The Importance of Pet Checkups
Routine wellness exams are key to maintaining your pet's long-term physical health throughout their life.
Combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention and proper nutrition, these routine examinations involve regular physical checkups in order to ensure your pet's lifelong good health.
When bringing your dog or cat in for a routine wellness checkup, we are able to prevent health issues from developing in your pet and treat them as early as possible.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
Our veterinary team in Santa Barbara will give your cat or dog a comprehensive physical checkup in order to acquire a comprehensive picture of their health and well-being. Routine wellness at our pet hospital include all of the following elements:
General Condition
Your pet's general demeanor and condition will help to provide our vets with clues about their overall health. The way your pet stands and walks, their weight for their size and their general alertness will all be important indicators of their general 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
Heart rate and rhythm, pulse, and blood pressure are vitally important to your pet's heart health. We'll test these to ensure they're normal. The lungs will then be examined for evidence of abnormal breathing.
We will check your pet's lymph nodes for any swelling , pain or discomfort, along with internal organs like their kidneys, bladder, spleen, liver, intestines and stomach.
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
Kittens and puppies require proper medical attention throughout the first few weeks in order to get off the a healthy start.
We will provide your new best friend with a comprehensive physical examination. any appropriate immunizations and deworming treatments. We will also test your new pet for any internal parasites. You will be provided with a kitten or puppy "kit" which is filled with informational materials and product samples to help you provide the best care for your new family member.
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 nutrition and veterinary medicine, along with new therapies, senior pets are living far longer now than they ever have before.
While this is wonderful news, it also means that veterinarians and pet owners need to pay particular attention to senior pets' routine healthcare. As your pet ages, their regularly schedule routine exams will become increasingly important to maintaining their health and comfort.
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.
Vaccinations & Prevention
During your pet's veterinary checkup at our Santa Barbara animal hospital, the vet will also check whether your animal requires preventive care, or if they are due for any routine vaccinations.