What Do Veterinarians Perform During Pet Wellness Exams?
Most pet owners intend to provide their cat or dog with the ideal environments and care possible. Pet wellness exams are one of the most valuable things you can do for your furry family member, whether young puppies and kittens or elderly dogs and cats. By providing your vet with an annual opportunity to examine your pet, routine wellness checks help keep your pet healthy by keeping track of their general health and checking for early disease symptoms.
Why Visit the Vet if My Pet Is Healthy?
An annual wellness examination is a veterinarian “checkup” for your dog or cat. Wellness examinations are carried out once or twice a year when your pet seems to be in excellent health. By putting a strong emphasis on prevention and early illness diagnosis, these exams are a terrific approach that helps your pet achieve maximum health. Check out this reputable animal hospital nearby for your pet’s requirements.
By bringing your healthy dog or cat in for routine appointments, you offer your veterinarian the chance to monitor your pet’s general health and look for conditions that might be challenging to detect in their early stages, such as cancer and parasites.
How Often Should Dogs and Cats Visit the Vet?
Puppies & Kittens
The growth and development of puppies and kittens transpire quickly. From the time they are 6 to 8 weeks old until they are between 16 and 20 weeks old, they generally require wellness care visits to a veterinarian every 3 to 4 weeks. Once a year has passed since their previous visit with the puppy or kitten, their next wellness exam is typically scheduled.
Adult Dogs & Cats
Regardless of your pet type, routine care should include a yearly checkup. Immunizations, dental cleanings, physical exams, grooming visits, desexing, and professional recommendations on any issues you may have all contribute to ensuring your pet stays healthy and lives a long and happy life. If the vet spotted a skin issue on your pet, he might refer you to a veterinary dermatologist.
Senior Dogs & Cats
Pets age more quickly than people, so once they reach their senior years, it’s a good idea to take them to the vet every six months. Medium-sized dogs go through this change at the age of 7, gigantic breeds a year or two early, and cats and tiny dogs a little later.
What Happens During Routine Exams?
Your pet will get a physical examination by your vet, which typically consists of any or all of the following:
- Listening to the heart and lungs of your pet
- Checking out the position, pace, and weight of your dog or cat
- Searching for signs of excessive tearing, discharge, redness, cloudiness, or problems with the eyelids in your pet
- Inspecting your pet’s teeth for any signs of periodontal disease, injury, or decay
- Looking for a few issues on your pet’s skin, such as parasites, dryness, lumps, and pimples (especially in skin folds)
- Checking for indications of discomfort and examine the internal organs of your companion’s belly by palpating it
- Checking for indicators of sickness such as edema, lameness (such as a reduced range of motion), and discomfort by palpating your cat or dog’s body
- Examining your companion’s coat for dandruff, irregular hair loss, and general health
- Looking at your pet’s nails and feet for damage or indications of a more serious health issue
- Searching for bacterial infection, ear mites, wax buildup, or polyps in your pet’s ears
Exams and inspections check for health concerns and determine a pet’s mood, as they can not communicate what they are experiencing.
Keeping Vaccines Up to Date
Vaccines protect pets against common, infectious, and possibly fatal infections. Core vaccinations are recommended for all pets, while lifestyle vaccines are often advised for pets interacting with other animals. Adult pets need booster injections regularly, usually once every year or every three years. When a pet needs a booster shot, their vet will inform them. Follow this link to learn more about vaccinations.
Preventing Parasitic Conditions & Diseases
Your vet will advise approaches to stop parasites from infiltrating your animal buddy because ticks and mosquitoes transmit parasites that can enter your pet’s body and cause potentially fatal conditions. Understanding that some parasites might transmit from pets to people is essential!
Preventing parasites might help to protect your cat or dog from concerns like:
- Anaplasmosis
- Babesiosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Fleas
- Heartworm
- Hookworms
- Lyme Disease
- Roundworms
- Tapeworms
- Whipworm
What Happens Once the Exam Is Finished?
Your veterinarian will review any findings after the checkup, and your pet has gotten its annual vaccinations. If your pet displays any symptoms of disease or injury, your veterinarian will take the time to talk with you about further screening or the range of possible treatments.
If your dog or cat receives a clean bill of health, your veterinarian could give advice or suggestions about your pet’s food, exercise program, dental health, or reliable parasite control.