Getting a routine wellness check for your pets is their ideal opportunity to have a long and healthy life. It can feel like an unnecessary cost for most owners, especially if your pet looks just fine; however, bear in mind that most health conditions don’t show their signs and symptoms right away. Throughout the checkup, your veterinarian may ask you specific questions regarding your pet’s health or habits. The procedure that will be done for your pet’s examination may depend on the monitoring of your veterinarian.
Is the Wellness Examination Important?
Our pets age faster than us. That’s why it is crucial to make sure that they have routine checkups since they are more susceptible to diseases as they age. It would also depend on your pet’s health condition, breed, and lifestyle to determine how often they should have a wellness examination. If it’s your first time visiting a vet center to get your pet checked, here is what your veterinarian would probably do. You can click here for more information.
Observation
The very first thing your vet will do is to observe your pet. They will examine your pet’s overall body condition to see if they have the appropriate weight and muscle. They will also check the skin to see if it is dry, if there is dandruff, and look for oiliness. The eyes will also be checked if there is redness, tearing on their cornea, and discharge. To see tartar build-up, excessive salivation, and gum disease, their mouth will also be checked. These are some of the items a dog check up may include.
Auscultation and Palpation
Same with how human lungs and hearts are checked, your veterinarian will also pay attention to their heart rate, rhythms, and murmurs. As for the palpation, your veterinarian will feel the lymph nodes in the neck, hind legs, and head to look for swelling or discomfort from touching it. They will also feel the abdomen in the locations of kidneys, liver, intestines, and bladder to assess if they appear to be normal and if there is any evidence of pain. You can go online to learn more.
Questions and Recommendations
Prior to your appointment, it is important that you keep in mind your personal monitoring of your pet’s behavior at home. That is to be prepared for any questions your vet may ask concerning their lifestyle, exercise routine, diet, habits, bowel and urination patterns, and general health. This is also when your vet may recommend changes in their diet, vitamins and medications they should be taking, and instructions as to how you should address emergency situations based on their findings after the visit.
Conclusion
Expect that there will be a lot your vet will check for a thorough evaluation and accurate diagnosis about your pet’s health condition. Having a wellness check for your pets is crucial in order for them to have and maintain optimal health. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, recommendations and share everything you observe at home. Remember that even the tiniest detail can be a huge help to identify the condition of your pet, so ensure not to miss or overlook anything during your discussion.
