You want your furry buddy to be as happy and healthy as possible as a pet parent. Most pet owners are aware of the annual vaccines that your physician recommends, and they maintain their pet’s insurance up to date. Your vaccination visit, however, is more than just a chance to get your pet vaccinated; it’s also a vital time to offer your pet a comprehensive check-up with a wellness checkup.
What exactly is a wellness examination?
One of our staff members will do a complete examination of your pet from head to tail, and everything in between. A weight check is usually included in a wellness assessment.
Checking the back of the eye with a particular device is one of the exams we undertake. This allows us to check for cataracts as well as the health of the retina, which can be a sign that blood pressure isn’t too high. We’ll also look for symptoms of infection in your pet’s ears and evaluate their mouth for any loose, broken, or unhealthy teeth. Your veterinarian will examine all four limbs and manipulate each joint for evidence of arthritis, stiffness, or discomfort, as well as any swollen lymph nodes throughout the body.
A stethoscope is also an important aspect of the wellness assessment. Your veterinarian will examine your pet’s heart for any murmurs and to ensure that the pace and rhythm are normal. They’ll also inspect your pet’s gums for pinkness and listen to their lungs and respiration. These tests provide a thorough evaluation of your pet’s circulatory system.
When your veterinarian squeezes your pet’s tummy, you might question how much they can truly feel. It is possible to feel the kidneys and bladder, as well as portions of the stomach, liver, and intestines, in many pets, especially those who are lean or of a healthy weight. Finally, the doctor will examine your dog’s bottom and genitals, as well as their temperature and anal glands, if necessary.
What are the advantages of a wellness examination?
Wellness exams help your veterinarian to detect any potential health problems as early as possible. Many diseases are better curable if they are identified early, and weight checks might detect a little amount of unwanted weight increase or reduction before it becomes visible.
You may also share any issues you have with your veterinarian at the wellness examination session. Your veterinarian will ask you a few questions about your pet’s general health, appetite, drinking habits, and toileting, and you will be allowed to add any information about your pet’s health and behavior that has been bothering you.
Another advantage of a wellness assessment is that one of our veterinarians will be able to discuss with you the many alternatives for preventative treatment, such as parasite management. Whether you bring a poo sample to your visit, the staff will be able to analyze it to discover if your pet has any intestinal parasites. They can then suggest a treatment plan.
What may a wellness screening reveal?
Heart murmur
If your dog has a cardiac murmur, your veterinarian will examine the area of the chest where it sounds the loudest. This will help determine which section of the heart is affected. The murmur is loudest on the left side of the chest in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dachshunds, Miniature Poodles, and other small breed dogs with Mitral Valve Disease. If your dog has Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia, which is fairly rare, the murmur will be loudest on the right side.
If your veterinarian detects a murmur in your dog, they will evaluate the volume of the murmur on a scale of 1 to 6 and may order a blood test, x-ray, or heart scan to provide them with further information. If your puppy has a heart murmur, this is normal and will go away as they grow. However, certain puppy murmurs are an indicator that the heart hasn’t formed properly, and more testing may be required.
If your cat has a heart murmur, your veterinarian will seek for other symptoms that may point to the source of the heart problem. For example, they will monitor the respiratory rate to check whether it is faster than normal and if there is more work involved in the breathing than usual. Both of these symptoms might point to fluid around the lungs, which may be connected to the heart. They will also feel around your cat’s neck to discover whether their thyroid gland is enlarged, as excessive amounts of thyroid hormone cause cardiac difficulties in hyperthyroidism. If the veterinarian detects a murmur, he or she will most likely order a blood test and maybe x-rays of the chest.
Even if your pet does not have a murmur, they should be evaluated on a regular basis and may benefit from screening ultrasound scans and blood testing if they are prone to cardiac issues. Dobermans, which are inclined to Dilated Cardiomyopathy, and British Shorthair cats, which are predisposed to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, are two breeds that are predisposed to cardiac diseases.
Certain treatments for Mitral Valve Disease have now been shown to be effective even before symptoms appear, so if you own one of the susceptible breeds and they have a heart murmur, you should get their heart examined to determine if they might benefit from early treatment.
Obesity
At each check-up, your veterinarian will be able to assess your pet’s weight and detect any major changes early. This will allow you to discuss your pet’s food and exercise routine, as well as receive advice on how to assist your pet lose or gain weight as needed. Remember that obesity may lead to a variety of ailments, including diabetes and arthritis, so keeping track of your pet’s weight is essential.
Dental disease
Your veterinarian may discover that your dog or cat’s teeth have a lot of tartar on them, or that the teeth are diseased or unstable. Remember that dogs and cats may get toothache, but they don’t usually display the indications of pain that humans would anticipate. If your veterinarian detects dental illness, they may recommend an anesthetic inspection of the mouth, as well as x-rays, scaling and polishing, and extractions if necessary.
Lumps
Your veterinarian may be able to feel certain lumps and bumps during the wellness assessment. These may be warts or skin tags and are not cause for concern, but if your veterinarian sees more significant lumps, a biopsy sample may be taken to determine whether surgery to remove the lump is required.
Arthritis
Your veterinarian may discover that one or more of your pet’s joints are creaky, stiff, or painful during the examination. Whether this is the case, they may recommend x-rays to rule out arthritis or a trial of anti-inflammatory medications to see if their mobility improves.
What can I do to ensure my pet’s health?
The most essential thing you can do to keep your pet healthy is to stay up with yearly vaccines and to use parasite treatments on a regular basis. If you supply your veterinarian with a fecal sample from your pet on a regular basis, they will be able to determine if the parasite therapy you are administering is appropriate and effective.
How often should my pet have a wellness exam?
At the very least, your pet should undergo a wellness assessment at their yearly immunization visit. If you have a pet whose breed is susceptible to a certain ailment, or if your pet is currently suffering from a long-term condition, it is advised that they get a wellness examination more often.
Senior pet wellness exams
Your dog or cat is considered a senior if he or she is above the age of seven or eight years. A senior dog or cat health exam should be conducted on a more regular basis than it was when they were younger. Because your pet’s health might change more quickly as they age, a wellness assessment every three to six months is recommended. A screening blood test to examine the condition of your pet’s liver, kidneys, and other internal organs may be included in a senior wellness visit.
Frequently asked questions…
What exactly does a canine health checkup entail?
A canine wellness exam will involve a weight check, a comprehensive physical examination from head to tail, and a detailed history from the owner on the pet’s food, exercise regimen, toileting, and any issues they may have. Your veterinarian will use this information to propose any supplements, preventive medications, parasite treatments, and other screening tests or additional investigation that may be required.
How often should a dog’s health be checked?
A wellness exam’s suggested frequency is determined by a number of factors. An yearly wellness assessment should suffice if your dog is young, fit, and healthy, and you have no queries or worries. Wellness checkups should be conducted more regularly, every three to six months, if your dog is senior or a breed that is prone to certain health concerns (for example, Dobermans and Cocker Spaniels are prone to Dilated Cardiomyopathy).
How much does a wellness checkup for a pet cost?
The price of a pet health exam varies significantly from one clinic to the next. Remember that your pet’s yearly booster vaccine includes a thorough health assessment, ensuring that your pet gets a full MOT at least once a year.
Why is a wellness exam necessary?
A pet wellness exam allows veterinarians to spot signs of illness early and instigate treatment or advice on prevention as needed. It also gives you up-to-date information on your pet’s health and any steps you should take to ensure they maintain good health. If your pet hasn’t been checked over for a while, give our reception team a ring to book a wellness exam.
To schedule an appointment, give us a call at +234(0)803-307-0278 or complete our online request form. We will follow up with you shortly to confirm. We look forward to meeting you!
