Health Exams

"An ounce of prevention..."
Remember the old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"? That happens to be as true for the health of your pet(s) as it is for other members of your family!

Annual health examinations will help determine the general well being of your pet and identify potential problems. Early detection of helath problems ensures prompt action, which may solve the problem before serious consequences occur and may prevent suffering.

The History
Your veterinarian will ask you questions about the health history of your pet. Be sure to discuss any unusual behavior or changes with your veterinarian.

Medical records will be consulted if your pet has been a regular patient. Notes will be made on your pet's diet, water consumption, and on a variety of daily behavior patterns that relate to its health.

Temperature, pulse, respiration rate, and body weight may be noted, and then our veterinarian will begin the physical examination from head to tail.

A wet nose doesn't mean good health
The nose is not the health barometer that some people think it is, but it's a good place to start. Our veterinarian will check your pet's nose for abnormal discharges, and changes in color, texture, moisture, or shape.

Pet's ears invite infection
You'll probably be asked if your dog or cat has been shaking its head or scratching its ears or if any odor has been noticed. Your pet's deep, curved ear canals provide protection for the innerear, but these canals can also harbor parasites, infections, and foreign objects. A visual check will be made.

Eyes - windows to your pet's state of health
Numerous conditions, such as anemia, infections, and jaundice, often are discovered through eye examinations. Injuries and ulcers of the eye also can be detected. In addition, the lids will be examined for misplaced lashes, abnormal turning in or out of the lids or lumps or cysts.

Our veterinarian also may observe the inner structures of the eye - the optic disc and the retina. Eye problems such as ulcers, lacerations, glaucoma, or local inflammation may be detected.

An oral exam will be given
Oral hygiene is extremely important. Our veterinarian will check your pet's gums, teeth, tongue, and palate for abnormalities, infections, tartar build-up and tumors. A lack of pink color in the lining of the lips and gums could indicate anemia. The palate is also one of the first places that subtle jaundice can be noted.

Listening to the heart and lungs
Our veterinarian will use a stethoscope to listen to your pet's heart and lungs. If any irregularities are noted, additional tests may be recommended. Early heart disease is often recognized during a routine health exam; early treatment can help to improve your longevity or quality of life.

Reproduction
Your pet's reproductive system will be examined. Our veterinarian strongly believes in the benefits of spaying or neutering.

Health is sometimes skin deep
The skin is the body's largest organ and a good indicator of your pet's health. Our veterinarian will examine the condition of the skin and hair as a means of detecting other health problems.

Your pet will be checked for external fleas, ticks, other external parasites, lumps and wounds.

Sense of touch
Our veterinarian will use her experienced hands and fingers to feel the abdomen. This palpation will help to assess the condition of internal organs and to detect tumors or other irregularities. Your pet's legs and feet will be checked. The condition of joints, muscles, skin, lymph nodes, and hair also will be noted.

It's wise to immunize
Immunizing your pet against disease is one of the best tools of preventive medicine. Dogs in our region should be immunized against distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, and bordetella annually and against rabies every other year. Additionally, puppies and breeding animals should be vaccinated against coronavirus.

Cats should be immunized against feline panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calcivirus, and rabies, and, depending on their lifestyle, against feline leukemia.

Health threats vary from city to city and region to region. Our veterinarian can tailor an immunization program for your pet based on local conditions and keep your pet protected with the latest and safest vaccines. In addition, it is important to advise us if you will be travelling with your pet as additional vaccinations, preventive medications, or products may be recommended.

If you have any questions concerning your pet's health, please feel free to call us. We really are willing to take that extra step for you and your pet in any way possible.

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