An Overview of Your Pet’s Annual Exam

When you bring your pet in for a wellness exam, your vet will review your pet’s case history and ask if you have any issues with your dog or cat’s health or habits. Your vet will also inquire about your pet’s nutrition, lifestyle, exercise regimen, thirst, and urination.

What to Expect If You Take Your Pet to a Wellness Exam

Many veterinarians need pet owners to bring a fresh sample of their pet’s feces (defecation) for a fecal exam. Fecals are crucial for identifying intestinal parasites that can seriously affect your pet’s health.

Following that, your vet will carry out a health examination of your pet, which will often include the following:

  • Your pet’s weight
  • Analyzing the animal’s position and movement for irregularities
  • Examining your pet’s feet and nails for symptoms of injury or more considerable health concerns
  • Examining your pet’s heart and lungs
  • Analyze your dog’s or cat’s skin for indications of dryness, parasites, or lumps.
  • Examining the overall health of your pet’s coat, watching out for dandruff or bald spots
  • Analyzing the eyes for inflammation, cloudiness, problems with the eyelids, excessive tearing, or discharge
  • Examine your pet’s ears for bacterial infection, mites, wax accumulation, or polyps.
  • Examining your pet’s teeth for signs of periodontal disease, injury, or tooth decay
  • Feeling (palpating) along your pet’s body for signs of illness such as swelling, proof of lameness such as a minimal variety of motion, and signs of discomfort.
  • Palpate your pet’s abdomen to see if the internal organs are regular and for discomfort signs.

These tests can be finished quickly as long as no problems are discovered. Vaccinations will be administered at your pet’s wellness exam based on the correct schedule for your cat or dog.

Their vaccination services for pups and kitties and boosters for older dogs and cats are vital to giving your pet the best chance of living a long and delightful life. Keeping your pet’s immunizations updated throughout life will help avoid them from different infectious, potentially deadly illnesses and disorders.

Some Pets Require Further Testing

In addition to the routine exams mentioned above, your veterinarian might recommend additional health screening. When figuring out whether to have extra tests on your dog or cat, remember that, in numerous situations, early treatment of disease is less costly and less invasive than treating the ailment once it has progressed to more serious phases.

The tests listed below screen for a variety of health problems and can help in finding the real first indications of illness, even before symptoms appear:

  • Thyroid hormone screening
  • Urinalysis
  • Complete blood count (CDC)
  • Pet acupuncture if needed.

Extra diagnostic tests, such as x-rays and other imaging, may be advised if you have an old pet or a big breed dog. These additional tests, performed once a year, provide your veterinarian with essential information about your pet’s health and the progression of any age-related disorders. 

This proactive veterinary treatment method can help your pet remain mobile and healthy into old age. If you are looking for the best pet care out there, you can just type in your search “dog physical exam near me” to see the nearest professional service available.

After Your Pet’s Routine Wellness Examination

After the inspection and your pet’s annual vaccinations, your veterinarian will discuss any findings. If your veterinarian notices any symptoms of disease or damage, they will speak with you about more detailed diagnostics or treatment options.

Presume your dog or cat has received a clean bill of health. Your veterinarian may offer guidance or suggestions concerning your pet’s nutrition and exercise programs, oral health, or parasite prevention.

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