Keep your pet well

Many veterinary clinics are implementing routine Wellness Exams. These are examinations of pets who appear healthy. These physical exams also include questions about your pet's lifestyle with a focus on maintaining an ideal well-being for your pet.

How often your pet should have a Wellness Exam depends upon their age and breed. In general, puppies and kittens should have monthly Wellness Exams, adults can be seen annually, and seniors should have semi-annual Wellness Exams. It is commonly thought that every calendar year is equal to seven years for pets but that isn't true. Puppies and kittens mature very quickly. After one calendar year they are considered an adolescent- that means they aged 15 years. (Thankfully, adolescent cats and dogs aren't staying up late or playing their music too loud!) By the time a dog is two years old they are basically a young adult.

Large breeds also age more quickly than small breeds. By their sixth birthday, a small Terrier is considered middle aged but a Great Dane is a senior. All of these things need to be taken into account when choosing how frequently to schedule Wellness Exams.

During a Wellness Exam your veterinarian will ask questions about your pet's diet, exercise, travel history, lifestyle, elimination patterns and other individuals in the house. Most veterinarians will also ask about any changes, such as a family member leaving for college or if Grandma has moved in with you. Your veterinary team isn't being nosy- they are just trying to get the clearest picture of your pet's environment to help guide recommendations for their physical and mental health. (Yes, animal mental health really IS a thing!)

Be as honest as you can when answering these questions, particularly about diet. There are some very dangerous conditions that can arise such as bladder stones or heart disease that can be directly related to the food you might be feeding. It is important to pay attention to what brands you are giving your pet. (On that note, please don't feed gluten-free diets to your pets. This topic is not within the scope of this month's column but it does need to be said.)

Once the environmental picture is established, your pet will receive a full physical exam. This is where your veterinarian will inspect your pet's mouth and teeth, various areas of the body for lymph nodes, ears, eyes, muscles and bones. They will use a stethoscope to listen to their heart and lungs and do a variety of little things you might not even notice to check reflexes. Several animal disorders can develop without any clinical signs. Early detection and treatment of many conditions can be more successful and less expensive than if a disease becomes advanced enough to affect quality of life.

Eventually your veterinarian might recommend vaccines, flea and tick products, diets and possibly testing, such as Heartworm or thyroid testing, based on the Wellness Exam. Your pet's routine Wellness Exam is an integral part of caring for them and setting them up for a long, healthy life with you.