The Importance of Preventive Care
Routine pet checkups are necessary to help your pet maintain good long-term physical health.
Combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention, and proper nutrition, these routine pet wellness exams include regular physical checkups to give your pet the best chance at excellent lifelong health.
When you bring your dog or cat in for their routine checkup, we can catch any early signs of disease and prevent health issues from developing in your pet when they are most treatable.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Wellness Exams
Your Boulder County vet will give your dog or cat a thorough physical examination in order to get a complete picture of his or her overall health. Routine checkups at our animal clinic include the following elements:
General Condition
There are many indicators of overall health that our vets look out for. Some indicators include your pet's physical condition and typical demeanor, level of alertness, how they stand and walk, and whether they are a healthy weight for their breed.
Coat & Skin
During your pet's checkup, we will examine your dog or cat's skin and coat for signs of problems, including abnormal hair loss or shedding, excessive oiliness or dryness, bumps, lumps, or dandruff.
Face & Head
Your pet's eyes, ears, and nose will be examined for discharge or abnormalities. 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, blood pressure, and pulse are important factors in your pet's heart health. We'll run tests to make sure these are all normal. The lungs will then be examined for abnormal breathing.
Lymph nodes will be checked for pain or swelling, and we will examine the abdomen to ensure the intestines, kidneys, spleen, liver, stomach, and bladder all feel normal, and that your pet is not showing signs of discomfort.
Review of Findings
Once your pet's checkup is complete, 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 specific medical attention in their first few weeks to make sure they have a healthy start to life.
We'll give your new best friend a complete physical examination, appropriate vaccinations, and deworming medication. We will also test for intestinal parasites in our in-house laboratory. You'll be provided with a puppy or kitten 'package' filled with educational materials to help you take proper care of 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 initial checkup is complete, you'll return periodically for his or her required booster shots.
Seniors
Senior pets are living longer than ever thanks to all the recent advances in veterinary medical knowledge and care, as well as better nutrition and newer therapies.
While this is wonderful news, it means that special attention needs to be considered for your pet's healthcare routine as they grow older. When your pet surpasses the middle of their life, routine checkups become more and more critical to ensure they remain happy and healthy.
In addition to the routine exams we perform on all adult pets, we give special attention to your senior pet's potential geriatric conditions, such as arthritis or vision loss.
Additional laboratory tests may be recommended for aging pets to provide more detailed information about your senior pet's overall health.
Vaccinations & Prevention
During your pet's veterinary checkup at our Boulder County animal hospital, the vet will also check whether your animal requires preventive care, or if they are due for any routine vaccinations.