Routine veterinarian exams once or twice a year are essential for your furry friend’s health. If you have children, they can tell you when they are not feeling well. But your pets will often suffer in silence. So, let’s discover why routine checkups are crucial for your pet’s overall health and well-being.
What Happens at Routine Veterinary Exams?
We do a thorough physical exam of your pet to evaluate any possible issues.
We will weigh them and check their temperature. Next, the exam will generally include the following:
- Eyes: Some breeds are prone to eye infections. For example, if your pet has signs of glaucoma, they may also have severe pain and sometimes vision loss. If left untreated, your pet could need surgery to remove it.
- Mouth: Bacteria in the mouth can cause problems with other organs in the body. A veterinarian will carefully check for tartar or any other oral issues.
- Skin: A vet can determine your pet’s overall health based on their coat and skin conditions. Your pet’s dry skin or hair loss could point to a more significant issue. Some issues that we can discover based on your cat or dog’s skin include:
- Fleas
- Malnutrition
- Allergies
- Skin infections
- Thyroid or kidney disease
- Heart: When caught early, we can often better manage animal heart disease. Older pets are at a higher risk of developing heart disease. Left untreated, it can also cause lung damage to your furry friend.
- Ears: Ear infections are relatively common in animals. An ear swab can check your pet for bacteria, yeast, or ear mites. If left untreated, ear infections can lead to loss of hearing and other issues for your pet.
- Abdomen: We palpate the animal’s belly to check the internal organs of your fur baby. If there are any abnormal enlargements, then further investigation will be necessary.
- Kidneys: Through checking the abdomen, a vet can check your pet’s kidneys to ensure they are working correctly. If the kidneys are enlarged, we can do blood work to see if they have renal failure.
- Joints and Bones: If your pet is limping or walking with stiff joints, they may have developed osteoarthritis. A common orthopedic injury in animals is cranial cruciate ligament rupture. A vet can palpate your pet’s limbs to check for damage.
Why Are Routine Annual Checkups So Crucial?
We want to see your pet annually or even biannually for preventative care. Some diseases are incurable, but we can catch issues with proper checkups before they get too far out of hand. Finally, when you get your pet the appropriate vaccinations, you can prevent multiple illnesses and prolong your pet’s life.
Another reason that checkups are essential for your pet is to offer specialized care. While over-the-counter medicines are available at pet stores for common health concerns like fleas or parasites, they are not a one-size-fits-all treatment. Instead, a local veterinarian can find the exact dosage and compound pet medication to fit your pet’s needs.
Get Regular Exams at Live Oak Animal Hospital
As you can see, routine veterinary exams are critical to your pet’s longevity. Live Oak Animal Hospital is an excellent place to start if you’re looking for a local vet for your pet in Lubbock. We have a team of professionals with over 45 years of combined experience serving the Lubbock community. Lubbock’s Live Oak Animal Hospital has two convenient locations. Contact Live Oak Animal Hospital today to schedule a checkup for your pet to ensure they live the long life you desire.
