The Importance of Preventive Care
Wellness exams play an important part in helping your pet maintain good long-term physical health.
When combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention, and proper nutrition, these routine exams can help give your cat or dog their best chance at achieving excellent lifelong health.
When you bring your pet for their vet check-up at our animal clinic in Louisa we can prevent health issues from developing in your pet, or catch them early, when they are easier to treat.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
Your Louisa vet will perform a physical dog/cat checkup in order to get a complete picture of their overall health. Routine wellness exams at Tri-County Animal Clinic include the following elements:
General Condition
Your pet's general demeanor and physical condition can give clues to their overall health. How they stand and walk, their alertness level, and whether they are a healthy weight for their size are all important aspects of your cat or dog's overall health.
Coat & Skin
As part of your pet's checkup, we will examine their skin and coat for any signs of problems, including excessive oiliness or dryness, lumps, bumps, dandruff, or abnormal hair loss or shedding.
Face & Head
Your pet's eyes, ears, and nose will be checked for abnormalities or discharge. We will also examine the mouth for signs of oral health problems such as plaque buildup or periodontal disease.
Internal Health
Heart rate and rhythm, pulse, and blood pressure are extremely important to your pet's heart health. We'll test these to make sure they are normal. The lungs will also be examined for evidence of abnormal breathing.
We will check the lymph nodes for pain or swelling, and we will also examine the abdomen to make sure the intestines, kidneys, bladder, spleen, liver, and stomach all feel normal, and that your pet is not showing any signs of discomfort.
Review of Findings
After your pet's routine wellness exam, your vet will take the time to talk about any concerns they may have about your pet's overall health and discuss your dog or cat's nutritional requirements.
Checkups for Puppies & Kittens
Puppies and kittens require proper medical attention in their first few weeks to get a healthy start to life.
We will give your new best friend a full physical examination, the appropriate immunizations, and deworming medication. We will also test for intestinal parasites. You'll be given a puppy or kitten 'kit' filled with educational material and samples to help you care for your new family member.
Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the care of your new pet, both at your appointments or following your visits.
When your puppy or kitten's checkup is over, you will return routinely for thier required booster shots.
Seniors
With recent advances in veterinary medical care and knowledge, as well as new therapies and better nutrition options, senior pets are living longer than before.
While this is good news for pets and their owners, it also means that special attention has to be given to your pet's routine healthcare as they age. As your pet passes their middle-age years, regular examinations become more crucial to ensure their continuing health and longevity.
On top of 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.
We might recommend further laboratory tests for aging pets to get more detailed information about your senior pet's overall health and wellbeing.
Vaccinations & Prevention
At your pet's veterinary checkup our Louisa vets will also see if your cat or dog requires preventive care, or if they are due for any routine vaccinations.