The Importance of Preventive Care
Cat or dog wellness exams are critical to helping your pet maintain good long-term physical health.
Combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention, and proper nutrition, these routine examinations include regular physical pet checkups to give your animal the best chance at excellent lifelong health.
When you bring your dog or cat in for a routine pet checkup, we can either prevent health problems from developing or catch them early, when they are most treatable.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
Your Oceanside vet will perform a thorough physical examination on your dog or cat to obtain an accurate picture of his or her overall health. Our animal clinic's routine pet wellness exams include the following components:
General Condition
The general demeanor and physical condition of your pet can reveal information about their overall health. The way they stand and walk, how alert they are, and whether they are a healthy weight for their size are all important indicators of overall health.
Coat & Skin
During your pet's checkup, we will look for signs of problems such as excessive oiliness or dryness, lumps, bumps, dandruff, or abnormal hair loss or shedding.
Face & Head
The eyes, ears, and nose of your pet will be examined for abnormalities or discharge. We will also look for signs of oral health problems such as plaque buildup or periodontal disease in the mouth.
Internal Health
The heart rate and rhythm, pulse, and blood pressure of your pet are all critical to his or her heart health. We'll run some tests to make sure they're all right. After that, the lungs will be examined for signs of abnormal breathing.
Lymph nodes will be examined for pain or swelling, and the abdomen will be examined to ensure that the intestines, kidneys, bladder, spleen, liver, and stomach are all normal and that your pet is not in pain.
Review of Findings
After your pet's routine wellness exam, your veterinarian will discuss any concerns they have about your pet's overall health and will inform you about your dog or cat's nutritional needs.
Puppies & Kittens Checkups
Puppies and kittens require proper medical care in their first few weeks of life to ensure a healthy start.
We'll give your new best friend a thorough physical examination, as well as the necessary immunizations and deworming medication. We will also look for parasites in the intestine.
You will be given a puppy or kitten 'kit' containing educational materials and samples to assist you in caring for the newest member of your family.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have about caring for your new pet, whether during your appointments or afterward.
Once your puppy or kitten's checkup is complete, you'll return periodically for his or her required booster shots.
Seniors
Senior pets are living longer lives than ever before, thanks to recent advances in veterinary medical knowledge and care, as well as newer therapies and better nutrition.
While this is fantastic news for pets and their owners, it also means that your pet's routine healthcare needs to be given special attention as they age.
Regular examinations become increasingly important as your pet approaches middle age to ensure their continued health and longevity.
We will pay special attention to your senior pet's potential geriatric conditions, such as arthritis or decreased vision, in addition to the routine pet wellness procedures we perform on all adult pets.
Additional laboratory tests for aging pets may be advised to provide more detailed information about your senior pet's overall health and well-being.
Vaccinations & Prevention
During your pet's veterinary checkup at our animal hospital in Oceanside, the vet will also determine whether your pet requires preventive care or if routine vaccinations are due.
