A routine exam is when your pet goes to the vet and gets a short check-up, like a cat or dog check-up, even though your pet looks healthy. Wellness checks for your pet at a local clinic are a great way to help them reach their long-term health goals. By taking your healthy cat or dog in for a check-up, you give your vet a chance to keep an eye on their health and look for problems that might be hard to spot early on.
What exactly is included in a routine check-up at the veterinarian?
The following are common things that are done during a pet’s routine exam. And if you wish to learn more on pet grooming, read up on pet bathing.
Weight Check
This lets the vet know if your pet is at a healthy weight and lets them compare the weight to the last time they saw your pet. If your pet needs medication, we will determine the right dose based on its current weight.
Physical Examination
Part of the exam is listening to strange sounds coming from your pet’s heart and lungs. The vet listens to different body parts to determine what is going wrong. The heart should normally beat if it has a steady, steady beat.
Heart murmurs or rhythms that don’t stay the same may be signs of heart disease. Listening to your lungs and hearing strange sounds like crackling or wheezing could signify fluid buildup.
Visual checks can show infections or diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, or other things. If you look in the ear, you might find yeast, ear mites, or other problems.
Dental Examination
There is a lot more to dental health than meets the eye. That’s because so much more is at stake than just the health of your pet’s teeth and gums.
Under the gum line, painful tooth decay and abscesses can happen, as well as periodontal disease. Bacteria can spread to important organs and make them sick, like the heart, liver, or kidneys. Like people, pets need X-rays and professional cleaning of their teeth by your local pet dentist.
Anesthesia is needed for these procedures because it is the only way to see and clean below the gumline.
Vaccines
Vaccines are the only way to protect your pet from diseases that could kill them. Your veterinarian may recommend different vaccines for your pet based on what the law says, your pet’s environment and lifestyle, and where you live.
Parasite Prevention
Parasites can hurt not only your pet’s health but also the health of your family and your home. Fleas can give you tapeworms, make you sick with anemia, and give you skin allergies. There are numerous diseases that ticks can spread.
Mosquitoes can pass heartworms from infected animals to your pet, so even pets that stay inside are at risk. Treatment for heartworms in canines is costly and can harm their health.
Since there is no approved treatment for heartworms in cats, they must take a preventative every month. All pets must be on parasite prevention medicines that are right for where they live.
Many states require flea, tick, and heartworm prevention all year long, even for pets that stay inside. Some preventives can be put on the skin, taken by mouth, or injected. Talk to your vet to find out which is the best parasite prevention for your pets.
Lab Analysis
Bloodwork and urinalysis are important diagnostic tools that can be used to find and treat diseases before they show any symptoms. This means your pet can often get care before any symptoms. This helps your pet live a happier, healthier life and lowers health care costs overall.
In conclusion
After your pet’s exam, tests, and annual shots, your doctor will tell you what they found. If your pet is sick or hurt, your vet will talk with you about what’s wrong and how to treat it. If your pet is healthy otherwise, the talk may be about changes in activity and diet, how to avoid parasites, and how to take care of your pet’s teeth. If you take care of your pet’s basic needs, they will be off to a good start in the long run.
