Preventive care exams are an important part of caring for your dog or cat. These exams help to monitor your pet's overall health and diagnose and treat conditions early. Our Bakersfield vets discuss these pet checkups and things you can do to prepare your cat or dog for their preventive exam.
What is the importance of preventive care exams?
Bringing your cat or dog into our Bakersfield animal hospital for a wellness exam provides your vet with an opportunity to find any possible conditions or diseases that your pet may be experiencing before they become worse and also allows your vet to protect your pet with any vaccinations or preventive medications they require in order to keep parasites from invading their bodies.
This pet checkup is crucial to your pet's wellbeing and is your pet's best opportunity to achieve lifelong optimal health.
When it comes to the cost of preventive examinations, these will cost far less than what it would be to treat any diseases, illnesses, and parasitic conditions that your pet may contract when they have become more serious. Cat and dog checkups along with early detection can also save your pet from experiencing more pain or discomfort.
What to do to prepare for your pet's preventive care exam
When you come in for a pet checkup, the first thing that your vet will do is complete a health evaluation. Your vet will ask for information regarding your pet's health history including information about your pet’s breed, age, lifestyle, behavior, and diet.
During this pet checkup, your vet will then perform a comprehensive physical exam which will include accessing things like weight, temperature, pulse and respiration rates. The information and discoveries that your vet makes during this part of the pet checkup will determine whether the remainder of the visit will be a proactive visit or a preventive visit.
Preparing ahead of time for your cat or dog's pet checkup at Stine Veterinary Hospital will help to make the process much smoother and quicker once you are there.
- Schedule the pet checkup for a time when you will have no time restrictions as the length of the exam will vary depending on the type of pet and medical condition.
- If this will be your first visit to our Bakersfield animal hospital please arrive at least 10 minutes early to fill out the new patient forms.
- It is important to bring records of your pet's medical history and past and present medications and dosages.
- Take notes of your pet's food, exercise routine, and bowel movements to help your vet understand your pet's lifestyle.
- If your pet has experienced any recent tick bites it is important to inform your vet of this.
- Check with your vet if you are to bring in a fresh sample of your pet's stool for a fecal exam or a urine sample for a urine test.
- You can help to keep your pet calm at their appointment by bringing their favorite blanket or toy.
- Record any symptoms or behaviors that your cat or dog is displaying that's concerning you to share with the veterinarian.
- If you have any questions that you would like to ask your vet at the pet checkup you should have these ready.
- Double-check with your vet if it is okay for your pet to eat on the day of the appointment.
- Make sure to bring your cat or small dog in a carrier, if you have a larger dog keep them on a leash
- You should discuss costs with your vet prior to the pet checkup in order to inform your vet of your budget and be aware of costs associated with your visit.
Your veterinarian will use this cat or dog checkup to determine if any further testing or treatment is necessary for your pet. Your vet will thoroughly explain why they have come to the conclusion that they have and why they have decided on the next steps in which they are recommending.
During this time you may bring up any questions or concerns that you may still have about your pet and their pet checkup. Having open communication with your vet will ensure that everyone is understood and that all needs and expectations are met.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.