Bringing your pet in for an annual diagnostic and wellness checkup can help reassure you that your dog or cat is healthy or help us detect hidden diseases or conditions early. Early detection can improve the prognosis of many diseases, keep medical costs down, and help your pet live longer. Dogs and cats are very good at hiding signs that something is wrong, so subtle changes in their health or behavior can be difficult to recognize Remember, they can’t tell us when something is wrong! Depending on the disease, some pets don’t show any symptoms. Your veterinarian is trained to identify the subtle changes that might otherwise be overlooked
Dogs and cats age far quicker than humans, so it is even more crucial for our companion animals to receive regular exams. Old age is not a disease, however age related conditions such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorders, and kidney and liver problems all increase as your pet gets older.
During your pet’s wellness exam, we will perform a physical assessment, checking your dog or cat from nose to tail. We will also make sure your pet receives appropriate vaccinations and preventives. We may perform additional diagnostics including blood, fecal, and urine tests to check for parasites and underlying diseases. We may also recommend that your pet receive dental care. When your pet is nearing his or her senior years, we will recommend a baseline exam and diagnostic workup so we’ll know what’s normal for your pet. This will enable us to keep track of any changes.
Because you spend the most time with your pet, you are your pet’s expert, as well as his or her greatest advocate. Be sure to let us know if you’ve noticed any physical or behavioral changes in your pet, as well as any other concerns you might have. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Call us today to schedule your pet’s exam! If you have any questions, we would be happy to discuss our adult wellness program in more detail.
