Comprehensive Guide to Pet Health Examinations: Essential Information You Should Know
Regular pet wellness exams are a crucial part of maintaining your beloved companion's health and longevity. These check-ups provide an opportunity for early disease detection, preventive care, and updates on vaccinations.
Frequency of Exams
The frequency of pet wellness exams depends on various factors, such as the pet's age, lifestyle, and health status.
Puppies and kittens require more frequent exams to monitor their growth, development, and vaccinations. These exams are often scheduled every few weeks to months during their first few months of life.
Healthy adult dogs and cats typically benefit from annual wellness exams to maintain their health, update vaccines, and detect any early issues.
Senior pets, starting around 7 or 8 years of age, should have wellness exams at least every six months. For example, healthy senior cats (7-10 years) should have annual wellness exams including comprehensive bloodwork and physical exams twice a year. Geriatric cats (11+ years) may require wellness exams with bloodwork twice annually and physical exams quarterly. Senior pets or those with chronic health conditions may need wellness exams every 3 to 6 months, with additional specialist tests tailored to their condition.
Veterinarians may adjust the frequency of exams based on factors such as lifestyle (indoor vs. outdoor), breed-specific risks, current medications, and recent health changes.
What to Expect at a Wellness Exam
During a pet wellness exam, your veterinarian will gather a thorough medical history about your pet's normal environment, diet, routine, and behavior. They will perform a complete physical exam, looking for subtle indicators of underlying disease.
The veterinarian will assess your pet's body weight, body condition score, and muscle condition score. They will listen to your pet's heart and lungs, check your pet's pulses, and palpate the abdomen. The veterinarian will also examine your pet's eyes and ears, look inside the mouth, and check your pet's teeth carefully. They will move your pet's limbs around to look for pain, swelling, and/or stiffness.
Routine anesthetic procedures such as spay and neuter or dental cleanings can be scheduled during your pet's next wellness visit. If your pet received a vaccine, it's essential to talk to the veterinary staff about warning signs of a vaccine reaction.
Cost and Insurance Coverage
The cost of pet wellness exams can vary greatly, influenced by factors like location, type of practice, and tests or vaccines performed during the visit. A routine veterinary exam can cost between $50 and $150, not including vaccines or diagnostic testing.
Pet insurance coverage for wellness exams can vary between companies, often at an additional cost. It's essential to review your policy to understand what is covered.
Preparing for Your Pet's Wellness Checkup
To ensure you don't forget about your pet's next appointment, consider keeping a daily health journal and setting reminders on your smartphone. Bring stool and urine samples, prior records of medical treatment and test results, and a list of questions to your pet's wellness checkup.
In addition to the common issues found in wellness exams such as skin conditions, dental disease, orthopedic issues, and heart conditions, veterinarians may also assess your pet for parasites, especially if they spend a lot of time outdoors or hunt. Dogs in doggy daycare or boarding kennels may require different vaccines than those who never leave their yard or interact with other dogs.
Regular wellness checks are not only crucial for your pet's health but also for establishing health baselines and providing preventive care. By scheduling and attending these appointments, you're taking an active role in ensuring your pet lives a long, happy, and healthy life.
- To maintain a senior pet's health and longevity, it's important to have wellness exams at least every six months, with comprehensive bloodwork and physical exams twice a year for healthy senior cats (7-10 years), and even more frequently for geriatric cats (11+ years).
- Pet insurance can cover wellness exams, but the coverage may vary between companies, often at an additional cost, so it's essential to review your policy to understand what is covered.
- Preparing for your pet's wellness checkup involves keeping a daily health journal, setting reminders on your smartphone, and bringing stool and urine samples, prior records of medical treatment and test results, and a list of questions to the appointment.
