The Importance of Preventive Care
Wellness exams are an important part of helping your pet stay in good physical health their whole lives.
When you combine routine vaccinations, parasite prevention, and proper nutrition with regular physical checkups you are giving your cat or dog their best opportunity for optimal life-long health.
When you bring your pet in for their checkup, we can help prevent your pet from developing any health issues, or find them early, when they are easier to treat.
What You Can Expect At Your Pet's Physical
Our Santa Cruz vets will give your pet a comprehensive physical checkup to get a complete understanding of their overall health. The Routine wellness exams we perform at our animal clinic consist of these elements:
General Condition
Your pet's physical condition and general demeanor could offer us insight into their overall health. How they stand and walk, their level of alertness, and whether they are a healthy weight for their size are all key indicators of their health.
Coat & Skin
At your cat or dog's checkup, your vet will examine your companion's coat and skin for signs of any problems, such as excessive bumps, lumps, oiliness or dryness, dandruff, or abnormal shedding or hair loss.
Face & Head
We will check your pet's eyes, ears, and nose for discharge or abnormalities. We'll also examine their mouth for signs of oral health problems such as plaque buildup or periodontal disease.
Internal Health
Heart rate and rhythm, pulse, and blood pressure are extremely important aspects of your pet's heart health. We'll test these to see if they are normal. The lungs will then be examined for evidence of abnormal breathing.
Their lymph nodes will be checked for swelling or pain, and your vet will also examine their abdomen to make sure the bladder, liver, kidneys, intestines, spleen, and stomach all feel normal, and that your pet isn't showing any signs of discomfort.
Review of Findings
After we've finished your pet's routine wellness exam, your vet will designate time to discuss any concerns they might have about your companion's overall health and talk to you about your cat or dog's nutritional needs.
Checkups for Puppies & Kittens
Kittens and puppies require a higher level of medical attention during their first few weeks of life in order to get a healthy start.
We'll provide your new companion with a full physical examination, the appropriate immunizations, as well as deworming medication. We will also test for intestinal parasites. You'll be given a puppy or kitten 'kit' containing educational materials and samples to help you take care of your new family member.
You can contact us with any questions or concerns you might have regarding the care of your new pet, either at your visits or following your appointments.
After your puppy or kitten's checkup is over, you'll need to come back periodically for their mandatory 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.
This is good news for pets and their owners, but it also means that special attention has to be given to your cat or dog's routine healthcare as they get older. Once your pet surpasses middle age, regular examinations become more important in ensuring their continuing health and longevity.
On top of the routine wellness examinations, 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.
Further laboratory tests might be suggested for aging pets to get more detailed information about your senior friend's overall health and wellbeing.
Vaccinations & Prevention
At your cat or dog's veterinary checkup at our Santa Cruz pet hospital, your vet will also look to see if whether your furry friend needs any preventive care, or if it's time for any of their routine vaccinations.