Routine health checks are a big part of a veterinarian’s work and should also be an important aspect of your pet’s life. Routine health checks are the ideal time to ensure that preventative care like parasite control and vaccinations are up to date, and also to pick up any underlying conditions before they become major illnesses. Most ailments have a much better prognosis if picked up early. During a routine health check, your veterinarian will examine your pet from head to toe, discuss important topics, like nutrition, and answer all your burning questions.
Frequency of visits
In general, it is sufficient for young, healthy pets to visit the vet once a year for a full examination and vaccination boosters. Remember that internal parasites (like worms) and external parasites (like ticks and fleas) still need to be controlled throughout the year. In most cases, it is enough to deworm your pet once every three months, while tick and flea control should be updated monthly, even during the winter months.
Healthy senior pets need to visit the vet more often, with at least two visits a year recommended. The age at which we consider a pet as ‘senior’ might be different depending on who you ask. In most cases, pets are considered senior at the age of seven years in cats and small and medium breed dogs, and at the age of five years for large breed dogs.
Senior pets are more at risk for certain conditions and therefore need to be examined more frequently. Although vaccinations are critical for young animals, it is still important for senior pets to get their boosters too. It is also important to remember that parasites do not discriminate between young and senior pets.
Wearing many hats
During a routine health check, your veterinarian will wear multiple metaphorical hats. Your vet will not only be a general practitioner, but also a dentist who examines your pet’s mouth and teeth. Senior pets are especially prone to gingivitis and tartar build-up, which often needs to be corrected with a dental scale-and-polish procedure.
Your veterinarian will also wear the hat of a dermatologist, making sure that the skin and coat are healthy, without lumps and bumps, and that they’re tick- and flea-free. He is also an ophthalmologist, who examines your pet’s eyes. Did you know that, just like humans, pets can also develop cataracts? This can often be a sign of diabetes.
Furthermore, veterinarians need to play the role of a cardiologist, ensuring that your pet’s heart is strong and healthy. Many pets are prone to heart disease, which can be managed if detected early, enabling your pet to live a long and happy life. Then, the vet has to be an orthopaedic doctor, ensuring that you pet’s muscles and bones are healthy. Senior pets are commonly diagnosed with arthritis. Your veterinarian will even discuss your pet’s nutrition, to make sure that your pet is on a diet suitable for his age and lifestyle.
Some tests
Veterinarians often examine the patient’s stool during a routine examination, and perform a faecal flotation. A faecal flotation is a test used to diagnose internal parasites or worms. The test detects the eggs of mature parasites that live inside the body and pass their eggs to the outside by shedding them into the host’s stool. This test is a good indication of whether your pet’s dewormer is working for him and whether you’re giving it to him often enough.
In senior patients, veterinarians will often consider assessing the urine, and perhaps even a blood sample. Urine tests can help detect diseases like kidney disease, diabetes and bladder stones. Blood tests can give the vet a clear picture of exactly what is happening inside your pet, even before there are any signs of disease. This will allow the vet to start treatment early and prevent unnecessary suffering for the pet.
Prevention is better than cure
By the time most pet illnesses are diagnosed, they are often advanced, leaving veterinarians with limited treatment options. This can be frustrating for pet owners and veterinarians, and may cause unnecessary suffering for the animals. Remember, there is no better care for your pet than preventative care.
Now that we know vet visits are not only for sick pets, perhaps it’s time for your pet’s routine health check? Make that appointment today!
By Dr Johan Jordaan
