Even when your pet seems perfectly healthy, regular veterinary exams are essential to keeping them that way. These check-ups allow us to catch potential issues early, provide preventative care, and ensure your pet continues to live a long, healthy life. Regular exams are a proactive way to support your pet's well-being at every stage.
What a Veterinary Exam Entails
During a routine veterinary exam, your pet will undergo a thorough evaluation, which typically includes:
Physical Examination: We’ll check your pet from nose to tail, examining their eyes, ears, mouth, skin, coat, and overall body condition. This helps us spot any physical abnormalities or signs of underlying health issues.
Vital Signs Monitoring: We measure your pet’s heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature to ensure they are within normal ranges. Abnormal vitals can indicate potential health problems that may require further investigation.
Weight and Body Condition Assessment: Monitoring your pet’s weight and body condition is crucial for detecting issues like obesity or muscle loss. We’ll provide guidance on maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise.
Dental Examination: Oral health is an important part of your pet’s overall well-being. We’ll check for signs of dental disease, such as tartar buildup, gingivitis, or loose teeth, and recommend appropriate dental care.
Diagnostic Testing (as needed): Depending on your pet’s age, health status, and any symptoms they may have, we might recommend additional diagnostic tests, such as blood work, urine analysis, or imaging, to gain a deeper understanding of their health.
Discussion of Findings and Recommendations: After the exam, we’ll discuss our findings with you and provide personalized recommendations for your pet’s care, including diet, exercise, and any preventive treatments or follow-up appointments that may be necessary.
New Adoptions
Welcoming a new pet into your home is exciting, and a thorough initial exam is key to starting them off on the right foot. During this exam, we focus on:
Establishing a Health Baseline: It's important to identify any pre-existing conditions early. By conducting a comprehensive exam, we can catch potential health issues right away and create a tailored care plan for your pet.
Administering Essential Vaccines: New pets often require a series of vaccinations to protect them from common diseases. We'll ensure your pet is up-to-date on all necessary vaccines to safeguard their health.
Guidance on Care and Husbandry: Every pet has unique needs, from diet to exercise and beyond. We’ll provide personalized advice on proper care and husbandry to help your new pet thrive in their new environment.
Healthy Annuals
Regular check-ups are crucial to maintaining your pet's long-term health. Annual exams for healthy pets are focused on:
Preventative Care: Even if your pet seems healthy, annual exams are essential for detecting potential health issues before they become serious. We'll update vaccinations, perform routine screenings, and recommend any preventive measures that may be beneficial.
Monitoring for Changes: As pets age, their health can change in subtle ways. Annual exams allow us to track these changes over time, ensuring that any emerging issues are addressed promptly.
Updating Care Recommendations: Your pet’s needs may evolve from year to year. We’ll review their diet, exercise, and overall care plan, offering new recommendations to keep them in peak condition.
Vaccination Review and Administration: We’ll review your pet’s vaccination history and administer any necessary vaccines to protect them from common diseases.
Parasite Control: We check for signs of external parasites like fleas or ticks and discuss preventative measures for internal parasites such as heartworms, roundworms, and more.
Senior Exams
As pets age, their health needs change rapidly. Senior exams, recommended every 6 months to 1 year, are essential for:
Early Detection Through Diagnostics: Older pets are more prone to conditions like arthritis, diabetes, or organ dysfunction. Regular diagnostics, such as blood work or imaging, allow us to catch these issues early, leading to more effective treatment and better quality of life.
Monitoring Rapid Health Changes: Pets age much faster than humans, and their health can decline quickly. A condition that may not have been present at the last visit could develop in a matter of months. Regular check-ups help us stay ahead of these changes and provide timely care to keep your pet healthy and comfortable.