Veterinary checkups are also known as routine wellness exams for pets and they are your cat or dog's best opportunity to achieve long-term health and a high-quality life. However, you may be asking yourself, what happens at pet checkups to make them so important for my pet? Today our Front Worth veterinarians answer that question.
Your Pet's Physical Checkup
When you bring your cat or dog to our Front Worth animal hospital in White Settlement, texas for a routine physical checkup, your veterinarian will review your pet's medical history and ask you if you have any specific questions or concerns about your pet's health.
Following this, your veterinarian will conduct a physical examination of your pet which will generally consist of any or all of the following:
- Listening to your animal's lungs and heart
- Checking your cat or dog's stance, gait, and weight
- Examining your pet's eyes for signs of excessive tearing, discharge, redness, cloudiness, or eyelid issues
- Checking your companion's coat for overall condition, abnormal hair loss, or dandruff
- Examining your furry friend's nails and feet for damage or signs of a more serious health condition
- Looking at your pet's ears for signs of bacterial infection, ear mites, wax build-up, or polyps
- Examining the condition of your pet's teeth for any indications of periodontal disease, damage, or decay
- Checking your pet's skin for a handful of problems such as parasites, dryness, lumps, and bumps (specifically in skin folds)
- Palpating your companion's abdomen to access the internal organs to see if they appear normal and to check for signs of discomfort
- Feeling along your cat or dog's body (palpating) for hints of illness including swelling, evidence of lameness ( such as limited range of motion), and signs of pain
All of the tests above are meant to find signs of any health problems your cat or dog could be experiencing. Because our pets aren't able to tell us what they are physically feeling, these tests and checks help to determine how your furry friend is generally feeling.
Keeping Vaccines Current
Vaccines are designed to keep your animal companion safe against common, contagious, and potentially deadly diseases. The vaccines your vet recommends for your pet will be based on your location and your pet's lifestyle.
Core vaccines for dogs and cats are recommended for all pets, whereas lifestyle vaccines are typically recommended for pets that are in frequent contact with other animals. For more information more about the vaccines, our Front Worth Vets in Texas recommend for your pet read our vaccine schedule.
Adult pets will require 'booster shots' on a regular basis to maintain their protection against disease. Usually, boosters are given annually or once every three years. Your veterinarian will let you know when your pet is due for booster shots.
Preventing Parasitic Diseases & Conditions
Parasites pose a serious health threat to pets in White Settlement. Ticks and mosquitos carry parasites that can enter your pet's body and cause potentially deadly conditions, this is why your vet will suggest ways to prevent parasites from invading your animal friend. It's also important to know that a handful of these parasites can spread from pets to humans!
Parasite prevention can help to protect your dog or cat from conditions such as:
- Fleas
- Heartworm
- Lyme Disease
- Anaplasmosis
- Babesiosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Hookworms
- Whipworm
- Tapeworms
- Roundworms
Weighing Up The Cost Of Routine Checkups
At Frontier Veterinary Hospital in White Settlement our veterinary team understands that bringing your pet in to see us even when they look healthy might seem like an unnecessary expense however, routine checkups help your pet's veterinarian detect signs of disease in the earliest stages when many conditions are easier to treat and to also provide your furry companion with high-quality preventive care such as vaccines and parasite prevention medications. When compared to treating advanced forms of conditions, disorders or diseases, (especially heartworm) regularly scheduled checkups will save you time and money.
Not only that, but they will also ensure your cat or dog experiences a minimal amount of discomfort or pain from any health issues they are experiencing. The faster a medical issue is found, the faster it can be diagnosed and treated.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.