As humans, we know the importance of annual check-ups with our physician, but did you know that annual pet wellness exams with your veterinarian are equally as important for our furry friends? A wellness exam can best be defined as a clinical examination of animals. Making the choice to follow through with a dog wellness exam or a cat wellness exam is one of the best choices that you can make for the health of your dearest companion. Pets are notorious for masking illnesses, so proper routine health care is essential for preventing minor issues from becoming a serious problem that will affect the well being of your beloved pet and can also be financially devastating.
Pet Wellness Exams Can Make a Huge Difference
We all know to take our pet to the vet when they are sick or seem to be experiencing pain, but it is equally important to have them periodically examined, even when they are feeling healthy. A Pet Wellness Exam is a physical examination that allows veterinarians to find and treat diseases before they become serious problems. Because our pets age at a much faster rate than we do, it is important to meet with and discuss health concerns with your vet. From kidney disease and blood parasites in cats to joint problems and transitional epithelial cells in dog urine with dogs, preventative health care can be the difference between a healthy pet and an unhealthy pet. Many of the debilitating health issues can be relieved and even reversed with preventative medication or dietary changes.
How Often Does Your Pet Need an Exam?
The aging process is accelerated in pets versus humans. A year is a long time in the life of a pet, so most vets recommend annual examinations for adult dogs and cats and every six months for senior cats and dogs.
What to Expect During a Wellness Exam
Generally speaking, a pet wellness exam is a quick and routine process. There is not much difference between a cat wellness exam and a dog wellness exam. Veterinarians are trained to spot potential problems that we as pet owners are unable to detect. During the visit, your vet will evaluate your pet’s physical appearance and may run a few tests to ensure that your cherished pet is living his or her best life.
Dental Exams
Your vet will visually examine your pets’ teeth and gums to determine their overall dental health and recommend cleanings when they detect an issue. Dental disease in animals can include gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums and periodontal disease in dogs and cats, which is inflammation of the bone and other support structures around the tooth. Left untreated, these minor and correctable problems can lead to major health issues such as kidney problems and heart disease.
Urinalysis
Urinalysis is a routine test intended to address the physical and chemical properties of your pets’ urine. This test is generally used to detect any problems with the kidneys and urinary system but is also essential to diagnosing other serious ailments, such as diabetes.
Parasite Screening
Both dogs and cats are likely to become infected with parasites at some point during their life. When left untreated, cat and dog parasites and giardia in cats can go from uncomfortable to life-threatening and certain parasites, such as tapeworms can even be transferred to their owners. There are many different types of parasites in dogs and cats. Even if you are actively practicing parasite prevention for dogs with monthly medication, annual screening is necessary. Using a stool sample, veterinarians are able to screen our pets for parasites and treat them accordingly before the problem escalates.
Blood Count
Even if your pet appears happy and healthy, they can have hidden medical problems that can be serious and life-threatening. A routine blood test is another vital tool that the veterinarian uses to determine overall health and for detecting disease in pets. The standard blood panel test will check the CBC - Complete Blood Cell Count, the Blood Chemistry Profile and can even detect heartworms. In younger pets, the results can help your veterinarian determine a pets healthy baseline and will help detect problems in the future. In older pets, when there can be more than one problem, a blood count can help pinpoint the problems and give the vet direction with various treatment plans.
Heartworm Screening
Heartworm is a devastating disease for dogs. It is preventable and can be treated, but early detection is essential. Your pet can be screened for heartworm proteins, called antigens, which are released by female adult heartworms. Most antigen tests can detect the antigens from only one heartworm. Screening is vital as cat
heartworms symptoms and dog heartworms symptoms can often go unnoticed.
How to Schedule a Wellness Exam
At Chimpan Road Animal Clinic, we don’t require appointments for our pet wellness exams. Just stop in during business hours and your pet will be seen by one of the doctors!
If you have any questions about wellness exams for your cat or dog, give us a call!
