Regular health checks are vital and give pets and their owners the best chance of preventing, detecting and treating any possible illnesses as early as possible and therefore providing the best quality of life for the longest possible lifespan. Cats and dogs are stoical species, meaning they both hide signs of distress. While dogs are more communicative, it isn’t uncommon for a dog to continue greeting you joyfully even when they are under the weather. Meanwhile, cats are experts at hiding ill health. By bringing your dog or cat in to see the vet, even when they seem perfectly healthy, you give your vet an opportunity to perform a full exam and to monitor your pet’s health, check for the earliest signs of diseases, and provide preventive care such as vaccines and parasite prevention to keep your furry kid looking and feeling they’re very best. It also gives you the opportunity to ask about any unusual behavior or symptoms you’ve seen at home.
What’s involved in a Regular Health Check?
Important Checks
During an annual health check, your vet will complete a thorough nose-to-tail examination of your furry kid. Some of the components of this exam are, for example, to check ears for mites and infection and examine eyes to make sure your pet has no issues with vision such as cataracts or glaucoma. Internal organs will be checked using a stethoscope and physical manipulation to make sure there are no abnormalities. Skin and coat will be checked for parasites, lumps and bumps, hair loss or inflammation. Another essential area of investigation is your pet’s mouth. Dental disease can cause your pet oral pain without you even realising it. Early detection and intervention can prevent more serious consequences like abscesses or tooth loss.
Early Disease Detection
A key benefit of regular health check-ups for your furry kid is the potential to detect illnesses early on. There may be subtle changes in your pet’s behaviour that you don’t consider remarkable, but your vet may pick up on these as warning signs of something more serious. If your pet is diagnosed with a disease, the earlier the treatment starts the better the prognosis will generally be. This treatment could involve anything from surgery and medication to a simple change in diet, but whatever it is, you’ll want to get the ball rolling.
Preventative Treatment
There are many animal illnesses that can be easily prevented with treatment from your vet. Younger pets, in particular, will need a variety of vaccines to combat preventable diseases, along with treatments to deter parasites and worms. Your vet will help you construct a preventative healthcare plan for your pet over the next few years with scheduled treatments over time. At each check-up, the vet will also examine your pet’s weight and be able to warn you if they are becoming overweight, enabling you to make the necessary changes to avoid obesity, and all its associated risks.
How often should I need to bring my pet in for a checkup?
Our vets recommend annual checkups for most dogs and cats. However, each pet is different and has different needs – especially as they age. Which is why the frequency of your pet’s checkups will depend on their age and especially if they have been diagnosed with a chronic medical condition. Puppies and kittens can be susceptible to health conditions that are easily resisted by adult pets. For this reason you should bring your puppy/kitten in for a checkup much more frequently to give them the very best start in life (every month for puppies and kittens under 6 months old). Your vet will also vaccinate your young pet at these monthly visits to prevent serious and sometimes fatal infectious diseases. Likewise senior pets are also more susceptible to certain health conditions, like arthritis, heart disease, kidney disease, hormonal diseases and cancer. And so, we recommend a thorough health check for them at least twice a year.
Is preventive care expensive?
Compared to treating advanced forms of health conditions or infectious diseases, regularly scheduled health checks will actually save you money. Not only that, but they will make sure your furry kid experiences a minimal amount of discomfort or pain from any health issues they are experiencing. The sooner a medical issue is detected, the sooner it can be diagnosed and treated.
