Cat & Dog Routine Care in Knightdale, NC
Wellness exams are vitally important for maintaining your pet's great long-term health.
Combined with scheduled vaccinations, parasite prevention, and good nutrition, these routine exams include regular physical checkups to give your pet its best chance at accomplishing lifelong health.
When you bring your dog or cat in for regular vet checkups, you are giving our Knightdale vets the opportunity to catch early signs of disease when they are most treatable and stop health issues from developing in your pet.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical Exam
Your Knightdale vet will give your dog or cat a thorough physical checkup in order to get a complete picture of his or her overall health. Routine wellness exams at our animal clinic include the following elements:
General Condition
Your pet's demeanor and physical stature provide your vet with indicators of their general health. The way they carry themselves, their alertness, and whether they are a healthy weight for their size are all important gauges of overall 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 vet will take a look at your pet's ears, eyes, and nose, checking for any abnormalities or discharge. Their mouth will also be checked for 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 checkup, your vet will take some time to review and explain anything of concern they might have found regarding your pet's overall health and talk about the nutritional requirements for your pet.
Checkups for Puppies & Kittens
Puppies and kittens need proper medical attention in their first few months 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.
Checkups for 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
During your pet's veterinary checkup at our Knightdale animal hospital, the vet will also check whether your animal requires preventive care, or if they are due for any routine vaccinations.