Pet Wellness
The wellness visit begins with a complete physical exam, including your pet's legs, feet, joints, muscles, organs, and lymph nodes. In addition, we will examine the following areas:
- Ears–inside and out for parasites, abnormalities, and hearing
- Eyes–inside and out for visual acuity, abnormalities, and related health issues
- Mouth–teeth, gums, tongue, and palate and for abnormalities and health issues
- Heart and lungs–for early signs of disease or age-related deterioration
- Reproductive organs–for developmental abnormalities and related health issues
- Skin and coat–for general health, abnormalities, and signs of infection or disease
- Vital statistics–temperature, pulse, heart, respiration, and body weight
Laboratory testing at the wellness visit may include a complete blood count (CBC), urinalysis, blood-chemistry panel, and feces exam. Other tests may be indicated if early signs of developing problems are discovered.
But wellness is more than just the physical aspect. Age, exercise, diet, lifestyle, and behavior are all a part of our wellness program. Discuss with us any questions or concerns you have about the health and well-being of your animal companion, and feel free to contact us if you have a critical issue or your pet is experiencing alarming behavior changes.
Sadly, pet owners are often the first to identify a developing problem, but neglect to contact their veterinary professional because they feel uncomfortable about doing so. Early detection of illness and injury allows us to address the developing problem with the least invasive treatments–often the least costly as well, in both time and money.
Microchipping services will also be discussed at early wellness visits. Each year, millions of lost and abandoned animals are taken in by animal welfare organizations across North America. Of these animals, we estimate only 14% of the dogs and 4% of the cats are ever returned home. Microchipping offers the only truly permanent method of identifying a pet and linking the animal back to the owner. A microchip is injected much like a vaccination, between the shoulder blades of the pet, and remains under the skin for the rest of the pet's life. This procedure is fast, painless, and very inexpensive–we highly recommend microchipping your pets.