Having a complete physical
exam for your pet every year, even if he or she appears healthy, is very
important. The doctor may detect potential problems even
before you notice them. Many times, by the time you notice a problem
with your pet, it is in advanced stages. If this is the case,
treatment can be more difficult and expensive than if it is caught early.
We can't see into the future, but
we can give you a good idea of what to watch for and how healthy your pet is. The
doctor will check your pet's eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, body condition, coat,
heart, lungs and look for any abnormalities. When it looks like the
doctor is petting your dog or cat, he or she is actually checking for lumps or
tumors and feeling the internal organs. This doesn't take much time, but if a problem is found early, it could save your pet's life.
Check out the pages for your specific pet from our
Front Desk
for information on some of the most common problems we see, and what signs
to look for.
There are many potentially deadly
diseases that dogs and cats can get, which can be prevented with a simple annual
vaccination. Rabies is the most widely known, but there are many others.
For more detail on what vaccines your dog or cat needs, take a look at the links
below.
