A wellness examination strives to provide your pet with a comprehensive examination and ensure good health. There aren’t many things more worrying than a sick pet who requires your attention, particularly if you don’t know what to do to help. There are at least two benefits to giving your pet an annual wellness examination: problem detection and prevention.
Along with prevention and early treatment, a health checkup is helpful for behavioral reasons. Pets are created by nature to hide their discomfort and disease, making it challenging to recognize when they’re sick. The following things are included in routine wellness exams at the animal clinic:
Pet Health Exams Procedures
Many pet owners take their pets to the veterinarian every six months or once a year to make sure they are healthy. Maintaining a pet’s health and wellness is much easier when they receive regular examinations. If you’re not updated with your pet’s wellness exams, here’s what you can anticipate and why it is necessary to do so.
Regular Assessment
During cat and dog wellness exams, prepare to address some questions that will help in your pet’s regular examination. You can expect questions concerning current changes in your pet’s weight, eating, drinking habits, respiratory health, urination, and bowel habits. If your pet is a senior, your veterinarian may ask about scratching, panting, series of movements, and balance.
Taking Your Pet’s Vital Signs
Your pet’s vital signs, including its heart rate, respiratory rate, weight, and temperature, will be taken as it lies down on the exam table or is held by your veterinarian. Afterward, your vet will compare the results to your pet’s health history.
Any changes in your pet’s vital signs may indicate a health problem that needs treatment. The changes will also help your vet determine which diagnostic tests your pet displays throughout the checkup or in the future.
Pet Exam
The first step of the examination is for the veterinarian to examine your pet’s mouth, eyes, and ears. Your vet must examine these areas to see if there are any symptoms. Expect your vet to look at your pet’s joints, legs, feet, and abdomen for any uncomfortable or swollen areas. Veterinarians will also examine your pet’s reproductive organs. The heart and lungs of your pet are also checked by the vet using a stethoscope. Learn more on that from your veterinarian.
Vaccinations
Your veterinarian will often update your pet’s vaccinations during a health exam. Vaccinations will help to enhance your pet’s resistance. This will keep your pet healthy and lower the threat of contagious disease spreading. Your pet needs vaccinations against Lyme disease, rabies, distemper, chlamydia, feline leukemia, and hepatitis.
Health Screening
The diagnostic tests your veterinarian uses on your pet depend on the pet’s age and current health. Basic screenings include biochemistry, complete blood count, heartworm testing, urinalysis, X-rays, and fecal parasite testing.
Diagnostic testing is used to evaluate the internal elements of your pet to detect illness early or to confirm suspected diagnoses based on signs that your pet has been showing. You can also find out more about internal medicine in dogs.
Bottom Line
Your furry family member will enjoy their home more if you keep them happy and healthy. Wellness exams are recommended for all pets, even those that look completely fine at first glance. The goal of the examination is not to examine an ill pet but to keep the animal healthy and balanced.
The health checkup is also known as a physical examination or checkup. You must schedule a vet visit before your pet is ill. A health checkup’s purpose is to ensure the pet’s ideal wellness is preserved.
