When you bring your pet to the vet, one of the most important services you should receive is a physical exam on your pet by the veterinarian. A physical exam is just that. The doctor looks at your pet's eyes, in his ears, at his skin and hair coat, and in his mouth to check the condition of the pet's teeth. The doctor will also listen to the pet with a stethoscope, palpate (feel) the abdomen, take the animal's temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate.
The reason for this is to look for any abnormalities or signs of illness. Lumps, cuts, infection, irregular heart rate, and bad teeth are just a few of the things that may be found by a physical exam.
The exam may lead to other tests if a problem is found. It is meant as a preventative measure in healthy pets to keep small problems from becoming big ones. In sick animals, the physical exam helps the doctor narrow down possible causes for the illness. Most likely, some other form of diagnostic test will be necessary, an ear swab for an ear infection, bloodwork, or x-rays, depending on the problem. The physical exam, together with the information you provide and the diagnostic tests all work together to suggest the best treatment for your pet.
Many people think that we can 'just give the pet a shot' when they need a Rabies vaccine or other regular vaccination, but that's not true. Vaccinating a pet with an undiagnosed illness can make your pet worse and it's not practicing good medicine. Therefore, in most cases, you will have an exam charge even if we are 'just vaccinating' your pet.
Sometimes exams are done for behavior problems as well. Even though you may think the problem is behavior related, we still need to rule out physical illnesses like infection or pain when consulting on a behavior issue. For example, many times when a cat is urinating outside the litter box, it's not because they are angry at you, but because they have a bladder infection.
Regardless of the reason you are bringing your pet to see us, 99 times out of 100, the pet will receive a physical exam. Many illnesses can be seen during an exam, but please realize that even with an exam, the doctor can't detect what may be going on 'inside' your pet without other tests. For a complete wellness check, bloodwork, urinalysis and x-rays need to be done regularly, especially on older pets. See more information on our Senior Health Checkups here.
Is your pet healthy? Check this list to find out.
If you have any questions or would like to set an appointment for your pet to have a physical exam, please call us at (281) 444-8387.
