Physical Exam

A physical exam is a chance for us to assess your pet's overall health, discuss any changes we see, educate and update you on advancements in veterinary care, and for you to discuss any concerns or questions you may have. The physical exam that we perform on your pet is similar to the yearly physical you receive from your doctor.

During the exam, we will start out by taking your pet's vital signs and obtaining a medical history of your pet to determine if there have been any changes in health since your last visit, including eating habits, exercise, unusual behavior, etc. and do a comprehensive examination of your pet from nose to tail. He or she may also perform diagnostic tests such as blood work, urinalysis or intestinal parasite tests and vaccines may be administered (depending on your pet's life stage). Additionally, disease screenings (heartworm, kidney, liver, blood disorders, etc.) may be recommended, depending on the state of your pet's health.

We recommend annual visits for updating vaccinations that may be due, but, more importantly, to evaluate your companion's health as time goes on. One of the most important reasons to bring your pet in on a regular basis is to monitor and treat conditions before they become untreatable. Since pets can't vocalize how they are feeling, illness or disease may be present before you are aware of symptoms. The benefit of early detection allows time for steps to be taken to manage or correct a problem before irreversible damage occurs. Because our pets age so much faster than we do, regular wellness exams are one of the best ways that you can help your pet live a long, healthy life.