Annual vet checkups for your dog or cat allow your veterinarian to monitor your pet's health, check for early signs of disease, and provide other benefits. Today, our Douglasville vets explain the benefits of regular checkups for pets.
My pet seems fine. Why do they need a checkup?
Preventive care is about maintaining your dog or cat's good health and providing the care they need to give them their best possible chance at living a long and healthy life. Preventive care for pets starts with routine wellness exams either annually or twice yearly depending on the needs of your dog or cat.
These routine exams are vet checkups for your beloved pet. By bringing your dog or cat in to see the vet, even when they seem perfectly healthy, you give your team of veterinary professionals an opportunity to monitor your pet's health, check for the earliest signs of diseases, and provide preventive care such as vaccines and parasite prevention to keep your dog or cat looking and feeling they're very best.
Spotting health issues such as parasites, ear infections, or gastrointestinal issues early, before obvious symptoms appear, means that treatment can begin early when it is most effective.
How often should my pet have a checkup?
At Douglasville Veterinary Hospital in Douglasville our vets recommend annual cat or dog checkups for most pets. However, each pet is different and has different needs - especially as they age. The frequency of your pet's checkups will depend on their age and medical history.
Puppies and kittens can be susceptible to health conditions that are easily resisted by adult pets. This is likewise true for senior or geriatric pets. You should bring your puppy/kitten in for a checkup much more frequently to give them the very best start in life, (every month for puppies and kittens under a year old). For geriatric pets, twice a year or more if needed is recommended.
What's involved in a vet checkup for dogs and cats?
When you take your four-legged friend for their annual checkup, your veterinarian will review their medical history and ask you about any specific concerns you might have.
Sometimes, we'll have asked you to bring in a sample of your pet's stool in order to do a fecal exam. We will take that sample and examine it for signs of common intestinal parasites which would be very difficult to detect otherwise.
After these initial steps, your veterinarian will perform a physical checkup of your pet which will usually include any or all of the following:
- Listening to your pet's heart and lungs
- Checking your animal's weight, stance, and gait
- Checking your pet's eyes for signs of redness, cloudiness, eyelid issues, watery eyes, or discharge
- Inspecting the pet's coat for overall condition, dandruff, or abnormal hair loss
- Looking at your pet's feet and nails for damage or signs of more serious health concerns
- Looking at your pet's ears for signs of bacterial infection, ear mites, wax build-up, or polyps
- Examining the condition of your pet's teeth for any signs of periodontal disease, damage, or decay
- Examining your dog or cat's skin for a range of issues (e.g. dryness, parasites, lumps )
- Palpating your pet's abdomen to assess the internal organs and to check for signs of discomfort
- Checking your pet's body for any signs of illness (e.g. swelling, lameness, and signs of pain)
All of these tests are meant to detect signs of any health problems your pet may be experiencing. Since our dogs and cats can't tell us when they are uncomfortable, these tests and checks help to determine how your furry friend is generally feeling.
Will my pet get their shots during their checkup?
Vaccines are designed to protect your dog or cat against common contagious, potentially life-threatening diseases. The vaccines recommended for your pet will be based on factors such as your location and your pet's needs.
Core vaccines for dogs and cats are recommended for all pets, whereas lifestyle vaccines are most often recommended for pets that are regularly in contact with other animals. Speak to your vet to learn more about what kinds of vaccines they recommend for your pet.
Adult dogs and cats will need to be provided with 'booster shots' on a regular basis in order to support their protection against disease. In most cases, boosters are given annually or once every few years. Your vet will make sure you know when your dog or cat's booster shots are due.
Why does my pet need parasite prevention?
Parasites can pose a real health threat to Douglasville pets and their loving families. Ticks and mosquitos carry parasites that can invade your pet's body and cause potentially fatal conditions, which is why your vet will recommend ways to prevent parasites from invading your four-legged friend. It's also important to know that some of these parasites can be passed from pets to their households, other pets, and human companions!
Parasite prevention can help to protect your pet from conditions such as:
- Heartworm
- Fleas
- Lyme Disease
- Anaplasmosis
- Babesiosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- Hookworms
- Roundworms
- Tapeworms
- Whipworm
Is preventive care expensive?
Compared to treating advanced forms of conditions, disorders, or illnesses, regularly scheduled wellness exams combined with preventive care can save you money.
Aside from this, preventive care can ensure your pet experiences a minimal amount of discomfort or pain from any health issues they are experiencing. The sooner a medical issue is detected, the sooner it can be diagnosed and treated.
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.