Wellness Exams

The health of your pet matters. While you certainly can’t avoid all illnesses, annual exams can help you detect issues sooner. Not only can this help your pet get a treatment plan in place right away, but it could also make the difference in the quality of life that your animal experiences. Sometimes, even serious diseases can be managed if caught early enough. In some cases, early detection also means the difference between life or death. One of the most beneficial things you can do is make sure that your pet is getting into the veterinarian for a wellness exam.

What is a Wellness Exam?

Wellness exams include a host of preventable disease tests that are conducted at your veterinarian’s office. Depending on the type of animal you have, as well s their age and medical history, there are a variety of things that may take place. Common tests that are performed include:

• Dental exams

• Eye exams

• Bloodwork

• Bone density tests

• Mammograms

This is just a short overview of what you may expect during a wellness check, but there are many more options available to ensure the health of your pet.

How Often Should Your Pet Have a Wellness Exam?

There are numerous factors to consider when scheduling out your beloved animal’s wellness exam. Typically, animals should have a thorough check-up at least once per year. However, senior pets may need to go in at least twice per year. This is because as pets age, they may be more suspectable to certain diseases. Those illnesses may have a greater impact on the animal’s aging body. The sooner you detect a problem, the faster you can start working on a solution.

What to Expect During a Wellness Exam

The more you understand about a wellness exam, the more likely you’ll see the benefit of having your pet have one each year. One of the most important parts of the exam is when the veterinarian establishes a medical history for the pet. This provides the foundation that is necessary to ensure that they have a clear understanding of where your pet is at currently.

Next, you should expect the veterinarian to check the temperature, pulse, respiration, and weight of the animal. Oftentimes, these areas may be the first to indicate that there is something wrong. There will also be a thorough physical examination where the coat, gait, and overall appearance of the animal is visually examined.

At this point, the veterinarian may make a few suggestions about their diet, exercise, training, or other necessary recommendations. All of this is done to help the animal live its best life. This is also a great time to get caught up on any shots the animal may need for preventative care. You’ll also be asked about the last time your pet was tested for parasites, and then you’ll be given a schedule for maintaining proper testing for the future.

Ultimately, this is a great time to share any concerns you may have. If you’ve noticed a change in your pet’s mood or temperament, be sure to bring this up. There are numerous ways that your pet may showcase early warning signs of disease, so any information you have will better help the veterinarian create a proper treatment plan.

Overview

Wellness exams are a critical part of maintaining your pet’s health. If you would like to schedule an exam, please reach out to us. We are here to provide knowledge and guidance on how to best take care of your beloved animal. Call The Animal Hospital in Slingerlands, NY today to your pet on the healthy path they deserve (518) 456-0852.