Wellness Exams at Dana Point Animal Hospital
Undoubtedly, the most important thing you can do to maintain your pet's quality of life and ensure they have a long, healthy life with you is to schedule routine physical exams and lab work with your veterinarian. By doing this, you establish a relationship with your veterinarian (just as you would your own primary care doctor), allowing them to become familiar with your pet and more easily pick up on subtle changes during their exams.
Routine labwork allows your pet's care team to establish a baseline for your pet and monitor for areas of concern throughout their life. The symptoms of health problems are typically subtle at first, then gradually progress until they reach an advanced stage. Labwork is an important tool in our arsenal to ensure we pick up on these things quickly.
Regular physical examinations and laboratory testing help your vet pick up on potential problems earlier, when they are much easier to treat. Preventive care can help your pet live a longer and happier life by your side.
YOUR PET'S EXAM:
Every time your pet is here for an exam is an opportunity for us to evaluate them thoroughly. By scheduling regular exams you afford us the chance to pick up on small changes throughout their lives and ensure they remain as healthy as possible, as long as possible.
During the exam, your veterinarian and care team will evaluate your pet's eyes, ears, skin, teeth, internal organs (i.e. lungs and heart), body condition (over or underweight) and their behavior during the exam. You may also notice them evaluating your pet's skeletal and neurological systems for signs of potential problems. Additionally, your care team may ask you questions to help them evaluate your pet's nutritional status.
The information gathered during the exam assists us in making an accurate care plan and make suggestions to improve the health and longevity of your pet.