The Importance of Wellness Visits for Your Pet
Preventative care isn’t only important for humans. Making sure that your Veterinarian conducts regular pet wellness exams on your furry friend is essential for its continued health and vitality.
What is a pet wellness exam?
A pet wellness exam is a physical exam that your Vet performs to identify potential health problems before they become life-endangering conditions. No matter how attentive you may be to your pet’s diet, exercise regimen, and overall quality of life, most ordinary pet owners at home cannot always detect when something subtle is going wrong. Many times the only way that an incipient health problem can be detected is with a physical exam conducted by a trained Vet.
What will my Vet be checking for during a pet wellness exam?
Your Veterinarian will first check your pet’s vital signs by measuring its temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and body weight. We like to do this on nearly every visit so we can get a feel for what’s normal for your pet. Sometimes we check blood pressure too. Next, we will examine your furry friend’s ears, eyes, mouth, and skin for any visible abnormalities. If we detect any signs of illness, we may need to discuss further work up via a blood or urine test. We will also make sure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date and discuss heartworm preventive with you.
What can I do to increase the benefits of a pet wellness exam?
Each pet owner plays a vital role in maximizing the benefits their pets derive from a wellness physical exam. Because you are with your pet each and every day, an observant pet owner can alert the Vet changes that could indicate a potential problem. Be sure to mention if your pet has been coughing, vomiting, or experiencing bouts of diarrhea. Other indicators of potential health problems might include eating and drinking more or less than normal, unexplained weight loss or weight gain, or changes in general activity level. You should also discuss any pet behavioral changes with your vet. Has your pet become irritable or listless of late? Does he or she have trouble getting up in the morning? Any stiffness or reluctance to move about? Keeping track of all these activities and behaviors can help your vet detect potential health problems.
Chastain Veterinary Medical Group can attend to all of your pet’s wellness needs. We provide a wide range of services for clients in the greater Dallas region. To schedule an appointment please call Meadow Brook Animal Hospital in McKinney at 972-529-5033 or Preston Road Animal Hospital in Dallas at 972-239-1309.
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