Does my pet really need an exam? She’s healthy, and just needs her shots.  I don’t want to pay for an exam.

This is something we hear nearly every day, especially as people are trying to save money.  We do understand financial concerns; however, the answer is YES, your pet DOES need an exam!

 

Let’s break down the exam into body parts to help you see what the veterinarian is looking for during that important exam.

 

Eyes: Pupils equal and react to light.  No excessive drainage.  No defects (cataracts, ulcers, etc) seen on or in the eye.  Older pets may have a fundic exam, which just means the vet will look at the nerves and vessels in the back of the eye.  The vet may also check eye pressures to screen for glaucoma.

 

Ears: No redness, excessive debris that could signal a beginning infection.  No pain when the ear is examined.  Pinna (ear flap) is normal.  The vet may look into the ear and make sure the internal ear structures such as the ear drum are normal and intact.

 

Mouth: Look for and grade dental disease, broken teeth, or issues along the gums.  Even if your pet is eating dry food with no problems, this does not mean that he/she does not have dental disease.  The color and moistness of the gums or mucous membranes is also a signal of the overall health of the pet.

 

Lymph Nodes: Scattered throughout the body, there are several sets the vet will feel for swellings or irregularities.  The 3 most common areas are Submandibular (below the jaw), Prescapular (front of the chest near the front legs), and Popliteal (back of the rear legs).

 

Skin/Hair Coat: The vet will look at the overall condition of the coat.  Is it shiny and healthy looking, or dull and coarse?  Is the skin a healthy pink or is it red and angry looking in spots?  Is the pet itchy?  The vet will look for external parasites such as fleas, ticks, and evidence of dry skin and potential infection. 

 

Overall Body:  The vet will feel all over for any lumps or growths that could potentially be harmful.  Muscle condition is also examined, as well as body condition in relation to weight (overweight, underweight).  Joint swelling or painful areas will also be noted.  The vet will also observe your pet moving around and look for any signs of lameness or discomfort.

 

Abdomen: The vet will feel or ‘palpate’ the abdomen to look for signs of organ enlargement or abnormalities, and any potential tumors.

 

Heart/Lungs: A stethoscope is used to listen to or ‘auscult’ the heart and lungs, listening for a potential heart murmur, arrhythmia, and abnormal lung sounds.  Pets can have heart problems at any age.

 

 

As you can see, an exam is very important to the health of your pet.  Even if your pet seems healthy, there could be an underlying condition.  The top illnesses or problems we find on routine exams, when a pet owner has not noticed any symptoms, are dental disease or broken teeth, ear infections, fleas, skin growths, and heart murmurs.  These 5 conditions often pass unnoticed by the pet owner as the pet may not be showing any symptoms, yet all are important to treat right away.  Your pet cannot talk and tell us what hurts or just isn’t right, so it’s our job as caretakers to do our best to look for anything that could be bothering them.

 

All adult pets should have an exam every 12 months.  Your pet will also have an exam if he or she comes in for an injury or illness.  Senior pets are encouraged to have exams every 6 months to catch underlying illnesses sooner rather than later.  Thyroid disease, renal disease, and heart disease are common in older pets.  Many times by the time a pet owner notices symptoms, the disease is pretty progressed and it’s harder to treat and maintain a good quality of life.

 

There are two important points to remember.  One is that it is a federal law that the veterinarian CANNOT dispense medications without a vet/client/patient relationship.  This means if your pet has not seen the vet within the past year (or sooner for some medications), the veterinarian by law cannot dispense medications to your pet.  The second point is that even though that ear infection, allergy, etc may look the same to you, they are not always the same.  Treating with the wrong medications can be harmful to your pet, and cost you more money down the road.

 

Yes, exams cost money.  However, they are important to the health and well-being of your pet.  Feel free to ask about any portion of your pet’s exam.  We are here to help you care for your pet.