Monitoring Your Pet’s Health – Owners’ Responsibility

By Author: Powell Veterinary Service Inc.
Total Articles: 34
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Every owner that loves their dog(s), their cat(s), and other pets, understands the anguish they suffer when the pets are not well. Pets are often regarded as another family member with several rights that spouses and children normally enjoy. This includes love and being taken care of, being given a safe home and access to enough food and water, and a place where they can play and rest. This also includes their right to be taken to the veterinarian or animal hospital for pet wellness testing and exams from time to time.

THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING YOUR PET TO THE VET FOR WELLNESS TESTS

It may sound strange to take a seemingly healthy pet for regular wellness tests and exams; however, much as their humans they have to be monitored for possible illness and developing health problems. This test is the perfect time for your veterinarian to establish whether there may be any concern for your pet developing health issues.

In many cases, when the test is done early, less invasive and less serious procedures may quickly take care of future health concerns, whereas if one waits until the animal shows signs of discomfort, ...
... it may already have progressed to a dangerous stage for the animal, and in unfortunate cases, should the pet arrive too late, the veterinarian may not be able to save it. Therefore: prevention is always better than cure – hence regular wellness testing and exams.

SCHEDULE

Very often pet owners are unsure about how often they are supposed to book a wellness test and exam for their pet. This will depend on a few factors, such as general health, the breed, the animal’s age, and whether or not the owner is aware of possible health conditions. A general approach would be to take puppies and kittens to the veterinarian even when they are a few weeks old, and thereafter at least once every year, also considering the previous factors.

Older animals, your adult or senior pet, can only benefit from more regular visits, for example twice a year. Also, let the veterinarian lead you and recommend how often he/she wants to see a specific pet.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE WELLNESS TEST AND EXAM?

Your veterinarian needs to understand your pet’s complete health history as if you came over from another veterinarian. He/she wants to establish the pet’s health profile by making notes about diet, exercise, how often you notice that they are thirsty, and how often they urinate. Some veterinarians may ask you to bring a sample of the animal’s stool to conduct a fecal exam as part of the visit. All of this is done to form a good understanding of the animal’s general health and to establish whether there may be cause for concern.

Further, the pet owner should expect the following too

• The animals will be weighed and their weight compared to previous visits.
• Their gait and stance will be checked to confirm that there are no irregularities.
• He/she will listen to the pet’s heart and lungs.
• Their skin will be checked for signs of parasites or cancerous lumps. Their ears are checked for polyps, wax buildup, and bacterial infections. Their teeth are important too, and teeth and gums are checked for decay and periodontal disease.
• The veterinarian checks the body for signs of swelling and signs of discomfort or pain.
• If the veterinarian deems it necessary, blood tests will be carried out, as well as a urinalysis.

The above indicates why pet owners should never take the importance of pet wellness testing and exams lightly. A good veterinarian will set aside time to discuss with the pet owner their findings and recommendations, and what adjustments to the animal’s lifestyle would be of benefit to them. A veterinarian and pet owner who work together is a good team to ensure the pet does not suffer unnecessarily.

About Us:

At Powell Veterinary Service we offer all pet owners almost 30 years of dedicated, unrivaled service to ensure their pets remain healthy and happy. We offer great experience and are proud of the services we offer regarding all aspects of animal care. We perform surgeries, we spay and neuter, we offer boarding facilities, and we provide puppies for different activities that appeal to our clients. At PVS we also offer a wellness service for pets to ensure any conditions are picked up early. We are Kersey, CO-based, and we serve the surrounding areas. We are available by appointment, but also for emergencies. Pets are our passion, and we ensure that your animal receives excellent treatment from our practice. For more about us please visit https://powellvets.com/.