Through routine regular checkups, the veterinarian is able to evaluate your individual pet’s needs and plan an appropriate vaccination regimen. Maintaining a routine schedule of physical examinations and vaccinations provide your pet with the best possible resistance to common diseases they may encounter.
Physical Examinations
Just like for you, regular physical examinations are important for your pet. At yearly examinations, your pet will have a complete physical examination, evaluating your pet's well-being. We will also cover tick/heartworm/flea control, any behavior issues, give nutritional recommendations, discuss grooming, exercise, training, and more.
Your pet will receive comprehensive exam which consists of evaluating and examining the following parameters in detail:
- Monitor weight for significant changes
- Temperature
- Evaluate body condition and make dietary recommendations if necessary
- Check skin for fleas, ticks and other external parasites as well as infections, tumors or dermatitis
- Check coat quality ensuring it is healthy and well groomed and not dull, dry or brittle
- Assess cardiovascular function, diagnosing heart murmurs, irregular heartbeats
- Evaluate respiratory function checking for abnormal lung sounds
- Oral exam, evaluating teeth, tongue and palate as well as evaluating gum condition and mucous membrane color
- Examine eyes for development of cataracts, glaucoma, ulcers, inflammation or other ocular disorders
- Examine ears for mites, infection or inflammation
- Check nose, nasal passages and throat for signs of upper respiratory disease or allergies
- Examine rectal/anal sac condition if warranted
- Abdominal palpation to detect abnormal intestine, kidney, liver or spleen size, as well as detect large tumors from these organs
- Assess lymphatic system by palpating thyroid and lymph nodes for signs of infection or tumors
- Assess basic neurological system
- Evaluate the musculoskeletal system, assessing the condition of muscles, legs, joints and spine
- Discuss behavior and socialization progress and make recommendations as needed
- Check for internal parasites by running a fecal exam
At each exam, the technicians and doctor will also discuss parasite control, behavior issues, nutritional recommendations, as well as discussing grooming, exercise, training, and more, as well as any individualized questions you may have on your own pet.
Vaccinations
In addition to a yearly veterinary examination, and providing a quality diet and loving environment, prevention of infectious diseases is one of the most important steps you can take to keep your pet disease free. The doctor will be able to discuss with you an appropriate vaccination and preventive health program, depending upon your pet's individual exposure and risk factors.
Wellness Testing
During each exam with your pet, the Doctor will obtain a complete history and perform a detailed physical examination. While these can provide us with important information in regards to your pet's healthy, it is impossible to understand the complete physiological picture. We can further obtain a great deal of information of internal organ function by running a few basic blood tests. In order to understand and evaluate your pet's "overall" health, it is crucial to derive additional information from Wellness blood testing. For more information in Wellness Testing, please feel free to contact a Coldwater Veterinary Technician.
If your pet is over 7 years old, please go to our special Geriatric Wellness section.