Wellness

Pet Kitty

Dogs, cats, reptiles and birds; From puppies and kittens to adults and even seniors, wellness and improving quality of life and longevity is our goal. So, when and what happens during your pet’s wellness exam?

Our routine wellness exams will cover the following:

Body Condition Score/Appearance – We rate Body Condition Score on a scale of 1-9 with 1 being too thin and 9 being obese. We also recommend bringing your pets to the dog groomers at least once a month

Behavior – We will discuss any abnormal behaviors that your pet may be exhibiting, both at home or at the clinic. If your pet exhibits behavioral concerns in the hospital, we may try Fear Free methods to help them at this visit and notate it so that we know how to make them as comfortable as possible for their next visit.

Eyes – Evaluating that the eyes are clear and bright. The cornea, sclera and conjunctiva and eyelids
should be intact and healthy. The lens should be transparent and the iris should have a natural color and texture with the pupils normally responsive to light.

Ears – The ear canals should appear normal and healthy with no significant accumulation of wax or debris.

Mouth and Teeth – The gums and the insides of the cheeks should appear sound and healthy. The
tongue, tonsils, palate, and pharynx have a healthy color and appearance. The teeth appear clean, white and properly aligned with no significant accumulation of tartar.

Respiratory System – We will assess that your pet’s respiration is normal, with each part of the lungs sounding clear and healthy and your pet having a normal breathing rate and depth.

Cardiovascular System – We will listen to your pet’s heart to be sure it is strong and healthy, that each valve sounds normal and there are no murmurs.

Abdomen & Abdominal Organs – The abdomen should have a healthy conformation and is free of painful areas. The internal organs should feel normal in size, location, and consistency.
Skin and Hair Coat – Your pet’s skin should be healthy, smooth and normally flexible with no scabs, scales, growths, parasites or irritated areas.

Musculoskeletal System – The pet’s skeleton should be sound and fit. The muscles should have a normal tone and strength for the pet’s age and breed. Your pet’s gait should be normal with no signs of lameness or joint pain.

Urogenital System – Your pet’s bladder and kidneys should feel normal in size, shape, and consistency,
with normal genitalia and reproductive organs for the age, sex and reproductive status of the animal.
There should be no discharge or other signs of disease.

Nervous System – Your pet should be bright and alert with a crisp and responsive mental attitude. Your pet should have excellent body control, posture, balance, and coordination, with brisk and sharp reflexes.

Lymph Node System – The prescapular, popliteal, inguinal, and submandibular lymph nodes should feel normal in both size and shape.

Vaccine and Parasite Status – We will discuss core vaccines and those that are only needed in special situations, as well as parasite preventatives.

Life Stages Care

Puppies and Kittens: 8 weeks of age to 16 weeks

Initial physical exam at 8 weeks old

Discussion of Breed Specific Diseases – Some breeds are more predisposed to diseases than others.

Vaccine Importance and Schedule – Many very scary diseases, such as parvovirus, can be avoided when taking necessary precautions. Puppies and kittens should start their vaccination series around 8 weeks, and continue to get booster vaccinations every 3-4 weeks until they are 16 weeks or older. These young animals should NOT visit public places that other animals frequent until 10 days after their last booster vaccines.

Permanent Identification – The best reason to have your animals microchipped is the improved chance that you’ll get your animal back if it becomes lost or stolen.

Behavior – We will discuss socializing and handling, red flag behaviors, training, bite inhibition and benefits of crate training.

Parasites – Puppies and kittens are into everything! We will let you know what our recommendations are for your new addition, as well as when it is time to test for those pesky parasites.

Dentistry – Yes, you should be brushing your pet’s teeth, too! And yes, you should start now!

Reproductive Plans – Whether this new addition is just meant to be a pet or part of your breeding program, we will discuss alteration plans or upcoming genetic testing (link to genetic testing) for breeding.

Adults

We recommend seeing our healthy adult patients once a year. Regular wellness exams allow the veterinarian to evaluate the pet’s general health and become aware of any health problems before they become serious illnesses.

It is much easier, less painful, and more cost-effective to prevent issues before they become emergencies.

Since a pet cannot communicate their concerns, regular physical examinations by your veterinarian will help identify issues that may affect your pet’s health, and ensure that vaccinations are safe to give.

Seniors: 7 years and older

Our senior pets should be evaluated every 6 months to catch age-related issues early. Just like people,
things can change very rapidly as our pets age.

Senior Diagnostic Profiles – At this age, it is also important to begin annual diagnostic screening to help us detect changes as quickly as possible.

Mobility – We will evaluate for presence or stage of arthritis or other mobility impairing obstacles. These could include sight or hearing.

Behavior – Evaluate cognitive changes or dysfunction as well as new phobias or anxieties.

Dentistry – We will monitor any progression of dental disease and the treatment options for these.

Litter Exams

We appreciate that it is a priority for our Reproductive Clients to produce the healthiest puppies and kittens possible and for this reason, we offer full litter exams for a discounted price before your litters go to their new homes. Individual health report cards will be made for each puppy/kitten to be sent with them on their next adventure.