Cat & Dog Wellness Exams
The Importance of Preventive Care
Wellness exams and pet checkups are key the key to helping your cat or dog stay in good physical health their whole lives.
When these physical pet checkups are combined with proper nutrition and routine vaccinations/ parasite prevention they give your pet the best chance at having life long excellent health.
Bringing your pet in for a routine exam, will help us prevent your pet from developing health issues or catch any problems early, while they are in their most treatable form.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
To get a complete picture of your pet's health your Novato vet will give your cat or dog a physical checkup. Your pet's routine wellness exam at South Novato Animal Hospital will include:
General Condition
Your cat or dog's physical condition and general demeanor can give you clues to their overall health. Your pet's level of alertness, how they walk or stand and whether or not they are at a healthy weight for their size are all important key indicators.
Skin & Coat
At your pet's checkup our vets will check your cat or dog's coat and skin for any signs of problems, such as bumps, lumps, abnormal hair loss or shedding, excessive dryness or oiliness and dandruff.
Head & Face
The ears, nose and eyes of your pet will be inspected for any discharge or abnormalities. We also examine the mouth for signs of oral health conditions including periodontal disease and plaque buildup.
Internal Health
Your pet's heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure and pulse are essential to their heart health. Our team tests the condition of all of these to make sure they are normal. We also examine the lungs to look for any signs of abnormal breathing.
The lymph nodes of your furry companion will be checked for any suggestions of swelling or pain, and we will also look at their abdomen to see if the spleen, bladder, liver, kidneys stomach and intestines all feel normal, and that your cat or dog is not displaying any hints of discomfort.
Review of Findings
After your pet's wellness exam is over, your veterinarian will talk to you about any concerns they might have in regards to your pet's health and will take the time discuss any nutritional requirements your cat or dog may need.
Kitten & Puppy Checkups
In order to get a healthy start to life kittens and puppies need proper medical attention in the first several weeks of their lives.
Our veterinary team will give your new companion the appropriate immunizations and deworming medication as well as perform a comprehensive physical examination. The vets will also check for any intestinal parasites. We will give you a puppy or kitten 'kit' that has samples and educational materials to assist you in taking care of your new family member.
Never hesitate if you want to contact us with any concerns or questions you have in regards to caring for your new puppy or kitten.
After your new pet's checkup you will come back regularly for their mandatory booster shots.
Seniors
Because of the recent advancements in veterinary care and medical knowledge along with the newer therapies and nutrition options available, senior pets are now living longer than before.
This is excellent news for owners and their loving pets! However, it also means that senior cats and dogs now need to have special attention given to their healthcare as they get older. Once your pet surpasses their middle age years, routine exams become more important in assuring their continuing good health and longevity.
On top of the routine wellness exams we perform for all adult pets, we provide special attention to any geriatric conditions your senior pet could potentially have such as decreased vision or arthritis.
Aging pets may require more laboratory tests so your vet can obtain more detailed information about your senior cat or dog's wellbeing and overall health.
Vaccinations & Prevention
At your pet's checkup at South Novato Animal Hospital your vet will check to see if it is time for your cat or dog's routine vaccinations or if they need any preventive care.