Why Are Routine Veterinary Exams Important?
April 29, 2023Regular wellness exams, also known as veterinary checkups, are the best way to ensure your cat’s or dog’s long-term health and high quality of life. You may wonder what occurs during your pet’s checkups that make them so crucial. Today, you will learn the answer to that question.
What does a veterinarian search for during a physical exam?
The doctors will conduct a comprehensive examination if you take your pet for a check up in San Diego or if the pet visits the veterinarian for a checkup or an illness. They can quickly determine the health status of your pet thanks to this examination and the information you provide about their daily care and living environment. The following steps are typical, but each veterinarian has a routine for conducting a physical examination:
- Consider your pet’s behavior. This provides your veterinarian with information regarding the mental state of your pet and whether they appear friendly, anxious, or hostile.
- Examine your pet’s sitting, standing, and walking motions for signs of pain, stiffness, weakness, or swaying.
- Look for edema, asymmetry, and discharge on your pet’s face.
- Examine the ears and eyes of your pet for signs of disease, growth, or infection.
- Examine the health of your pet’s teeth, look for masses, and inspect their mouth for indications of dehydration or anemia.
- Examine the superficial lymph nodes of your pet for enlargements that may indicate tumors, infections, or inflammation.
- The veterinarian will examine your pet’s chest for normal heart and lung sounds and rhythms.
- Examine the abdomen of your pet for painful or enlarged organs.
- Look for lumps on the skin or muscles of your pet.
- Examine the skin of your pet for lesions and parasites.
- The purpose of an orthopedic examination is to detect joint stiffness or pain.
- Examine your pet’s temperature to determine if they are cold or have a fever.
They may be able to diagnose solely based on examination and history. Occasionally, your pet may need additional diagnostic tests to confirm a suspected condition.
What purpose do routine veterinary examinations serve?
Even if your pet appears healthy, you should schedule an annual physical exam with a veterinarian from KM Vet. The wellness exams aid in achieving and maintaining optimal health for your pet. Regular veterinary visits for a healthy pet allow the veterinarian to assess the animal’s overall health and well-being.
They will examine your pet for illness and disease, searching for conditions most effectively treated when detected early. Your veterinarian hopes to detect early signs of disease and prevent the onset of pre-existing conditions during the examination. They can be addressed before they become more serious problems.
Consider the Cost
Consider the following if you still believe examining your healthy pet is too expensive. Consider the amount of money you could save by opting for routine wellness exams rather than treating severe conditions. In addition, they will address any medical concerns your dog or cat may have to ensure that they are as comfortable and pain-free as possible.
If a medical condition is detected early, it can be diagnosed and treated more quickly. Successful outcomes depend on early diagnosis and treatment, so regular wellness exams will benefit you and your beloved pet.
Conclusion
An annual visit to the veterinarian should be part of any pet’s routine care. Your pet’s health and happiness are affected by vaccinations, dental and physical examinations, grooming appointments, spaying or neutering, and expert advice on your concerns.