The Importance of Preventive Care
Pet wellness exams are critical to helping your pet maintain good long-term physical health.
By bringing your pet in at least once a year, you allow us to both prevent disease and catch any emerging issues early while they are the most treatable.
Combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention, and proper nutrition, these routine examinations include regular physical pet checkups to give your animal the best chance at excellent lifelong health.
Disease prevention and early detection can add years to your companion’s life and greatly improve the quality of those years.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
Your Carlsbad vet will give your dog or cat a thorough physical pet checkup to get a complete picture of his or her overall health. Routine pet wellness exams at our animal clinic include the following elements:
General Condition
Your pet's general demeanor and physical condition can provide clues to their overall health. How they stand and walk, their level of alertness, and whether they are a healthy weight for their size are all important indicators of overall health.
Coat & Skin
During your dog or cat's checkup, we will examine your pet'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.
Lymph nodes will be checked for pain or swelling, and we will also examine the abdomen to ensure the intestines, kidneys, bladder, spleen, liver, and stomach all feel normal, and that your pet is not exhibiting any signs of 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.
Puppy & Kitten Checkup
To get off to a healthy start, puppies and kittens require proper medical attention in the first few months of their lives.
When you bring your new companion into Carlsbad Animal Hospital, we will provide them with a complete physical examination and the appropriate immunization and parasite prevention measures. We will also run tests to ensure there are no existing intestinal parasites.
Once your puppy or kitten's checkup is complete, you'll return periodically for their required booster shots.
Our vets are here to help provide you with all the information and guidance you need to give your newest family member the best care.
Seniors
Recent advances in veterinary medical knowledge and treatments mean 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, wellness care will shift toward the management of any diseases or conditions and finding ways to make their later years as happy and comfortable as possible
In addition to the routine pet 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.
Your Carlsbad vet may recommend additional laboratory tests 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 Carlsbad animal hospital, your vet will also let you know if your animal is due for any routine vaccinations or parasite preventive measures.