The Importance of Preventive Care
Routine wellness exams are an incredibly important part of helping your pet to keep their good health all throughout their life.
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 bringing your dog or cat into either of our locations for a routine checkup, you are giving our vets a chance to prevent health issues from ever arising in the first place or to catch them early and at their most treatable.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
Our team of vets will give your dog or cat a comprehensive physical checkup at our Carrollton hospital in order to gain a more complete picture of their overall health. Routine exams at our clinics generally include all of the following elements:
General Condition
Your pet's demeanor and conditions can be excellent indicators of their overall health. The way your pet stands, walks, remains alert of their environments and whether or not your companion is a health weight for their breed, size and age are all helpful hints to their overall health.
Coat & Skin
During your pet's checkup, we will examine your dog or cat's skin and coat for signs of problems, including excessive oiliness or dryness, lumps, bumps, dandruff, or abnormal hair loss or shedding.
Face & Head
Your pet's nose, ears, eyes and mouth will all be examined for abnormalities like discharge or symptoms of disease. We will also carefully check their mouth for any symptoms of oral health issues that may require early intervention or preventive care.
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.
Lymph nodes will be checked for pain or swelling, and we will also examine the abdomen to ensure the intestines, kidneys, bladder, spleen, liver, and stomach all feel normal, and that your pet is not exhibiting any signs of discomfort.
Review of Findings
After your pet's routine wellness exams has finished our vets will take some time to speak with you about any concerns they may have about your companion's overall health. This can potentially include advising you of our breeding and nutritional consultation services to help set your pet up for success:
Checkups for Puppies & Kittens
Puppies and kittens need proper medical attention in their first few weeks of life to get off to a healthy start.
We will provide your new best friend with a comprehensive physical assessment, vaccinations and deworming medications. We will also test them for the presence of any intestinal parasites. Our vets provide new patients with a puppy or kitten "kit" filled with samples, informational resources and more to help you to care for the newest member of your family.
Please never hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have about caring for your new pet, both at your appointments or following your 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 veterinary medical knowledge and care, as well as newer therapies and better nutrition, senior pets are living longer than ever.
While this is excellent news for pet owners, it also means that special attention will need to be given to your pet's routine healthcare as they grow old. As your pet grows beyond middle age, they will require frequent routine examinations to ensure they continue to have good health.
In addition to the routine wellness procedures we perform on all adult pets, we will give special attention to your senior pet's potential geriatric conditions, such as 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 checkups at our Carrollton veterinary hospitals, we will check whether or not your companion requires any preventive care such as parasite treatments or vaccinations.