The annual exam is a chance for your veterinarian to catch up on the events over the past 6-12 months in your pet’s life. During this examination, your veterinarian will conduct a head to tail examination. We will listen to your pet’s heart and lungs, record vitals, and check your pet for overall health concerns. We will also ask how your pet has felt over the past few months. Because your pet cannot talk, it is important that you give your veterinarian as much information as possible.
Pets will often show signs and symptoms when they do not feel their best. The owner will typically pick up on these cues well before signs would be apparent on a physical examination. It is very important to share these changes when you present your pet for assessment. Below we will discuss parameters to monitor your pet’ health and overall well-being:
Change in appetite – While some pets have a tendency to be picky by nature, most of us know our pet’s nuances when it comes to meal time. Changes in appetite can signify metabolic disease, dental pain, nausea, or a host of other concerns. Cats and small dogs can become ill quickly when they do not consume an appropriate caloric intake.
Stool frequency/changes – Constipation and diarrhea are problems which bring many pets to the veterinarian. If you see concerns with the consistency of your pet’s stool it would be a good idea to have a fecal examination for your pet. Diarrhea can often be a consequence of your pet eating something inappropriate. It is always a good idea to share this information with your veterinarian. Constipation can sometimes indicate a need for fiber or diet change. Your veterinarian can assist in making the best decisions for your pet.
Change in drinking and urination – When pets start to have increased drinking and urination, this can be a sign of kidney dysfunction, diabetes, urinary infection, urinary stones, endocrine diseases or infectious disease such as Leptospirosis. If you notice your pet drinking and urinating more, make an appointment with your veterinarian right away.
Oral health – Is your pet licking more or making funny faces when chewing? If so, a dental examination may be in order. When pets have dental concerns one of the first sign is foul smelling breath. Other signs of dental disease would be teeth grinding, dropping food, plaque, and tartar.
Ear concerns – If your pet’s ears smell like fresh baked bread or corn chips, scratches the ears or shake their head, your pet likely has an ear infection. Your veterinarian can run a test called ear cytology and if an infection is present, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.
Skin concerns – It seems like it is always the season to be itchy for some pets. There are many ways to address allergies and treatment is often multi-faceted including recommendations for medical therapy, special shampoos, and allergy specific diets.
Coughing or sneezing – When your pet cat gets the sniffles, we worry about upper respiratory infections, but stuffy noses can also occur with other concerns like asthma, infectious diseases or even pneumonia. Coughing can be a sign of tracheal disease, heart disease, respiratory infections like kennel cough, and heartworm disease. It is always best to consult your veterinarian when your pet is coughing or sneezing consistently.
Lethargy – If your pet is laying around more than normal, this can be a sign of many concerns. Arthritis, hypothyroidism, fever, anemia….the list is long and extensive. Lethargy is not normal and should be investigated as soon as possible.
Mobility – As pets age, arthritis is very common. We have many treatments available for this concern including medications for pain and comfort, joint supplements to maintain joint and cartilage health, and restorative agents to help promote healthy joint fluid and cartilage regeneration. Limping acutely may be a sign of bone, muscle, or ligament injury and should be evaluated.
New masses – While we do our best to perform a very thorough exam, there are times when small growths may not be apparent to your veterinarian. Make sure to identify all concerning areas so that we can assess each one individually. We will likely recommend something called a fine needle aspirate or a biopsy.
Scooting behaviors – If your pet is scooting, this often means your pet needs an anal gland expression or may have an infection. Scooting can also occur due to parasites or allergies.
Eyesight and vision – If your pet seems clumsy out of nowhere or is running into walls, your pet may have an issue with vision or high blood pressure. Any changes should be addressed by your veterinarian as these issues can sometimes be time sensitive.
Weight gain/weight loss – Any changes in weight should be reported to your veterinarian. Un intentional weight loss is a red flag that something may be wrong. We will recommend lab-work and possibly radiographs or ultrasound.
As you can see, a physical exam is the first step in identifying any health problems so we can keep your pets healthy and happy. As with humans, early detection is the key so don’t put off the annual or semi-annual exams with your veterinarian. Practice sound preventative medicine by getting physical exams, stay current on all recommended vaccines and heartworm/flea/tick prevention, early detection blood and urine test, heartworm screening, and a fecal test at least once a year.
For your annual exam, call your veterinarian or contact Vetsavers Pet Hospital at 972-939-0900. Vetsavers is open seven days a week for your convenience and your pet’s first physical exam with a doctor is free.
