At Oak Ridge Animal Hospital in Greensboro, we tell all of our pet parents that the best veterinary care is preventative care. We’d much rather prevent illness than treat it, and we know that your pets would agree! We recommend regular pet wellness exams, but the timing of these exams depends on your pet’s age and general health. But, regardless of how often we want your pet to come in, every pet wellness exam will include the same thorough treatment.
Why Should Our Veterinarian See Your Healthy Pet?
Many owners with perfectly happy and healthy pets don’t see any reason to bring them to our office. After all, there’s nothing wrong with them. The fact is, just like going to the dentist to prevent cavities, bringing your pet in to see our veterinarian regularly can prevent a long list of serious medical problems. Some of the more common issues we find during wellness exams include:
- Ear infections
- Heartworm
- Dental issues that can lead to heart problems
- Fleas and other parasites
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
The fact is, animals can’t tell you when they’re sick or injured. Unless they’re suffering from an extremely serious disease, your beloved pet could be sick for months before you notice any obvious symptoms. These are months during which our vet could be treating or curing them.
A Normal Pet Wellness Examination
Every pet is different, but in general, we’ll give yours a nose-to-tail exam that covers the major parts of their body. Our vet will begin by weighing and measuring your dog or cat to make sure they’re not suffering from obesity or have gained an unhealthy amount of weight. The vet will examine their fur and skin to look for parasites and infections. They’ll inspect their teeth, gums, and mouth, looking for loose teeth, infection, and a need for a dental cleaning. If your pet needs cleaning, we’ll schedule it for another day. Your pet will get vaccinations as a part of their exam and can be microchipped at that time if they haven’t already gotten it done. Finally, our vet will consult with you about your pet’s behavior and general health, just to make sure they’re developing as they should.
How Often Your Pet Needs Vet Care
In general, puppies and kittens need to come in for examinations and vaccinations four times during their first year. After reaching one year of age, your pet only needs to see our vet every one to three years. Senior pets, those seven years old and older, should be examined annually.