During routine exams, your vet will check your pet for early symptoms of illness, internal damage, and other serious conditions that should be addressed. By seeing your vet regularly, they are more likely to catch these problems early on, preventing them from getting worse. In this post, our vets in Killen explain why regular veterinary checkups are essential, and what to expect from them.
Why are routine vet checkups important?
You should book a routine physical exam with your veterinarian once or twice a year, even when your pet appears to be perfectly healthy. These wellness checkups help your pet achieve and maintain their ideal health.
By taking your healthy pet to visit the vet regularly, you allow your veterinarian the chance to see your pet when they're healthy to establish a baseline for their health, and then test for diseases, illnesses and conditions that can be difficult to identify in their early stages (including cancers and parasites).
These conditions benefit from early treatment. During the checkup, your vet has two goals: to prevent health conditions from developing where possible, and to spot early symptoms of disease so that they can be treated before they develop into more serious problems.
How often should my pet attend a vet checkup?
Your pet's medical history and age will determine how often they should see the veterinarian for a checkup.
Typically, an adult dog or cat with no history of illness should see us for a vet checkup on a yearly basis. That said, some pets, such as senior dogs and cats, in addition to giant breed dogs, face an increased risk of many conditions and should see a veterinarian more often to monitor for early signs of illness. In these cases, it's a good idea to bring your pet in for twice-yearly cat or dog checkups.
If your pet has a history of illness but is currently healthy, we recommend booking an appointment at your vet's twice each year or more to ensure they stay as healthy as possible. Your vet can examine your pet and tell you how often they should come in for a physical exam.
Because a young puppy or kitten's immune system is still developing, they can be especially susceptible to many illnesses that adult pets are easily able to overcome. For this reason, your vet might recommend booking a monthly checkup for the first few months.
Senior pets should probably visit the vet twice a year as well for a checkup and blood test to make sure everything is okay.
How to Prepare
Your vet will need the following basic medical information about your canine or feline companion, especially if this is your pet's first visit. Bring notes on your pet's:
- Eating and drinking habits
- Recent travel history
- Current medications (names and doses)
- Past medical records, including vaccine history
- Tick bites
- Food (what kind do they eat)
- Toilet habits
You may also want to bring their favorite blanket or toys for comfort.
Dogs should always attend their vet visits on a leash or harness, and cats should always attend with a carrier.
What does a checkup for pets involve?
When you take your pet to the veterinarian, their medical history will be reviewed and your vet will ask if you have any concerns. They will also ask about your pet’s diet, exercise routine, thirst level, bowel movements, urination, and other aspects of their lifestyle and general behavior.
In some cases, you’ll be asked to collect and bring along a fresh sample of your pet’s feces so a fecal exam can be completed. These exams help to identify whether any number of problematic intestinal parasites are present. These parasites may otherwise be difficult to detect.
Next, the vet will physically examine your pet. While this will usually cover the following points, the vet may take time to do more depending on your pet’s specific needs:
- Measuring your pet’s gait, stance, and weight
- Using a stethoscope to listen to your pet’s lungs and heart
- Looking into the eyes for signs of cloudiness, discharge, excessive tearing, cloudiness or redness. Will also look for issues with eyelids
- Checking for any signs of illness by feeling along your pet’s body (palpating). These symptoms include lameness or limited range of motion, or signs of swelling or pain
- Feeling the abdomen to check whether internal organs appear normal, and to check for signs of pain or discomfort
- Checking your pet’s nails and feet for signs of significant health concerns or damage
- Examining your pet’s ears for signs of wax buildup, polyps, ear mites or bacterial infection
- Inspecting the condition of the teeth for any indications of decay, damage or periodontal disease
- Examining your furry companion’s coat to assess overall condition, as well as look for signs of abnormal hair loss or dandruff
- Inspecting your cat’s or dog’s skin for numerous issues — from bumps or lumps (especially in folds of skin) to dryness and parasites
If no issues are detected along the way, your vet can likely run through this list quickly and seamlessly. If an issue is identified, your vet will explain what they have found and recommend next steps or potential treatments.
Annual vaccinations are also administered during a cat or dog checkup, based on their appropriate schedule.
Additional Wellness Testing Recommended for Pets
Along with the basic checkup exam points we list above, the vet may also recommend additional wellness testing. Remember that in many cases, early detection and treatment of disease is less expensive and less invasive than having the condition treated once it has become more advanced.
Tests for blood count, thyroid hormone testing and urinalysis may be done, in addition to diagnostic testing such as X-rays and imaging.
Ending the Vet Checkup
Once your pet has been examined, tested and given their annual vaccines, your vet will dedicate time to explaining their findings to you.
If the veterinarian has found any signs of injury or illness, they will recommend more detailed diagnostics or potential treatment options to help.
If your pet is healthy overall, this discussion may focus on improvements to exercise and diet routines, caring for your pet’s oral health and checking that essentials such as appropriate parasite prevention are monitored.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding people or pets. Always follow your doctor's advice regarding asthma or other allergy symptoms.