Preventive care exams or wellness exams for your cat or dog help your vet find and detect any illnesses, diseases, and conditions early. Today, our Brookhaven vets talk about why preventive pet care is important and how you can plan for your dog or cat's checkup.
Why Are Preventive Care Exams Important?
The goal of preventative care is to maintain your pet's health and to provide them with the care they need. In doing so, you give your pooch their best chance at a long, healthy, and happy life.
Bringing your cat or dog for a vet checkup in Brookhaven allows your vet to find any issues before they become worse and gives your vet the opportunity to provide your pet with any vaccinations or preventive medications they need to keep parasites from invading their bodies.
Identifying health issues such as ear infections, gastrointestinal parasites, or cancer before their obvious symptoms appear means that treatment can begin when it is most effective.
The cost of preventive checkups is also far less than what it would be to treat diseases, illnesses, and parasitic conditions when they have become more serious. Preventive exams and early detection can also save your pet from experiencing more pain or discomfort.
How Often Do I Need To Bring My Pet In For Preventive Care?
Our veterinarians advise our clients to bring their dogs in for yearly routine cat or dog checkups in Brookhaven. However, every pup is different and has different needs. Because of this, the frequency you should bring your furry companion into our office will vary based on your dog's age, medical history, and more.
If your cat, dog or other animal has a history of illness but is currently healthy, we recommend booking a checkup appointment at your vet's twice each year or more 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 especially susceptible to many illnesses that adult pets are easily able to overcome. For this reason, your vet might recommend booking a monthly checkup for the first few months.
Typically, an adult dog or cat with no history of illness should see us for a vet checkup on a yearly basis. That said, some pets such as senior dogs and cats, in addition to giant breed dogs, face an increased risk of many 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.
Is Preventive Care Expensive?
When compared to the cost of treating an advanced form of condition, disease, or disorder, routine preventative healthcare for your cat or dog will save you money.
Not only that, but preventative veterinary care will also ensure that your pet experiences a minimum amount of pain or discomfort from any health issues they are experiencing. The sooner a medical issue is detected in your pet, the sooner it can be diagnosed and treated.
How To Prepare For Your Pet's Preventive Exam
Preparing for your cat or dog's preventive care checkup in Brookhaven can make the process easier and less stressful for both you and your pet.
- Schedule an appointment slot where you have no time restrictions because the length of the exam will depend on your pet's breed and medical condition.
- If this is your first time bringing your pet to our Brookhaven animal clinic arrive about 10 minutes early to fill out the new patient forms.
- Bring records of your pet's medical history and past and present medications and dosages.
- Take notes of your pet's food, exercise routine, and bowel movements to help your vet understand your pet's lifestyle.
- Inform your vet of any recent or previous tick bites.
- Your vet may ask you to bring in a fresh sample of your pet's stool for a fecal exam or a urine sample for a urine test.
- To help your pet stay calm at their appointment bring their favorite blanket or toy.
- Record any symptoms or behaviors that your cat or dog is displaying that are concerning you to share with the veterinarian.
- Prepare any questions you have for your vet ahead of time.
- Call your vet to ask them if it is okay for your furry friend to eat before their appointment ( some tests require fasting).
- Make sure to bring your cat or small dog in a carrier, if you have a larger dog keep them on a leash
- Ask for a cost estimate and Inform your vet of your budget so they can adjust the exams accordingly.
Once The Vet Checkup is Complete
Once your pet has been examined, tested and given their annual vaccines, your vet will dedicate time to explaining their findings to you.
If the veterinarian has found any signs of injury or illness, they will recommend more detailed diagnostics or potential treatment options to help.
If your pet is healthy overall, this discussion may focus on improvements to exercise and diet routines, caring for your pet’s oral health and checking that essentials such as appropriate parasite prevention are monitored.
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.