Please do not underestimate the importance of your pet's annual wellness examination. Your pet may look and act fine to you, but conditions, diseases and illness can be present in your pet without showing physical symptoms. Your pet cannot tell the vet that he has been feeling a little under the weather lately. If you were just feeling a bit under the weather, would you have clear physical signs? Or would you have to explain your feeling ill to YOUR Dr? Unfortunately, pets have a hard time communicating with humans, this is why it is VERY IMPORTANT for these simple tests. Do your part to take care of your best friend and companion!
Why should I have a wellness exam performed on my pet?
An annual wellness screening provides the veterinarian with critical information concerning your pet's overall health. There are four basic tests the veterinarian will use to diagnose the health of your pet:
1. Complete Blood Count (CBC)
This tests for anemia, infection, inflammation and the healthiness of the blood cells. A complete blood count is a series of tests that evaluate the number and type of blood cells in circulation. WBC, or white lood cells, help fight infection or inflammation. RBC or red blood cells, carry oxygen to the tissues.
2. Chemistry Tests
This panel surveys many organ systems of the body to make sure they are working normally.
LIVER - (AST, ALT, Alk Phos, T. Bilirubin, GGT, Cholesterol, Proteins) This group of tests helps evaluate various functions and health of the liver. Decreased liver function, inflammation, infection, or neoplasia of the liver and gall bladder may be detected by one or all these tests.
KIDNEY - (BUN, Creatinine, Phosphorus, Amylase, Albumin) These tests monitor the function and the health of the kidneys. They are most helpful and sensitive for detecting kidney disease when combined with a urinalysis.
PANCREAS - (Glucose, Amylase, Lipase, Triglyceride) These tests are abnormal when there is something wrong with the pancreas or carbohydrate metabolism (examples are diabetes mellitus and pancreatitis)
MUSCLE and BONE - Calcium and Phosporus are helpful in determining the health of bone metabolism. CPK and AST are abnormal with muscle damage, trauma, or inflammation (myositis). Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Calcium, Phosphorus) These tests are important in monitoring the electrical, water balance, and cellular health of the body. Deficiencies or excesses of these electrolytes are harmful to animal's physical and mental well being.
3. Thyroid Function Tests
These tests are useful in diagnosing increased (hyper) or decreased (hypo) functions of the thyroid gland. As the name implies, thyroid tests evaluate the function of the thyroid gland. Too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) is common in dogs whereas, too much thyroid (hyperthyroidism) is common in older cats. Because there is no single thyroid test that can diagnose all thyroid diseases in animals, several different thyroid tests are used to assure proper results (T4, T3, Free T4, etc).
4. Urinalysis
This assesses the health and function of the urinary system. This is especially important in older animals to help early detection of kidney disease. While some serum chemistries help evaluate kidney function (BUN, Creatinine, etc.) they are more informative when a urinalysis is done at the same time. The urine sample is tested for several chemical components (glucose, protein, blood and more) as well as any cells (WBC, RBC, epithelial, etc.) or crystals.
What will happen during my pet's wellness screening exam?
One of our veterinarians will ask several questions about your pet's health history. Be sure to mention any unusual behavior. Some examples are:
*Excessive urination
*Excessive drinking of water
*Excessive panting
*Eating much more than usual
*Vomiting
*Diarrhea
*Excessive scratching
*Coughing
*Weight gain
*Weight loss
Notes should be made on your pet's diet, on how much water your pet consumes and on a variety of daily behavioral patterns. Other questions you can expect about your pet's health are:
*Does your pet have trouble getting up in the morning?
*Does your pet show any signs of weakness?
*Does your pet have excercise intolerance?
The veterinarian will also discuss your pet's exposure to fleas, ticks, heartworms, and other intestinal partasites. He will discuss the importance of keeping your pet on preventative medicines to prevent deadly disease caused by these pesky parasites. Prevention is the key to keeping your pet safe from intestinal and external parasites. We have found that Frontline PLus for fleas and ticks combined with Heartgard for heartworms, roundworms and hookworms is the best combination to protect your pet. By purchasing your preventative medicines from us, we guarantee satisfaction.
You'll probably be asked if your pet has been shaking his head or scratching at his ears and if you have noticed any odor coming from the ears. The veterinarian will take a close look to make sure nothing looks out of the ordinary.
Many conditions, such as anemia, infections, glaucoma, and cataracts are often discovered through eye examinations. The veterinarian will look closely at your pet's eyes during the examination. Injuries and ulcers of the eye also can be detected during examination.
The veterinarian will also examine your pet's gums, teeth, tongue and palate for tarter buildup or any abnormalities of the mouth. For example, a lack of red or pink color in the lining of the lips and gums could indicate anemia. You will learn how to properly care for your pet's teeth to prevent periodontal disease, which can cause bad breath and other health problems for your pet.
The skin is the largest organ and a good indicator of your pet's health. The veterinarian will examine the condition of your pet's skin and coat as a means of detecting skin conditions or infections. He will check for fleas, ticks, other external parasites, tumors or wounds.
Feeling the abdomen is important during your pet's annual examination. The veterinarian can detect enlarged organs, masses, or areas that may be painful. Problems with the stomach, intestines, kidneys, liver or other organs will give the vet a good reason to run some basic bloodwork on your pet. Annual Wellness and Senior Wellness screenings can give the vet an overall look at your pet's health. We recommend that every pet have a complete wellness screening that includes bloodwork and urinalysis to get a better picture of your pet's overall health.
Give us a call to set up your pet's annual wellness screening today!
M-F 7:30am to 6:00pm
Sat 7:30am to 1:00pm
Appointments will be seen first. Walk-ins are welcome, although we recommend to make an appointment to avoid waiting. We want to give you and your pet the time you need during your visit to our clinic, so please call (636) 528-5099 to schedule your appointment.
