What is a dog wellness exam, and why is it important?
A wellness exam is when we have a pet come in, in this case a dog, and we do a head-to-toe evaluation to ensure we catch any ear infections or dental disease early. It's important because the owner might not be aware of a problem, and it's my job to discover, point it out, and treat it.
How often should my dog have a wellness exam?
Once a year if it's a young dog. If they are sick or have a chronic disease, every six months would be ideal.
What should I expect to see a veterinarian do during a routine wellness exam for my dog?
I always look in their mouth. I'm checking their teeth and gum color. I press on the gum to see if it returns to normal color right away. I look in their ears and eyes to ensure there's no infection. I run my hands through their body to check for lumps or bumps that could be cancerous. I check their testicles or private area to ensure cleanliness. I listen to their heart and lungs and then palpate their belly to ensure there's no tumors or pain associated with that. In young dogs, that's not likely, but in older dogs, we can find many illnesses during a regular exam. That's why it's important for them to come so often.
What vaccinations should my dog receive during a wellness exam?
We recommend Distemper, Lepto, and Rabies as core vaccines. Bordetella is optional. Lyme and influenza are optional. Some daycares will require Bordetella and influenza due to the high risk of illness because of the high density at the daycare.
Would it be likely that my dog would need any blood tests or lab work during an exam?
That's a great question. Yes, we recommend lab work, blood work once a year to check kidney and liver values, and check for infection. We do a heartworm test once a year to ensure they are not infected with any tick or heartworm disease. The heart test actually checks for four things. We also want to ensure we test a fecal sample once a year to confirm they're not infected with any parasites.
Is there anything I should bring with me to my dog's wellness exam appointment?
Yes, a fecal sample and records. If you have records from another clinic or from a vaccine clinic, please bring them to us so we can update and administer the vaccines your pet needs.
What could I do to ensure that my dog stays comfortable and calm during an exam?
Bring him hungry. We are fear-free certified. We use lots of treats, string cheese, and lots of petting and massages so the dog can stay comfortable. Bring them hungry and remain calm because they can sense when you're anxious.
What happens if the veterinarian finds something abnormal during a wellness exam?
That's a good question. We will point it out to the owner and then do further diagnostics. For example, if there's a lump or a mass, we're going to do a fine needle aspirate to get a sample so I can look under the microscope. If it's an ear infection, we'll get swabs of the ear to run them under the microscope and determine which antibiotic would be best. If it's a tooth problem, we'll recommend blood work and a dental cleaning to remove the diseased tooth.
What kind of follow-up care might be necessary just for a regular wellness exam?
Most of the time, there's no follow-up necessary. If something comes positive on the fecal, we'll have you come back to pick up medication to treat whatever parasite was found. If the blood work shows abnormalities, such as kidney disease, which is very common in dogs after seven years old, we tailor their food and change their diet. If the FNA, the cytology, or the poking of the mass is positive for cancer, then we would recommend surgery to remove that.
Is there anything specific that you're looking for on senior dog exams that are just wellness exams?
Absolutely. All senior pets should have blood work once or twice a year, depending on whether we find abnormalities. I always look for tumors on their behind because they are more likely to have that. Masses all over the body. Dental disease is so common in older dogs, especially the smaller ones. The smaller the dog, the more likely they're going to have dental disease.
It's important for the senior patient to come in for us to point out what could be going on with your pet. Senior pets can get sick very quickly. We had a thyroid-positive cat another day, and the blood work was normal in January, but five months later it was very high. It's important to ensure that we're monitoring those senior patients frequently for disease because things can change very fast.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (810) 985-3011, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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