What Does a Pet Wellness Exam Include?

What Does a Pet Wellness Exam Include?

What Does a Pet Wellness Exam Include?

What Does a Pet Wellness Exam Include?



A pet wellness exam is a medical evaluation of your pet. The exams are an ideal way of promoting health by focusing on early disease detection and prevention. Exams may occur once or twice annually when the animal is in good health.

Regular checkups help the vet monitor your pet’s general health. They also assist in diagnosing illnesses whose symptoms are difficult to recognize in the early stages. A wellness exam involves several parts, starting with:



The Consultation

 


The first step after scheduling an appointment is a consultation between you and the vet. They will inquire about your pet’s medical history, age, and anything surrounding their health. Common health issues differ depending on the animal.

For cats, nutrition and husbandry contribute to a large percentage of their illnesses. The vet needs to understand the animal’s current lifestyle and origin to know what markers to check. Consultation traditionally lasts longer than the pet examination session. The vet needs to gather all relevant information about the pet.



Visual Exam

 


After the consultation is complete, the next step involves a visual examination. Here, the caregiver observes the general properties of your pet. The procedure includes checking the paws, coat, gait, personality, responsiveness, and overall movement of your animal. 



Physical Wellness Exam

 


Here, the vet checks its nose, ears, paws, rectum, nails, eyes, and oral cavity. Next, they will measure the weight and temperature of the animal. After this, the vet palpates the abdomen and lymph nodes, checking for any sign of illness. The animal’s skin and coat are other vital factors. They will check for bald patches and dandruff. The skin of an ill pet may seem dry or lumpy and may also have parasites.

Veterinary doctors check the pet’s ears for ear mites, bacterial infections, polyps, and wax buildup. They will also examine the teeth, eyes, lungs, and heart. The eyes may have excessive discharge, cloudiness, redness, and eyelid issues, while the teeth can suffer from decay, damage, or signs of periodontal disease.



Additional Exams

 


Apart from the traditional tests, the vet may recommend additional wellness exams. As part of a routine annual test, they may request you to bring your pet’s stool. A fecal exam helps them check for intestinal parasite eggs.
Additional tests go a long way in early disease detection and treatment. Early detection of illnesses is financially sound and saves the pet from invasive remedies in the future.
Additional exams that the vet may endorse include thyroid hormone testing, complete blood count, and urinalysis. Each of these extra tests depends on the recommendation of your veterinary doctor. Healthy young pets may only need standard tests, while older ones may need more comprehensive exams.



After the Exam

 


After all the tests and observations, they will discuss their findings with you. They will inform you of any treatment options if they find any symptoms of disease or injury. If both are absent, they may recommend some exercise routines, diet changes, and parasite prevention measures.

For more on pet wellness exams, visit Madison Animal Care Hospital at our Madison, Alabama office. Call (256) 461-7575 to schedule an appointment today. For emergencies, call (256) 715-8389.