What Happens During the Pet Wellness Exam?

Most pet owners intend to provide their cat or dog with the best 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 veterinarian 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 solid emphasis on prevention and early illness diagnosis, these exams are an excellent method that helps your pet attain maximum health. Click here to find a vet near you.

By bringing your healthy dog or cat in for routine checkups, you allow your vet to monitor your pet’s overall health and look for problems 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 swiftly. From the moment they are 6 to 8 weeks old until they are between 16 and 20 weeks old, they typically 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. Dog & cat shots, dental cleanings, physical examinations, grooming visits, desexing, and professional recommendations on any issues you might have all contribute to ensuring your pet stays healthy and lives a long and happy life.

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 veterinarian 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 veterinarian, which often includes any or all of the following:

• Listening to the heart and lungs of your pet
• Examining the stance, rate, and weight of your dog or cat
• Searching for indications of excessive tearing, discharge, redness, cloudiness, or problems with the eyelids in your pet
• Checking 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 signs of discomfort and examine the internal organs of your companion’s belly by palpating it
• Checking for signs of illness 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 (visit this site in case your pet needs a dermatologist)
• Looking at your pet’s nails and feet for damage or indications of a more serious health problem
• Searching for bacterial infection, ear mites, wax buildup, or polyps in your pet’s ears

Exams and inspections check for health issues and determine a pet’s mood, as they can not communicate what they are experiencing.

Keeping Vaccines Up to Date

Vaccines safeguard pets against common, contagious, and potentially 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.

Preventing Parasitic Conditions & Diseases

Your vet will advise methods to stop parasites from infiltrating your animal buddy since ticks and mosquitoes transmit parasites that can enter your pet’s body and cause potentially fatal diseases. Understanding that a few of these parasites might transmit from pets to people is crucial!

Preventing parasites might help to protect your cat or dog from issues 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 examination, and your pet has received annual vaccinations. If your pet exhibits any symptoms of disease or injury, your vet will take the time to talk with you about further testing or the range of possible therapies.

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 effective parasite control.