Wellness Exam

Wellness examinations are an important part of your pet’s health care. A wellness exam is a complete physical exam that often includes vaccinations and diagnostic testing such as bloodwork, urinalysis and checking stool samples for parasites. During the physical exam, the vet will listen to your pet’s heart and lungs and will examine his or her eyes, ears, mouth and skin. The abdomen and lymph nodes are palpated to check for abnormalities, and any concerns that you may have are addressed by the veterinarian. You may ask the vet about your pet’s diet and nutrition needs, preventative care like flea and tick medications, weight loss or gain, behavioral concerns, etc.

Wellness exams help identify problems before they progress to disease. It is recommended that cats and dogs be seen by the veterinarian yearly. Seeing the veterinarian regularly when your pet is healthy provides a baseline to compare to should your pet become ill. Also, prescription medications cannot be filled unless your pet has had an exam within the past year, which includes flea and tick medications. ​​​​​​​