Why You Should Schedule Your Pet’s Annual Exam for 2023
Why visit the vet when your pet seems perfectly happy and healthy? Because annual wellness appointments are the backbone of any pet’s lifetime of healthcare and can significantly impact your pet’s longevity and overall wellbeing.
At The Whole Pet Vet Hospital and Wellness Center, we encourage you to schedule a wellness exam once each year for your cats and dogs, with senior pets (and very young pets) sometimes needing more frequent visits.
Still need convincing? Check out these reasons why you should add an annual checkup to your pet’s wellness routine in 2023 and beyond.
They Form the Foundation of Your Pet’s Health
During every wellness visit, your veterinarian will perform a thorough nose-to-tail physical examination, weigh your pet, check vital signs, and perform recommended diagnostics such as bloodwork. All of this information creates a baseline of your pet’s health.
We Can Detect Diseases Early
Annual wellness visits give us a chance to detect diseases early on when they’re more likely to respond well to treatment. Fluctuations in your pet’s baseline information can signal that something isn’t right. With early detection and intervention, we can investigate further and curb the progression of chronic health conditions and spare your pet unnecessary discomfort.
Because Pets Can’t Talk
Cats in particular are masters at masking their symptoms, and by the time an obvious sign arises that your cat is ill, she has likely been suffering for quite some time. An annual examination can reveal things about your pet’s health that your cat or dog has been trying to hide.
Your Pet Deserves Protection
Each year, your pet will receive vaccines that are appropriate for her species and lifestyle to protect her from the devastating effects of infectious diseases like rabies. Plus, we’ll recommend parasite control to protect your pet from fleas, ticks, and heartworms.
We’ll Build Familiarity
Your pet’s annual exam offers us a vital opportunity to discuss any changes you’ve noticed in your pet’s behavior or other concerns you have. It also gives your pet a chance to become familiar with us and our surroundings. This rapport and open communication is an important aspect of your pet’s ongoing healthcare. Pets treated at pop-up vaccine clinics or bare-bones offices where there’s little interaction with a doctor miss out on building a relationship with a veterinarian.
Because Your Pet’s Nutritional Needs Will Change Over Time
Puppies and kittens have very different nutritional needs than adult pets or senior pets. We can provide you with nutritional counseling so that your pet’s diet is optimal for her age and other lifestyle factors. Additionally, therapeutic diets are sometimes necessary for pets with certain health conditions, such as diabetes, and we can recommend the diet that is best for your pet.
At The Whole Pet Hospital & Wellness Center, we send out biannual exam reminders to ensure your pets are getting the best care. We truly look forward to providing your pets with a lifetime of comprehensive, integrative care. Please contact us to schedule your pet’s annual examination.