The Importance of Preventive Care
Wellness exams are key to helping your pet to maintain their long-term physical health throughout their lives.
When combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention and proper nutrition, routine vet checkups at our Ocala veterinary center give your pet their best chance at excellent lifelong health.
When you bring your cat or dog in for their routine checkup, we are able to prevent health issues from ever arising in the first place in your pet, or are able to catch them early when they are most treatable.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
Our Ocala vet will provide your cat, dog or other pet with a comprehensive checkup in order to acquire a clear picture of their overall health. Routine wellness exams at our veterinary center generally include the following elements:
General Condition
Your pet's general demeanor and physical condition can provide you with clues about their overall health. The way your pet stands, walks, responds to stimulus and their weight in relation to their size can all be excellent indicators of their health and wellbeing.
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
We will examine your pet's face, eyes, ears and nose for any discharge or other abnormalities. We will also check their mouth for symptoms of oral health issues 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 swelling or pain and will also examine their abdomen to ensure that their intestines kidneys, spleen, liver and stomach all feel normal and monitor them for any discomfort.
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.
Checkups for Puppies & Kittens
Puppies and kittens require medical attention in their first few weeks in order to get off to a healthy start.
We will provide your new best friend with a comprehensive physical assessment, deworming treatments and any appropriate immunizations. We will also test them for intestinal parasites. You will be provided with a 'kit' for puppies or kitten filled with educational materials, samples and more to help you in caring for your newest 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 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.
On top of the routine wellness examinations which we perform on all of our adult pets, we will give your senior companion special attention to detect possible geriatric conditions, such as decreased vision or arthritis.
We may also recommend additional veterinary laboratory tests for your aging pet in order to acquire detailed information about their general health and wellbeing.
Vaccinations & Prevention
In the course of your pet's veterinary checkup at our Ocala animal hospital, our vet will also check whether your animal need preventative care, or if they are due for any routine vaccinations.
