When you receive the card in the mail indicating that your pet is due for vaccines and an annual examination, you may wonder if this is really necessary. Your dog or cat may be very healthy, and you may not see the need to schedule an appointment to take them to the veterinarian. That being said, it is crucial to take your pet to the veterinarian when they are due for an annual examination.
Here are some reasons why your pet needs to have an annual examination.
It helps to develop a relationship with your veterinarian.
Both you and your pet will have the opportunity to meet a veterinarian and her team, allowing you to feel comfortable asking questions when you need help.
You will also know who to call in the event of an emergency.
If you get home and find that your dog has been vomiting all over your home, you will know who to call. Even if they aren’t able to squeeze you in (or they aren’t open), they should have a phone number of a local emergency veterinarian that they trust.
Your veterinarian will be able to establish what is normal (and what isn’t normal with your pet).
Whether you decide to do blood work or not, your veterinarian will learn more about your pet during an examination. He or she will learn what is normal for your pet and what isn’t.
This will help your veterinarian catch something early.
Your veterinarian will conduct a thorough examination to determine if your pet is experiencing any health issues. They may be able to identify something early, such as a mass or an abnormality in the blood work. At this point, it may be easier to treat (and more likely to be successful). It will also cost less money!
When your pet comes in for its annual examination, it will ensure that it receives the necessary vaccines.
This is important to protect both your pet and your family. You shouldn’t let your pet’s vaccines get overdue.
You will also know that you are doing everything necessary to keep your pet healthy.
Your veterinarian and his or her team will be able to talk to you about their recommendations, including the best food, as well as what flea and tick prevention and heartworm prevention that you should be using.
The annual examination also gives you a chance to talk to your veterinarian about the things that are bothering you.
You can talk about his or her weight, any nutrition questions that you may have, as well as any health concerns that you are worried about.
That being said, senior pets should really have an examination every six months. Here are some reasons why.
Senior pets age much quicker than their younger counterparts.
They seem to get health problems that go downhill quickly. This can include arthritis and trouble getting around, as well as kidney disease, heart failure, liver disease, and much more.
By having an examination every six months, you can help your senior pet stay as healthy as possible.
Your veterinarian will continue to look for potential problems, aiming to catch them early. By doing this, you are helping your senior pet have the best life possible.
So, what does your veterinarian look for in an examination?
Your veterinarian will examine your pet from head to tail, and everything in between.
He or she will look at your pet’s eyes and ears to make sure that they are free of infection.
Any swelling and redness will be examined to ensure your pet is comfortable again.
Your veterinarian will listen to your pet’s heart and lungs.
At this time, please let them know if your pet has been coughing, sneezing, or is having trouble breathing.
He or she will do a thorough examination of your pet’s skin.
Your veterinarian will examine your pet for any patches of hair loss and shedding. He or she will look for itchiness and a change in color, which may occur if your pet digs at its skin.
Your veterinarian will feel your pet’s abdomen.
He or she will feel for the kidneys, liver, and even for any masses that may be in your pet’s abdomen.
Your veterinarian will also look at the health of your pet’s mouth.
Dental disease is a significant problem in both dogs and cats, as many owners are unable to brush their pets’ teeth.
If you have an older dog, you may want to have blood work done to check its values. Here are some reasons why you should consider this.
You will be able to figure out baseline values for your pet.
If he or she ever did have problems, you would know what his or her normal values were.
You can catch problems early.
You may be able to detect kidney disease in its early stages, allowing you to treat it and slow down the progression of the disease.
You may even need to have blood work done to ensure that your pet can safely take a certain medication.
Your veterinarian may request blood work, as some medications can be harsh on your pet’s kidneys and liver. He or she will want to ensure that your pet is healthy enough to take it, then recheck it to confirm that it isn’t causing any harm to them.
You are also going to want to make sure that your pet is able to go under anesthesia before you put him or her through it.
Since anesthesia will put a strain on your pet, you are going to want to make sure that he or she doesn’t have any underlying issues preventing you from doing so.
Although you may not want to take your pet to the veterinarian every year (or even every six months), it is really important. You will want to have someone you trust when you really need them. It also helps to catch things early, which gives you the best chance at fixing the problem (or at least slowing it down).
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Please note that the information provided is for educational and informational purposes only. Although I am a veterinary professional, this blog should not be used as a substitute for professional veterinary advice.
If your pet is experiencing a medical problem or concern, please contact a veterinary health professional immediately.