What to Expect When You Attend a Wellness Exam for Your Pet

The Importance of Routine Wellness Exams

Ideally, your pet should be brought to your veterinarian's office for a routine wellness exam once or twice a year, even if your furry companion seems perfectly healthy. Regular wellness checkups help you and your veterinary team support your pet's good health and happiness. 

By regularly attending wellness exams even when your pet seems healthy, you'll give your veterinarian a chance to assess your pet's general health and test for conditions, illnesses, and diseases that may be difficult to detect. 

Early treatment benefits pets with potentially serious medical conditions. During your pet's checkup, your vet has two goals: to prevent health conditions from developing where possible and to spot early signs of disease so they can be treated before they develop into more severe issues. 

Getting Ready for Your Pet's Routine Exam 

Your vet will require some basic medical information about your cat or dog, especially if this is your pet's first wellness check with us. Bring notes about your pet, including their:

You may also want to bring a favorite blanket or toys to comfort your pet. While dogs should be on a leash, cats should be in a carrier. 

What does a cat or dog wellness exam consist of?

When you take your pet to the veterinarian for an annual exam, your four-legged friend's medical history will be reviewed and your vet will ask whether you have any concerns. The vet will further follow up with questions about your pet's diet, exercise routine, thirst level, bowel movements, urination, and other aspects of their lifestyle and general behavior. 

In some cases, you’ll be asked to collect and bring along a fresh sample of your pet’s feces (bowel movement) so a fecal exam can be completed. These diagnostic tests can help to identify whether problematic intestinal parasites are present which may be otherwise difficult to detect.

Next, the vet will perform a physical examination of your pet. A typical checkup for dogs or cats may include:

• Measuring their gait, stance, and weight
• Listening to your pet’s lungs and heart with a stethoscope
• Checking the eyelids for any issues, in addition to examining their eyes for signs of cloudiness, discharge, excessive tearing, cloudiness, or redness
• Assessing your pet for any signs of illness such as limited motion or signs of swelling or pain by palpating (feeling along) their body.
• Feeling the abdomen to check internal organ function and to check for signs of pain or discomfort
• Examining your pet's nails and feet for signs of health issues or conditions
• Checking inside your pet’s ears for signs of wax buildup, polyps, ear mites, or bacterial infection
• Inspecting their teeth for signs of decay, damage, or periodontal disease
• Examining your pet's fur, skin, and/or coat to assess overall condition, as well as look for signs of abnormal hair loss, dandruff, unusual lumps, or bumps

If your vet finds no cause for concern, the wellness check is usually completed fairly quickly and with few issues. They may even chat with you as they do so. If an issue is identified, your vet will explain what they have noticed and recommend the next steps or potential treatments for your pet.

Annual vaccinations are also administered during a cat or dog checkup, based on your animal’s appropriate schedule.

How long do vet appointments take?

We understand that even doting pet parents have busy lives and that you may wonder how long a vet checkup takes. We typically recommend scheduling about 30 minutes for your pet's routine annual physical examinations and vaccinations, including signing in and filling out any paperwork that may be required. 

How often should I bring my pet in for a wellness exam?

A few factors will affect the frequency with which you take your pet to a wellness checkup, including their age and medical history.

If your pet has a history of illness but is currently healthy, we recommend scheduling a twice-yearly wellness check with your vet to ensure your pet stays as healthy as possible. Your vet can examine your pet and tell you how often they should come in for a physical exam. 

Since your puppy or kitten's immune system is still developing, young pets can be more susceptible to some illnesses that adult pets are easily able to overcome. To provide your young pet with the care they need during their formative months, your vet might recommend booking a monthly checkup for the first few months. 

Usually, an adult dog or cat with no history of illness should be taken to a vet checkup every year. Pets like senior dogs, cats, and giant breed dogs can face an increased risk of additional conditions and should see a veterinarian more often to monitor for early signs of illness. In these cases, it's a good idea to bring your pet in for twice-yearly cat or dog checkups. 

Following Your Pet's Exam

Once your veterinarian has an examined your pet, administered annual vaccines, and run any diagnostic tests that may be required, they will explain their findings to you. 

If your vet has discovered any signs of illness, injury, or current or potential conditions, they will recommend further diagnostics or potential treatment options to help. 

If your pet is generally healthy, this discussion may focus on improving or maintaining its current exercise and diet routines, caring for its oral health, and monitoring essentials such as appropriate parasite prevention.

What additional tests might my veterinarian recommend for my pet?

Along with the basic checkup items we discussed above, your vet may also recommend additional wellness testing. Remember that in the majority of cases, early detection and treatment of serious diseases are less expensive, less invasive, and less taxing on your pet than having the condition treated once it has become more advanced.

Blood count, thyroid hormone testing, and urinalysis may be performed in addition to diagnostic tests like X-rays and imaging.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.