Beneath the Surface: The Importance of Routine Pet Wellness Exams
Beneath the Surface: The Importance of Routine Pet Wellness Exams
No one knows your pet better than you. In fact, you understand them so well and anticipate their every need, that a regular doctor’s exam might seem unnecessary. In truth, it’s what you can’t see that can cause problems down the road. Because pets can’t tell you what hurts, they often suffer in silence until, finally, pronounced symptoms indicate a serious condition.
Pet wellness exams give us the opportunity to care for your pet together. Not only can we update important vaccinations and parasite preventives, we can also help you provide the best possible life through consistent and clear communication.
Successful Formula
Given the opportunity to see your pet 1-2 times a year, we can work toward establishing baseline levels. Down the road, if something is amiss, we can compare it to earlier results to measure changes. Aside from updating shots and medication, we’re committed to understanding your pet’s needs and delivering excellent service.
Head to Toe, Snout to Tail
We value the time you take to bring your pet in to see us. We’re devoted to having detailed conversations about lifestyle and behaviors, and we look forward to answering your questions about pet care.
We also perform a thorough physical exam to help us evaluate the condition of your pet’s ears, mouth, nose, lymph nodes, heart, lungs, abdomen, and musculoskeletal system. We then provide recommendations (like pet dental cleanings) based on our findings.
Speaking of Dental Cleanings…
Most pets over the age of three have some form of periodontal (gum) disease. Left untreated, pets can suffer pain and infection or experience problems with the heart, liver, and kidneys. We will discuss our professional services and how you can support dental health at home.
The Scale
Addressing your pet’s weight is a central component of any pet wellness exam. With rising pet obesity rates, we want to ensure proper measures, like exercise and portion control, are in place to help you achieve and maintain an ideal weight. Likewise, if your pet is losing weight, we may investigate underlying reasons for the change.
Monitoring Pet Wellness
Depending on your pet’s species, breed, age, size, and lifestyle, they can be predisposed to certain medical problems or have a higher chance of developing them. Senior pets should be seen twice a year to limit or prevent age-related illnesses.
By maintaining a regular pet wellness schedule, we can work together to reduce or prevent potential problems. Blood work, x-rays, and early disease detection all support long-term health.
Cat Friendly Practice
Many cats do not receive routine care because travel can stress them out. As a Cat Friendly Practice, we have designated “cat advocates” on staff who are specially trained and educated to support feline health. Complete with facility-wide pheromone diffusers, calming techniques, and handling procedures, your cat will be compassionately examined for optimal wellness.
All this and more reduces a cat’s stress, improves the quality and frequency of care, and meets the unique needs of cat owners.
Enhance Your Pet’s Life
Our dedication to pet wellness is designed to enhance your pet’s life. By providing you with the right information and tools to best care for your pet, we hope to give them the best life possible. After all, they deserve it!
As always, please contact us with any questions or concerns. Team Parkside is always here for you!