Regular examination of your pet is the first step in keeping him or her healthy and happy!! Wellness exams allow your pet’s veterinarian to detect health problems before they may become serious illnesses and to evaluate your pet’s overall health. Because our furry family members can not tell us about pain or sickness they may be feeling, we must rely on symptoms that could be detected during physical exams. Regular blood testing and other diagnostic tests can further evaluate your pet’s health.

During your pet’s wellness exam…………………………

• A complete history will be taken by our staff. You will be asked about any unusual behavior that you may be noticing at home. We will ask about his or her diet, daily routine, activity level, exposure to other animals or parasites, and much more. If your have any concerns about your pet’s health, they will be addressed by one of our veterinarians during your visit.
• A veterinary technician will obtain a body temperature and an updated weight. This will enable our veterinarians to detect the presence of a fever and to determine if there has been any weight loss or weight gain since your pet’s last visit.
• A thorough physical exam will be performed by a veterinarian during your visit. Your pet will be examined from head to tail including eyes, ears, nose, oral cavity, heart and lungs, skin, abdomen, lymph nodes, musculoskeletal system, and more. If a weight change has been observed, it will also be addressed at this time. Weight loss may indicate the early stages or a significant disease process, and further diagnostic tests may be recommended. Weight gain could also indicate an illness, or could indicate that a more appropriate diet and exercise plan will be needed. If any abnormalities are observed, they will be discussed with you during your visit. If further diagnostics are recommended, in most cases those tests can be performed during the same visit.
• Vaccinations and other preventative care will be discussed with you at the time of your visit. Your dog or cat can be immunized against many diseases that could seriously affect him or her if not vaccinated. Heartworm and flea prevention will also be discussed at this time. These valuable preventative medications can prevent harmful diseases spread by fleas and ticks, and can keep your pet free of heartworms and many intestinal parasites.
• If you own an exotic pet, regular examinations are especially important because of the ability of most exotic animals to mask an illness. Husbandry will be discussed during your visit to ensure your exotic pet is housed correctly and fed an appropriate diet. Diagnostics such as blood testing or fecal examinations may also be performed at this time.