Preparing For Your Dog's Annual Physical Exam
Posted on: 31 January 2022
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You likely understand that the sooner you are able to catch a medical condition in your dog, the better their prognosis may be. The best way for you to go about catching any problems early is to bring your dog in to see the vet for a physical exam annually. Even though you know you are bringing your dog in proactively, it can still be nerve-wracking to bring them to the vet because you will likely be nervous when you don't know quite what to expect. This is where this article can really help. It will provide you with information on these annual exams so you can put your mind at ease and know more about what to expect. Here is more on these annual physical exams for pets:
What types of things are checked during the annual physical exam?
When you bring your dog in for their physical exam, their vitals will be taken and charted. They will also be weighed on a scale. Also, the vet will feel your dog all over to look for anything concerning, such as growths or other issues that would need to be addressed.
The vet will examine by looking or palpitating your dog's abdomen, lymph nodes, skin, muscle tone, joints, coat, ears, nose, eyes, gums, teeth, and paws. The vet will listen to your dog's heart and lungs as well. They will also observe how your dog walks, stands, and acts in general.
The vet will also want to speak with you about your dog as part of their exam. They will want to know about your dog's diet and eating habits, their elimination habits, their energy level, and more. The vet will ask you things like if you have any concerns or questions about anything that may be going on with your dog.
What kind of information can you learn from the physical exam?
When you bring your dog in for their exam, you will be brought up to speed on what your vet thinks about your dog's current health. If everything is fine, then they will likely send you off with some kind of helpful advice and ask to see your dog in a year, possibly sooner if your dog is a senior. If the vet has cause for concern, then they may want to perform tests, such as running tests on a urine and/or stool sample, drawing blood for labs, taking x-rays, or something else. Should the vet determine there are health problems, then they will discuss the possible treatment options with you so you can get your dog as healthy as they can be.