Routine Vet Exams - Why Are Vet Checkups Important?

Routine wellness checkups allow your pet to have the best chance at a long and healthy life. But what can you expect to happen when you take your cat or dog in for their checkup? Our Rocklin vets are here to give you the inside scoop about your pet's routine vet checkup at Rocklin Road Animal Hospital. 

Your Pet's Physical Checkup

When you take your cat or dog into our Rocklin animal hospital for a routine vet checkup, your vet will take the time to look over your pet's medical history and ask you about any specific concerns you might have.

After these initial steps, your veterinarian will perform a physical checkup of your pet which will usually include any or all of the following:

• Checking your animal's weight, stance, and gait
• Listening to your pet's heart and lungs
• Checking your pet's eyes for signs of redness, cloudiness, eyelid issues, excessive tearing, or discharge
• Inspecting the pet's coat for overall condition, dandruff, or abnormal hair loss
• Examining your dog or cat's skin for a range of issues from dryness to parasites to lumps and bumps (particularly in skin folds)
• Looking at your pet's ears for signs of bacterial infection, ear mites, wax build-up, or polyps
• Examining the condition of your pet's teeth for any indications of periodontal disease, damage or decay
• Looking at your pet's feet and nails for damage or signs of more serious health concerns
• Palpate your pet's abdomen to access whether the internal organs appear to be normal and to check for signs of discomfort
• Feeling along your pet's body (palpating) for any signs of illness such as swelling, evidence of lameness such as limited range of motion, and signs of pain

These assessments are designed to detect any health problems your pet might be experiencing. Since our pets can't tell us when they are experiencing discomfort, these assessments help our vets determine how your companion is feeling generally.

Keeping Vaccines Current

Vaccines are designed to protect your four-legged friend against common, contagious, and potentially life-threatening diseases. The vaccines recommended for your dog or cat will be based on where you live and your pet's lifestyle. 

Core vaccines for dogs and cats are recommended for all pets, whereas lifestyle vaccines are most often recommended for pets that are regularly in contact with other animals. To find out more about the vaccines recommended for your pet checkout our vaccine schedule or contact our Rocklin vets.

Adult pets will need to be provided with 'booster shots' on a regular basis in order to maintain their protection against disease. In most cases, boosters are given annually or once every three years. Your vet will be sure to let you know when your dog or cat's booster shots are due.

Preventing Parasitic Diseases & Conditions

Parasites are a serious health threat to Rocklin pets. Ticks and mosquitos carry parasites that can invade your pet's body and cause potentially fatal conditions, that's why your vet will recommend ways to prevent parasites from invading your four-legged friend. It's also important to know that some of these parasites can be passed from pets to their loving owners!

You may have been asked to bring in a sample of your pet's stool in order for us to perform a fecal exam. Fecal's allow our vet to examine your dog's stool for signs of common intestinal parasites which would be very difficult to detect otherwise. 

Heartworm testing may also be a part of your cat or dog's annual exam. This test allows your vet to examine your animal's blood for the earliest signs of heartworm disease. Detecting heartworm as early as possible provides your pet with their best possible chance of a good treatment outcome if they have contracted this serious parasitic condition.

Parasite prevention can help to protect your dog or cat from conditions such as:

Weighing Up The Cost Of Routine Vet Checkups

At Rocklin Road Animal Hospital we understand your hesitation, because bringing your pet to see us when they seem perfectly healthy, can seem like an unnecessary expense, but routine checkups allow our vets to detect subtle signs of disease at their earliest stages. This means the disease is still at its most treatable stage. We also provide top-tier preventive care from vaccinations to parasite prevention medications. When compared to treating advanced forms of conditions, disorders or diseases, (especially heartworm) regularly scheduled checkups will actually save you money. 

Not only that, but they will make sure your pet experiences a minimal amount of discomfort or pain from any health issues they are experiencing. The sooner a medical issue is detected, the sooner it can be diagnosed and treated. 

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.