The Importance of Preventive Care
Wellness exams, when regularly scheduled, are key in helping your pet maintain good long-term physical health and well-being.
Combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention and proper nutrition, these routine examinations include regular physical checkups to give your pet the best chance at excellent lifelong health.
When you bring your cat or dog in for their routine checkup with us, we are able to prevent health issues from even arising in your companion in the first place. They also give us a chance to catch developing conditions in their earliest stages while they are their most treatable.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
Your Oak Grove vet will give your dog or cat a thorough physical checkup in order to get a complete picture of his or her overall health. Routine wellness exams at our animal clinic include the following elements:
General Condition
Your pet's general demeanor and physical condition can provide clues to their overall health. How they stand and walk, their level of alertness, and whether they are a healthy weight for their size are all important indicators of overall health.
Coat & Skin
During your pet's checkup with us, we will examine your cat or dog's skin and coat for signs of health issues. Some things we keep an eye out for include abnormal hair loss, dryness, oiliness, dandruff, lumps and bumps.
Face & Head
Your pet's eyes, ears, and nose will be examined for abnormalities or discharge. We will also check the mouth for symptoms of oral health problems such as plaque buildup or periodontal disease.
Internal Health
Heart rate and rhythm, pulse, and blood pressure are vitally important to your pet's heart health. We'll test these to ensure they're normal. The lungs will then be examined for evidence of abnormal breathing.
Your pet's lymph nodes will be checked for any pain or swelling and our vets will examine your companion's abdomen to ensure that their stomach, liver, spleen, kidneys and intestines all feel normal and that your pet isn't showing any signs of discomfort.
Review of Findings
At the end of your pet's routine wellness exam, your vet will take the time to discuss any concerns they may have about your pet's overall health and talk to you about your dog or cat's nutritional requirements.
Checkups for Puppies & Kittens
Kittens and puppies require proper medical attention throughout their first few weeks and months of life in order to get off to a healthy start.
We will be sure to provide your new furry family member with a comprehensive physical examination, any appropriate immunizations and deworming medications. We will also test your pet for intestinal parasites.
Don't hesitate to contact our vets with any questions or concerns you may have about properly caring for your new pet, either at your appointments with us or between visits.
Once your puppy or kitten's checkup is complete, you'll return periodically for his or her required booster shots.
Seniors
With recent advances in the medical knowledge in the veterinary field in addition to developments in nutrition and therapies, our senior pets are living far longer now than they ever have before.
While this is terrific news for pets and their owners, it means that special attention needs to be given to your pet's routine healthcare as they age. As your pet surpasses middle age, regular examinations become increasingly crucial to ensure their continuing health and longevity.
On top of the routine wellness exams and procedures that we conduct on all adult pets, we give special attention to senior pets in order to detect age-related conditions like arthritis or decreased vision.
Additional laboratory tests may be recommended for aging pets to provide more detailed information about your senior pet's overall health and wellbeing.
Vaccinations & Prevention
During your pet's veterinary checkup at our animal hospital in Oak Grove, our vets and staff will also check in on whether or not your companion requires any updated preventive care including routine vaccinations.