What to Expect From a Dog Health Check-up
Regular dog health check-ups are an important part of maintaining your pet’s health and wellbeing. It can help to detect small issues that could become serious in the future, saving you money and reducing the amount of discomfort they suffer.
A yearly wellness screening is recommended for healthy dogs and cats, however, senior and giant breed pets may need to be seen more often to detect the early signs of disease.
During this appointment, your veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination of your pet to examine the entire body for any problems or issues that could affect their overall health and well-being.
This involves observing their general appearance, listening to them with a stethoscope (auscultation) and feeling specific areas of the body. These checks can include:
The Heart, Lungs & Lymph Nodes
Listening to the heart with auscultation and feeling the lungs to see if they are breathing normally is one way for your vet to assess whether your pet is in good condition or needs a more comprehensive medical evaluation. Your vet will also feel the lymph nodes in the head, neck and hind legs to check for swelling or pain.
They will also listen to the abdominal area including your pet’s bladder, kidneys, intestines, liver and spleen to ensure that they are all working properly and that there is no discomfort.
The Digestive System
For most healthy animals, their appetite, toilet habits and stool quality tend to be relatively consistent. However, if your pet’s food seems to be going in their stomach faster or less frequently than usual, or they have trouble passing stool, this could indicate that something is wrong.
Changes in behavior or demeanor, lack of interest in exercise or a struggle to keep up with daily activities are all other signs that something might be going on with their digestive system. 강아지 건강검진
Your vet can perform a skin turgor test to see how much water your dog has lost in the course of a day, or they may choose to take a fresh sample of your dog’s feces for a fecal exam.
Your veterinarian will also look at your pet’s eyes, ears and skin. Clean skin, clear eyes and a shiny coat are all indicators of good health. If there are any underlying issues, your vet can discuss them with you at the time of the appointment and recommend treatment or a change in your dog’s diet and/or behavioural management to correct these issues.
Dental Hygiene: Bad breath is common among dogs, even seemingly healthy ones. If your pet’s breath smells foul or is accompanied by pawing or rubbing their face, they might be suffering from gum disease.
Ears: Your vet will also check your dog’s ears to ensure they are functioning correctly. If they are floppy and trap bacteria, they might be suffering from ear infections. Your vet will also talk to you about the best ways to care for your pet’s ears at home, and prescribe medication, if necessary. 뱃아너스