Everyone has to pay a visit to the doctor, and our furry friends are no exception. You may have a senior dog with health issues or a kitten that needs more frequent visits, but typically, your pets need an annual visit to their local vet office. But is it really that important to bring them in for a pet annual wellness exam?
What Pet Annual Wellness Exams Do
Taking care of a pet goes beyond feeding them and keeping a roof over their head; it also means being proactive about their health. A pet annual wellness exam can tell us a lot about their health and show us how they’re doing in their day-to-day lives.
Wellness Exam Steps
There are key steps in routine vet visits that the veterinarian takes to determine your pet’s health. The first part of any given visit is a generic pet wellness check, including weight, lifestyle, and exams.
Step 1: Weight, Temperature, and Other Vitals
The veterinarian weighs your animal to check if they’re a healthy weight, then takes their temperature, pulse, and respiration rate to ensure proper breathing. Sometimes, the results of basic vital checks can be the first sign of a healthy or sick animal.
Step 2: Discussing Lifestyle
The next step is discussing what type of lifestyle your pet has outside of the office. Your veterinarian may ask about your pet’s activity levels, the food they eat, whether they like to play or not, how they sleep, etc., to make sure their lifestyle is healthy for them.
Step 3: Head-To-Tail Exam
Another critical part of any routine vet visit is the all-over physical exams to check for anything immediately wrong or concerning. Your vet will examine your pet head to tail, observing their skin, ears, eyes, joints, and teeth for any signs of distress.
Additional Annual Concerns
One of the most important parts of any annual vet exam for pets is preventative veterinary care. Preventative care can vary depending on age and health status, meaning your veterinarian will communicate with you on what your pet needs appropriately.
Testing
Many diseases, like heartworm, can be fatal if left undiagnosed and untreated, which is why testing is a crucial part of their wellness exam. Testing for various diseases annually limits the risk of deteriorating health due to unknown, undiagnosed conditions.
Vaccinations
As with people, vaccinations are essential in preventing your pet from developing debilitating diseases in the future. During your pet wellness check, your veterinarian will encourage yearly vaccinations for diseases such as rabies, distemper, panleukopenia, and many more.
Handle With Care
Pet annual wellness exams are an important part of keeping your furry friends in the best possible shape. Our friendly staff at Old Dominion Veterinary Clinic is delighted to have your pets visit us and is dedicated to always handling your animals with the best care possible during their visit!
