Cat & Dog Wellness Exams

What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical Checkup

Our vets at Shatto Veterinary Center will provide your cat or dog with a comprehensive physical checkup in order to gain a better understanding of their overall health. Routine wellness exams at our veterinary clinic include the following elements:

General Condition

Your pet's general demeanor 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 examine your dog or cat's skin and coat for signs of problems, including excessive oiliness or dryness, lumps, bumps, dandruff, or abnormal hair loss or shedding.

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

Your pet's heart rate, rhythm, blood pressure and pulse are all incredibly important indicators of your companion's heart health. We will test each of these to make sure that they are normal. We will follow this by examining your pet's lungs to ensure that they are breathing properly. 

We will also check your pet's lymph nodes for swelling or pain as well as their abdomen to ensure their internal organs like their kidneys, liver, spleen, bladder and intestines all feel normal and aren't causing your pet any discomfort. 

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. 

Pet 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'll give your new best friend a complete physical examination, appropriate immunizations, and deworming medication. We will also test for intestinal parasites. You'll be provided with a puppy or kitten 'kit' filled with educational material and samples to help you care for the newest member of your family. 

Please never hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have about caring for your new pet, both at your appointments or following your visits.

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 and care, as well as newer therapies and better nutrition, senior pets are living longer than ever.

While this is excellent news for pets and their owners, it means that you will need to pay special attention to your pet's routine healthcare as they grow older. As your pet grows beyond middle age and becomes a senior, regulars physical examinations will become key to ensuring their continued health and well-being.

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.

Nutritional Counseling

At the end of your cat or dog's physical checkup, our vets will speak to you about possible nutritional requirements they may have, or specialized diets which may help to manage emerging conditions they have identified. 

However, our veterinarians are here to answer any questions you might have about your dog or cat's diet at any time, before, during or after your pet's regular wellness exam. We offer a wide range of specialty nutritional options, from helping to manage your pet's oral health, to weight control or special food for pets suffering from kidney failure.