The Importance of Preventive Care
Routinely scheduled wellness exams are critical to helping your dogs and cats to maintain their health and well-being all throughout their lives.
Combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention and proper nutrition, these routine examinations include regular physical checkups to give your pet the best chance at excellent lifelong health.
When you bring your cat or dog in to see us for their routine checkup, our vets are able to prevent health issues from developing in the first place or are able to catch your pet's health problems while they are at their most treatable.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
Your Saint John vet will give your dog or cat a thorough physical checkup in order to get a complete picture of his or her overall health. Routine wellness exams at our animal clinic include the following elements:
General Condition
Your pet's general demeanour and physical condition can provide clues to their overall health. How they stand and walk, their level of alertness, and whether they are a healthy weight for their size are all important indicators of overall health.
Coat & Skin
During your pet's checkup, we will take a look at their coat and skin for signs of dermatological problems, including excessive oiliness or dryness, bumps, lumps, dandruff or an abnormal amount of shedding and hair loss.
Face & Head
Your pet's eyes, ears, and nose will be examined for abnormalities or discharge. We will also check the mouth for symptoms of oral health problems such as plaque buildup or periodontal disease.
Internal Health
Heart rate and rhythm, pulse, and blood pressure are vitally important to your pet's heart health. We'll test these to ensure they're normal. The lungs will then be examined for evidence of abnormal breathing.
Your pet's lymph nodes will be checked for pain or swelling. We will also examine their abdomen for any signs of discomfort or deformation in the intestines, liver stomach and other internal organs.
Review of Findings
At the end of your pet's routine wellness exam, your vet will take the time to discuss any concerns they may have about your pet's overall health and talk to you about your dog or cat's nutritional requirements.
Checkups for Puppies & Kittens
Puppies and kittens need proper medical attention in their first few weeks of life to get off to a healthy start.
We will provide your new best friend with a comprehensive physical examination, appropriate immunizations, and deworming medications as needed. We will also test your new pet for intestinal parasites. Our vets will provide you with a puppy or kitten 'kit' full of educational materials and product samples to help you care for the newest member of your family.
Never hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns that you may have about caring for your new pet, whether that be at your appointments or between visits to our clinic.
Once your puppy or kitten's checkup is complete, you'll return periodically for his or her required booster shots.
Seniors
With recent advances in veterinary medical knowledge, technology and medicine, our senior pets are now living far longer than they ever have been able to in the past.
While this is wonderful news, it also means special attention will need to be given to your pet's routine healthcare as they age. As your pet surpasses their middle age, routine exams will become increasingly important to their continuing health and longevity.
In addition to the routine wellness procedures we perform on all adult pets, we will give special attention to your senior pet's potential geriatric conditions, such as arthritis or decreased vision.
Additional laboratory tests may be recommended for aging pets to provide more detailed information about your senior pet's overall health and wellbeing.
Vaccinations & Prevention
During your pet's veterinary checkup at our Saint John animal hospital, the vet will also check if they require preventive care, or if they are due for any routine vaccinations.