Wellness Exams
When you bring your pet in for a wellness exam, they’ll receive a nose-to-tail checkup – but what exactly does that entail? A comprehensive exam includes an examination of all of your pet’s major body systems to help ensure that they’re functioning at their best.
What to Expect
- Weight Check
We’ll weigh your pet to determine if they’re at a normal weight and body condition. Nutritional counseling and exercise recommendations may be provided at this time if we notice any weight issues. - Vitals Check
After your pet has been weighed, a veterinary technician or assistant will obtain your pets vitals. This includes your pet’s temperature, heart rate and breathing. - Skin and Eyes
Our veterinarians will then check your dog or cat’s skin and coat. These are two great indicators of an animal’s overall health. When examining their eyes, your veterinarian will look for irregular responses to light, discharge, redness or irritation, and examine the structure in the back of the eye. In older pets, they often look for signs of developing cataracts, which may lead to clouded vision and could lead to blindness if left untreated. - Ears Check
We’ll examine the ear flap and deep ear canals to check for abnormal smells, redness, infection, parasites, growths or tumors. - Nose and Mouth
Your pet’s nose will be checked for any abnormal appearance or irregular discharge. After the sniffer check, we’ll look in their mouth to examine dental health for any abnormal smells, swelling, or masses. We’ll also check for plaque and tartar build up and for any missing or injured teeth. This helps to detect signs of periodontal disease. Since dental health is an important contributor to a health pet, regular brushings can greatly improve your pet’s dental health and overall quality of life. Based on the veterinarian’s findings, we can provide important recommendations to improve your pet’s dental health. - Entire Body Review
By manipulating and feeling your pet’s legs, joints, and abdomen, we can check for unusual reactions, appearance of pain, or abnormal lumps. If a stoop sample is available, we’ll also perform tests to check for intestinal parasites. - Heart and Lungs
Using a stethoscope, we’ll listen to your pet’s heart and lungs to check for heart murmurs and abnormal lung sounds. - Focused Area
If you’re bringing your pet in for a special reason like limping on a certain paw, we’ll provide recommendations for any further diagnostics your pet may need. - Administering Vaccinations
If your pet is visiting our hospital for an annual examination, it’s common for us to provide vaccines, take home medications, and anything else your pet may need at that time.