A physical exam is an important tool to help evaluate your
pet’s overall health and to help detect any problems before they turn
into a serious illness. There can be changes in your pet that may be too
subtle for you to notice, but we may be able to detect them during a physical
exam. With the valuable information gathered from you and the physical exam,
we hope to help you maintain the wellness of your pet.
During a physical exam, the doctor will check the following areas of your
pet:
Weight-Any increase or decrease in your pet’s weight could be
indicators of certain disease states. Overweight pets also need to be
monitored due to the increased stress on the cardiovascular and skeletal
system.
Examine the mouth for a sign of dental disease-Periodontal disease is the
most common ailment affecting both dogs and cats. They will also check for
any loose, broken or chipped teeth and any other tooth abnormalities.
Examine the eyes for cataracts, glaucoma or inflammation.
Examine the ears for infection or inflammation.
Palpate the lymph nodes for swelling or signs of masses.
Listen to the chest- The doctor will listen to the heart for any murmurs
or irregular heartbeats. The lungs will also be checked for any abnormal
lung sounds.
Palpate the abdomen-The doctor will feel your pet’s abdomen to
check for any masses or pain as well as checking the shape and size
of the internal organs.
Hair coat and skin-All animals should have a shiny hair coat free of dander
and excess oil. Any hair-loss or a dull hair coat could be indicative of
a problem.
Orthopedic exam-The shoulders, elbow, hips, knees and spine will be checked
for any pain during movement.
A rectal exam-This will be performed on all intact male dogs to check the
prostate. The rectal area will also be checked on all pets for any obvious
signs of tumors.
Parasite exam-The parasite exam is a multi step process. The doctor will
look at the hair coat and skin for signs of external parasites like fleas
or ticks. You will be asked to bring in or return a stool sample to check
for intestinal parasites. A heartworm/blood parasite test will be performed
yearly on all canine patients by testing a few drops of blood collected.
Blood work-On younger pets a yearly baseline sample may be obtained to check
the function of the internal organs. On our senior pets, blood screenings
may be done more often.
AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) currently recommends a physical
exam with blood work annually on young, healthy pets. Because our pets age
more rapidly than humans (on average, five to seven years for every human
year), their senior years come more quickly. We recommend that our senior
pets (age 6 and over) have a physical exam and blood work every six months.
If you have a pet that requires special care or with an illness, our veterinarians
will recommend a physical exam schedule based on each individual pet.
At Cheshire Crossing Animal Hospital, the doctors and
staff consider dental health to be a top priority. A thorough examination
of the mouth with emphasis on the teeth and gums is an integral part of
every pet’s physical exam.
Disease of the gum tissue, known as periodontal disease, affects 85% of
adult dogs and cats. Left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to pain,
bad breath, and tooth loss. Over time, chronic bacterial infection of the
mouth can lead to disease in other parts of the body such as the heart
and kidneys.
We all know that caring for our own teeth involves frequent brushing,
flossing, and rinsing. And while we may have the very best...read more
