Dog Wellness Exams at The Animal Hospital of Roxbury
What is a dog wellness exam and why is it important?
A dog wellness exam is typically an annual exam when your pet comes in when there isn't anything else going on; they are apparently healthy and happy.
What does a dog wellness exam consist of, and what will a veterinarian do to my dog during a wellness exam?
Typically, a dog wellness exam will involve a head-to-tail full examination of your pet. I usually start with their eyes, work to their ears, check their nose, their lymph nodes, their teeth, check the rest of their coat and their body, make sure everything feels normal when we feel their belly, maybe stretch their legs, move their head and neck, and listen to their heart and lungs.
What should I expect during a routine wellness exam for my dog at The Animal Hospital of Roxbury?
During a routine wellness exam, a technician will admit the patient. We'll ask you if there's anything going on in any particulars, possibly what your dog is eating and how much, if they seem to eat and drink normally, if they've had any coughing or sneezing, or any vomiting or diarrhea. So, it's just some basic questions to make sure everything seems okay. They will also weigh your pet so that we can keep track of weight gain or losses.
How often should my dog have a wellness exam?
Healthy young dogs, I would say under the age of either maybe 5 to 7 years old, would be examined once a year. As dogs age, sometimes doing an exam twice a year would be a good idea.
What happens if the veterinarian finds something abnormal during an exam?
If we find something abnormal during a wellness exam, we're going to address the situation and give you ideas on what the next step would be. For example, if we find that your pet has ear discharge, swelling, or odor, we might take an ear cytology, which would be a swab of the ear that we look at under the microscope. We would also do an ear cleaning to help get rid of the debris and make them feel better and start them off with a dose of medication that's indicated by their ear cytology. If we were to find some lumps and bumps that were worrisome, we might aspirate them, which means putting a needle in and drawing some of the cells out to send it off to a lab to be looked at.
What vaccinations should my dog receive during a wellness exam?
During a wellness exam, your pet will receive some annual vaccines, and many of them depend on their lifestyle and their exposure to other pets, if they have a travel history, or things like that. Rabies vaccine is required by law and should be kept up to date on all pets.
How can I prepare my dog for a wellness exam?
Preparing your dog for a wellness exam can be a couple of different steps. Some dogs are very happy to go out and meet new friends and are excited to be petted, prodded, held, and hugged by strangers. Other dogs are not fond of those things. If you can get your pet used to that, it would be a good idea. It makes the exam less stressful for your pet, as well as you and the staff.
Will my dog need any blood tests or lab work during the exam?
Potentially, a pet might need some blood work during an exam. If there is a blood draw, we will send it out to the lab, typically yearly for an annual heartworm screen that also screens for Lyme and Ehrlichia. Other blood tests could include a complete blood count, a chemistry panel, and other lab tests might include a urine screen or a fecal screen.
What are the common health issues in dogs that wellness exams can help detect?
Common health problems that we can detect might be ear or eye infections, skin infections, new lumps or bumps that you might not have noticed when petting your pet, or sometimes a heart murmur, which is not something that would be easily detected unless you are listening to the heart.
How can a wellness exam help in managing my dog's weight?
That's a great question. Weight gain in pets is a very common problem, and it's usually hard for them to lose weight once they've gained a lot of weight.
What should I bring to my dog's wellness exam appointment?
Bringing information about what you feed your pet, how much, and how often is a good idea. Sometimes, knowing what other treats or extras you give them is also helpful. We may ask you to bring a pee or poop sample if they might be shy about going for us while they're at the office. If we need to send those samples out, potentially bringing any treats or a favorite toy that might make them a little more comfortable during their exam is also helpful.
How can I ensure my dog stays calm and comfortable during the exam?
It's always a hard question to answer because every dog is different. Some are very happy to come in with their tail wagging and can't wait to see their friends at the vet office. Others are very apprehensive, whether they've had a bad previous experience or they're just a more nervous and less outgoing pet. Bringing special treats could be helpful, and getting them used to walking on their leash or being picked up or held for a little bit is always a good idea.
Can a wellness exam detect early signs of serious diseases in my dog?
Yes, a wellness exam can detect early signs of serious diseases such as underlying heart disease. Most owners are not going to be able to listen to their pets at home with a stethoscope, and that's one thing that we can detect and monitor year over year.
What questions should I ask my veterinarian during the wellness exam?
It would be a good idea to ask your veterinarian if they're noticing any lumps or bumps, if they see any issues with their skin, or if they've been scratching excessively. If they have any evidence of external parasites or if they've gained weight, asking a question about how we can help them lose weight would be a good idea as well.
What follow-up care might be necessary after a wellness exam?
After a wellness exam is completed, you'll usually hear from the veterinarian or staff within a day or two with any lab results or potential other things that we can do to help your pet stay healthy. If a new heart murmur was detected, we might want to schedule them for a cardiac workup that could include x-rays, an ECG, or an echocardiogram. If we felt something abnormal with their abdomen, we could schedule them for an abdominal ultrasound or potentially some further blood work.
Is there a specific senior wellness exam for dogs?
We will usually do a very similar exam to what we've already spoken about. It might have to take a little bit of extra time because some older animals are a little apprehensive, or they're uncomfortable during their exam because they're older or they have arthritis. We may pay a little bit more attention to asking about abnormal behaviors or any changes in things such as their eating and drinking habits or peeing and pooping habits.
See a Full Dog Physical Exam with Dr. Elia
Dr. Jamie Elia featuring Lager!
What is the first step in a dog wellness exam?
First, we start by checking their eyes. I'm looking for any redness, irritation, or discharge. I'm checking their corneas and their retinas and their reaction to light.
What do you check after examining the eyes?
We'll also check their ears. Here, we're looking for any discharge, redness, irritation, or swelling and also checking for any odors that might indicate an infection. He looks pretty good!
Do you examine any other areas during the physical exam?
Yes, I also feel for the lymph nodes underneath their neck and down on their shoulders.
We also check their teeth. Being a boxer, he has a silly underbite. We will then check their nose for any discharge.
Do you examine the dog's coat as well?
Yes, I look down his coat to make sure it looks nice and shiny and that we don't see any masses, scabs, lumps, or bumps.
How do you examine the dog's belly?
We feel their belly. Sometimes they let us get a good palpation, other times they tense up and get uncomfortable.
Are there other parts of the body you check during the exam?
We check under their tail and under their belly. We'll flex and extend their legs, feeling if there's anything abnormal there.
Do you listen to the dog's breathing as part of the exam?
Yes, then we'll listen to them. If they're panting, the technician or the owner might help out by closing their mouth. Sometimes, they sneak in some kisses, and then when we listen to their lungs, it's okay for them to pant a little bit.
Lager gets a clean bill of health from me today. Good boy!
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (973) 691-1771, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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