We recommend yearly exams because:
- 93% of pets examined annually need some level of care or management to restore health.
- One year of our lives is equivalent to five to eight years of a dog or cat’s life.
- 60-80% of cats and dogs over three years of age have dental disease that needs care.
- Dental disease can decrease life expectancy by 20%
In the management of patient care, annual wellness exams are crucial. As many diseases don’t have apparent symptoms, it might be challenging to detect their clinical indicators. Weight is a great indicator of a patient’s health. It might be challenging to determine slow or minor weight changes without a scale. The only sign that something is amiss early in many disease processes is a weight change. One approach to spot weight fluctuations in your pet is to bring them in for an annual examination.
Frequency of Routine Exams
Annual exams are required for younger animals to examine the aforementioned issues as well as to start a conversation with pet owners about ongoing maintenance and the early identification of any potential breed or conformational issues.
Once a year may not be sufficient to detect age-related issues in older animals (cats older than 10 years), such as renal deterioration, liver illness, cancer, and thyroid disorders.
For an older pet, examinations every six months will be more beneficial.
In addition to the examination, blood testing and a urinalysis for older animals aid us in identifying any potential underlying issues.
Beyond the Physical
A complete physical examination offers the chance to evaluate the medical file and get a thorough history. Following up on and keeping an eye on medical difficulties and problems that have been detected in the past is frequently necessary.
An opportunity for client education is also provided by the annual visit, including discussions about flea treatment, new developments in vaccines, and current dietary information. One of the most crucial services provided to pet owners is client education. The well patient visit is the perfect moment for teaching because we don’t always have the time to do this while we are dealing with an obvious medical issue.
Instead of waiting until an animal is obviously ill, prevention and early health improvement are significantly less expensive and ultimately more successful. One of the most crucial things owners can do for their pets is to take them in for annual well pet checks.
Richmond Beach Animal Hospital
Call/Text: 206-360-5330
Fax: 206-360-5315