Why Does My Pet Need an Annual Exam?

I'm sure almost everyone has heard the old addage that a dog ages seven years for every human year. Well, that isn't quite true. There are many other factors, like weight and breed, that plays into determining "how old" your pet is. However, we all can agree that our pets age much faster than humans. This is why we stress the importance of annual exams for your adult pet and semi-annual exams for your senior pet.                                                                             *Based on a medium sized dog weighing ~21-50 lbs                                                           * Courtesy of Fort Dodge Animal Health      Since our pets cannot speak for themselves, their annual exams are key to a long and healthy life.  Your pet’s annual exam is a complete physical examination, which is an opportunity to pick up early signs of disease.  This allows for problems to be corrected or at least controlled.  It is also a time to implement preventative health measures such as deworming, checking blood pressure or working on proper weight control.  We use the annual exams as well to insure that animals with health problems are being monitored and that medications are appropriate.            When we see your pet we will do a thorough exam which can include closely examining eyes, ears, mouth, teeth, lymph nodes, skin, fur, nails, spine, bones, heart, and lungs, abdomen, urinary system, and weight.  We are looking for any clues that Fido is not 100% healthy.  If there are changes we may recommend diagnostic tests like blood work or x-rays to figure out the disease process.  Our goal is to keep your family pet happy and healthy.    Call us at (509) 332-6575 to schedule your pets appointment today.