of these checks and more can be done quickly and easily if no issues are detected along the way. No doubt your vet will continue to chat with you as they perform this comprehensive examination.

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Annual vaccines will also be given at your pet's wellness exam, based upon the appropriate schedule for your cat or dog. Vaccinations for puppies and kittens, as well as booster shots for adult dogs and cats, are an important part of giving your animal their very best chance at a long and happy life. Keeping your pet up to date on vaccines throughout their life will help to protect your furry friend against a range of contagious, potentially serious, diseases and conditions.