Vetcetera Vet

"An ounce of prevention..."

 Health examinations are an important part of preventive care for your pets.  At Vetcetera Animal Hospital our main focus is keeping pets healthy with preventive care.  So every pet we see receives a full physical examination and weight check.  This is definitely an area where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 

It is our clinic philosophy to be thorough in all aspects of pet care and health examinations are no exception.  We hope the information outlined below will help you to understand what is happening when a physical examination is being performed and the importance of annual health exams.  We also strongly believe that your observations at home -  the other 364 days of the year are very important to your pet's health.  We really want to have your input on what you are seeing at home.  We also hope that the information below will help with your observations at home so that you can detect problems as early as possible.

The Check-in

Your visit will start with one of our friendly receptionists performing your appointment check-in and weighing your pet.  She will also ensure that we know about any concerns that you would like us to address during your visit.

The History

Our experienced technicians will obtain a complete health history on your pet and will review lots of information with you about general pet health and care.  They will also be certain to find out about any health concerns that you might have about your pet .  Don't be shy - we love to hear how things are going at home and it's our job to help you with any problems you might be experiencing.  Remember that your observations at home are very important to us - so please let us know what you have been seeing !

Physical Examination

Our veterinarian will perform a comprehensive examination on your pet from tail to nose - taking care to exam your entire pet and making note of all findings in your pet's medical record.  We consult records from previous years to track your pet's health condition over time.  The examination actually starts before you might think.  Our veterinarian starts to assess your pet from the moment she enters the exam room.  This begins with your pet's general attitude.  As she greets your pet, there is an also an evaluation of your pet's gait and stance, body condition, coat, respiratory sounds and even overall odor.  Our veterinarian relies heavily on the senses - sight, sound, smell and touch - to perform an examination.  The health exam with the veterinarian also includes lots of information on preventive health care.  This may range from breed predispositions, to litter box hygiene, all-important nutrition, prevention of urethral blockage, dental disease and obesity.  Each discussion is tailored to your pet's needs which are identified by you, the history obtained during the visit and the findings of your pet's physical examination.

Heart and Lungs - getting a good listen

A stethoscope will be used along with our veterinarian's expert ears to examine your pet's heart and lungs.  The heart rate, rhythm and strength are noted along with pulses in the main arteries.  Our veterinarian listens closely for heart murmurs as well.  The entire lung fields are also auscultated carefully to detect any abnormal breath sounds.   

More than Just a Belly Rub

The abdomen houses many important organs including the stomach, intestines, pancreas, liver, gall bladder, spleen, kidneys and urinary bladder.  Using skilled palpation, our veterinarian will assess the adominal cavity.  This palpation is used to help detect any abnormalities in the shape and size of these organs as well as any abnormal reaction from your pet to palpation.  While each and every organ might not be easily palpated - a general palpation can give us a wealth of information.

What's behind that Smile

Our technician will discuss tooth brushing techniques and help you to make this part of your pet care routine.  Our veterinarian will perform a thorough oral examination.  This includes the teeth, gums, tongue,  inner cheeks and the palate.  The teeth are assessed for any dental fractures, malocculsion, abnormal wear and tear and last but not least tartar accumulation.  A dental plan will be formulated to meet your pet's needs.  This often includes a complimentary dental recheck generally 3-6 months later to reassess dental health and see how the plan is going at home. 

The gums are evaluated for any recession, inflammation and nodules.  The entire oral cavity is checked for masses, sores or other abnormalities.  The pinkness of the lining of the lips and the gums is also assessed - a lack of pink color may indicate anemia.  The palate is one of the best areas to detect subtle jaundice. 

All the Better to Hear You

Ears vary greatly between pets, some have upright ears while others have floppy ones.  Some are vitrually hairless and others are quite hairy.  Despite these variations, pets generally have longer ear canals than people.  Many pets have ear canals that have just the right conditions for bacteria and yeast to grow as they can be moist, warm and dark.  An otoscope will be used to check the ears for any signs of redness, discharge, pain or even ear mites.  The ear drum is also visualized.  Our veterinarian likes to use all of the senses and is very commonly seen sniffing the ears too -  for any abnormal odors.  The ear is also examined for any bumps or polyps that may be present.  A quick check of the ears is really easy to do at home.

All the Better to See you

This is where our veterinarian will use skilled eyes to exam your pets eyes.  The eyes, eyelids and eyelashes are examined for any abnormalities as well as for discharge.  The lids are observed for any lumps and for the proper orientation as lids that turn outward or inward too much can cause problems.  The outer surface of the eye is assessed for injury and redness.  The white part of the eye - the sclera - is another area in which jaundice can be detected.  The pink lining of the lids - the conjunctiva - will be evaluated for any inflammation or pallor that might indicate anemia.  The size of the pupils and their symmetry is assessed as well as their response to light using an ophthalmoscope.  This same instrument is used to exam the very important inner structures of the eye. Our veterinarian will evaluate the lens, retina and optic disc for any problems. Even without an ophthalmoscope - you can evaluate the eyes at home for any changes.

Reproduction

The external organs of males will be evaluated including a check of the scrotum and testicles of intact dogs and a prostatic exam as intact males age.  It should be noted that our veterinarian strongly believes in the benefits of spaying and neutering. 

Health May Be Skin Deep

Did you know that the skin is the body's largest organ and can be an indicator of your pet's health? The condition of your pet's skin and coat or hair is examined.  Our veterinarian will carefully palpate your pet for any lumps or bumps.  If any were previously noted, their size will be compared to the previous year's records.  Our veterinarian takes the time to carefully measure lumps that are noted and will ask you to monitor these carefully at home for changes.  She strongly recommends at least an aspirate sample be evaluated on all new lumps and any lumps that have changed dramatically over time.   Your pet will be checked for external parasites such fleas and ticks.  The skin's elasticity may also be evaluated to determine the hydration status of your pet.  While bonding with your pet at home, take note of any changes and let us know about them during your visit.

Lymph Nodes

Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped organs that found all through the body.  They act as filters or traps for foreign particles and are an important part of the immune system.  Some lymph nodes are internal and not easily be assessed.  Others are located externally for example in the armpits, groin, the back legs, above the shoulders and under the lower jaw.  These lymph nodes are palpated at each visit especially for any abnormal enlargement.  Detecting enlargement or inflammed lymph nodes may be very important - this may indicate something more minor such as an infection to more a more serious condition such as cancer.

Thyroid Glands

The thyroid gland is a lobed gland that is located in the neck.  It produces thyroid hormone which plays an important roel in setting your pets metabolic rate - the rate at which our cells burn fuel. 

Dogs may be affected by a low functioning thyroid, but the gland itself will not be physically different.  However, dogs may be affected by tumors of the thyroid gland that are often malignant in nature.  These tumors can often be detected with careful palpation. 

Cats can also develop thyroid gland problems that generally result in an overactive thryoid gland - this condition is called hyperthryoidism.  Generally, the thyroid gland will be enlarged on one side of the neck.

During your pet's examination the throat area is carefully palpated for any enlargement of the thyroid glands. 

The Story of the Health Exam

We hope this shed a bit more light on what happens during a pet health.  Remember that your observations at home is very important to us.  Annual health examinations are the key to preventing problems and to early detection - if health problems are present.  

Your Pet Health Care Team at Vetcetera Animal Hospital