The Importance of Preventive Care
By providing regular preventive care and performing routine exams, we can help your pet maintain good lifelong physical health.
Combined with proper nutrition and regular vaccinations and parasite prevention, these routine examinations include regular physical checkups to offer your pet the best chance at excellent long-term health.
When you bring your cat or dog in for their routine pet checkup, we can prevent issues from developing in your pet or catch them early, when we can treat them most effectively and efficiently.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
To get a complete picture of his or her overall health, your vet in Tumwater will give your cat or dog a thorough physical checkup. Routine exams at our animal clinic will include these elements:
General Condition
Did you know your pet's physical condition and general demeanor can offer clues to their overall health? Their level of alertness, how they stand and walk, whether they are a healthy weight for their size are all important indicators of health.
Coat & Skin
We will examine your pet's coat and skin for signs of problems during the checkup. Common issues we see include excessive oiliness or dryness, bumps, lumps, abnormal hair loss, shedding or dandruff.
Face & Head
Your pet's eyes, ears and nose will be inspected for discharge or abnormalities. We will also check the mouth for symptoms of oral health issues such as plaque buildup or periodontal disease.
Internal Health
Heart rhythm and rate, blood pressure and pulse are all vitally important to your pet's health. These will be tested to ensure they're normal. The vet will then examine the lungs for evidence of abnormal breathing.
Lymph nodes will be checked for pain and swelling, then the abdomen will be examined to ensure the intestines, spleen, stomach, bladder, liver and kidneys all feel normal, and that your pet is not displaying any signs of pain or discomfort.
Review of Findings
To finish off the exam, your vet will dedicate time to addressing any concerns they may have about your pet's overall health, and discuss your dog or cat's nutritional requirements with you.
Checkups for Puppies & Kittens
Puppies and kittens need proper medical attention in their first few weeks of life to get off to a healthy start.
We'll give your new best friend a complete physical examination, appropriate immunizations, and deworming medication. We will also test for intestinal parasites. You'll be provided with a puppy or kitten 'kit' filled with educational material and samples to help you care for 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 checkup is complete, you'll return periodically for his or her required 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.
While this is terrific news for pets and their owners, it means that special attention needs to be given to your pet's routine healthcare as they age. As your pet surpasses middle age, regular examinations become increasingly crucial to ensure their continuing health and longevity.
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
When your veterinarian performs your pet's checkup at our Tumwater animal hospital, they will check whether your cat or dog needs preventive care, or if they are due for any routine vaccinations.
