Checkups for Dogs & Cats
Most healthy, adult pets should attend annual exams. However, if you have a kitten, puppy or senior pet more frequent pet wellness exams are highly recommended.
So, what should you expect when you turn up for your pet's wellness exams? Let's take a look...
When You Arrive for Your Pet's Wellness Exam
Checkups for dogs and cats are typically friendly and relaxed vet visits. When you and your pet arrive at the veterinary hospital you can expect to be welcomed with a smile. The receptionist will take your name and your furry friend's name then you'll be asked to wait while an examination room is prepared.
In some cases, dogs are weighed in the reception area right after check-in. Cats are typically weighed in the examination room.
Medical History
Once an examination room is free and clean, you will be escorted into the room where a veterinary technician, veterinary nurse, or another knowledgeable member of our team will ask you questions about your dog or cat's current health and medical history. Your answers will be entered into your pet's file for the vet to review and for future reference. You may be asked about your pet's diet, exercise routine, lifestyle, thirst levels, urination bowel movements and general behavior.
The person taking your pet's medical history may or may not give your dog or cat a casual examination to get further details to enter into the notes for your vet.
Questions, Checks & Examinations
Next, your veterinarian will come into the room and review the notes before beginning your pet's examination. At this time your vet may ask you further questions and will listen to your concerns regarding your furry friend's health, symptoms or behavior.
In some cases, you may have been asked to bring a fresh sample of your pet's feces so that a fecal exam can be performed. Fecals give your veterinarian a chance to look for signs of intestinal parasites. This fast and simple diagnostic test helps your vet identify the presence of intestinal parasites living inside of your pet. Without fecal exams, these internal parasites are very difficult to detect.
What else does a dog or cat wellness exam consist of? The following are some of the things your veterinarian do during your pet's annual exam:
- Check pet's weight, stance, and gait
- Take your cat or dog's temperature
- Examine their eyes for signs of redness, cloudiness, eyelid issues, excessive tearing, or discharge
- Feel along your pet's body (palpating) for any signs of illness such as swelling, evidence of lameness such as limited range of motion, and signs of pain
- Examine their feet and nails for damage or more serious health concerns
- Check their ears for signs of bacterial infection, ear mites, wax build-up, or polyps
- Inspect your pet's coat for overall condition, dandruff, or abnormal hair loss
- Examine their teeth for any signs of periodontal disease, damage or decay
- Listen to your furry friend's heart and lungs
- Check their skin for issues including dryness, parasites, lumps and irritiation
- Palpate the abdomen to assess the health of your pet's internal organs and check for signs of discomfort
If your vet doesn't find any issues during your dog or cat's physical exam, the list of checks and tests they have to run will fly by quickly. They may even chat with you as they go through the process. If your vet is concerned about anything they will explain what they have noticed and discuss treatment options.
Optional Diagnostic Testing
In addition to the basics, your vet may also recommend additional wellness testing for your pet. When deciding whether to have your pet undergo additional testing, it's important to remember that the early detection and treatment of a disease is typically less expensive and less invasive than treating an advanced condition.
The following tests screen for a wide range of conditions and can help detect early signs of illness, even before symptoms appear:
- Urinalysis
- Complete blood count (CDC)
- Thyroid hormone testing
If your pet is elderly or a giant breed dog, more detailed diagnostic testing may also be recommended including X-rays and other imaging.
Vaccinations
Once a physical examination has been completed your vet will review your pet's history and discuss vaccines and parasite prevention with you. If your furry friend is due for their vaccinations, the vet or another qualified staff member will administer any vaccines that your pet needs. Rest assured that, in most cases, pets don't even notice when they are getting a vaccine and the process is typically fast and painless.
Each pet's vaccine needs are evaluated individually, based on age, overall health and lifestyle. Annual vaccinations will be given at your pet's wellness exam based on the appropriate schedule for your unique four-legged family member.
Get Answers
Once your vet has completed your pet's testing and examination, they will discuss their findings with you and answer any questions you may have.
If they have detected signs of injury or illness during the examination, your veterinarian will speak with you about the diagnosis, and explain treatment options.
If your pet is generally healthy the discussion might focus on diet and exercise improvements, caring for your pet's oral health, and essentials such as appropriate parasite prevention for your dog or cat.
How Frequently to Book a Wellness Exam for Your Pet
The recommended frequency of your physical checkups will vary based on your pet's age and prior medical history.
If your pet is perfectly healthy but has a history of illness, it may be best to take them to see your vet twice a year or more to make sure that they stay as healthy as possible. Your vet will let you know how often your pet should come in for their wellness exams.
Puppies and kittens tend to be more susceptible to diseases than adult pets. Because of this, your vet may also recommend that you bring your pet in for a puppy or kitten checkup every month for the first few months of their life. These frequent appointments will also provide your vet with the opportunity to give your young pet a complete series of vaccinations.
It is typically recommended that adult dogs and cats, without a history of illness, visit the vet for a routine wellness examination (checkup) on an annual basis. That said, some pets such as senior dogs and cats, and giant breed dogs face a higher risk of many conditions and should be seen more frequently to watch for early signs of illness. In these cases, twice-yearly wellness exams are a good idea.
Duration of Vet Checkups
How long does a vet checkup take? Depending on the species, size, breed, age and overall health of your pet, a wellness exam can last anywhere between 15 minutes to an hour.
Other factors that can influence the amount of time your pet's appointment lasts include, how many questions you ask, whether your pet is due for vaccines, and how busy the animal hospital is that day.
Remember, your veterinarian wants to give your furry friend their utmost attention during your appointment. Nonetheless, there are times when emergencies come into the clinic and vets get pulled away to perform life-saving treatments for animals in need.
While this can be frustrating, try to remember that if your pet was experiencing an emergency you'd hope other pet parents at the clinic would be understanding.
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.