You are probably very busy, and may not think that you have the time to take your pet to the vet when there is nothing visibly wrong with your animal. Yet just like humans need to go to the doctor once a year for a checkup, so do dogs. Your canine may have hidden illnesses, or may be gaining too much weight or developing arthritis. In order to make sure that your pet truly is healthy as he or she appears, you should take your animal to the veterinarian at least once a year for a routine checkup.
At this checkup, the veterinarian will conduct a nose to tail exam. This is a thorough examination of your animal to make sure that nothing is out of line or that your pet is not in danger of an illness. The first stop on this full examination is the nose. Your veterinarian will make sure that your dog's nose is in healthy state. Most of the time, a veterinarian will want to check for Rhinitis. This is an irritation of the mucous membrane inside the nose, and can lead to a nasal discharge or a stuffy nose. While rhinitis can be non-concerning in some contexts, there are also times that it can point to Canine Distemper or respiratory infections that will need to be treated with medication.
After checking the nose, your veterinarian will most likely want to check your pet's eyes. A dog that has dull or lifeless eyes may have internal parasites, or may be suffering from a very serious illness. Because pets can't communicate, a veterinarian needs to try and gauge their level of health using signs from their vitals. If a pet's eyes are cloudy or dull of debris and discharge, this can also point an eye infection. Your vet will be able to determine whether or not your pet is suffering from an illness or virus by making sure that his or her eyes are looking bright and enthusiastic.
Your vet will then look at your pet's mouth. If your dog has lumps in his or her mouth, or teeth in poor condition, then these are concerns. A mouth that is healthy should be full of clean, white teeth and free of any sores, scrapes, or abscesses. Some pets may need scaling on their teeth, which is a process which can scrape the teeth free of cavity-causing tartar build-up. Sometimes pets will develop an oral tumor in their mouth, and it is important that this is discovered early.
After looking at the mouth, a vet will then inspect your pet's ears. Sometimes dogs will get ear mites, or will suffer from an ear infection. Your veterinarian will use the tools necessary to make sure that your pet has healthy, clean ears that are free of any infection or foul odors which point to other problems. After this, the vet will probably use a stethoscope to look at your pet's lungs. If there is any congestion, cough, or abnormal breathing patterns, then the vet may want to run more tests. Oftentimes congested lungs can point to distemper, bordatella, and other illnesses like heart worm.
After inspecting the heart and lungs a vet will also inspect the abdomen of your pet. The pet doctor will probably want to palpitate the abdomen and groin areas to check for any lumps or abnormal distention. If there is swelling in the stomach area, lumps, or other concerns, then your vet may ask to run more tests. Also, if your dog reacts in pain when his or her stomach is pressed, this can be an indication or parasites or other stomach ailments that need to be treated.
The vet will also run the stethoscope over your pet's heart to make sure that he or she has a normal heart rate between 100 beats per minute and 130 beats per minute. Any abnormalities in the heart can cause concern. Your vet will want to run extra tests if there seems to be an odd pattern of heart beat. While performing all of these inspections, the vet will also take note of your dog's skin and coat. A healthy dog will have a shiny coat and clear, healthy skin. Animals with illnesses often have dull, coarse coats and flaky or dry skin.
Your vet will also inspect a dog's back and tail to make sure that the spine seems in line and there are not spinal problems that need to be fixes. A vet will also pick up each of your pet's paws and look for scrapes, cuts, swelling, or muscle damage. This head to tail exams can be extremely helpful, and may help you to detect serious injuries or illnesses that could have been fatal if they were not caught in time. You can also take advantage of this time with the veterinarian to ask for more information about any concerns that you have about your pet.
Discuss any abnormal patterns of behavior or concerns that you have. If your pet seems to be gaining weight, you may want to ask the veterinarian about diet plans or about how to keep your dog healthy as the seasons change. If you are looking for a veterinarian who can help you and take your pet in for a regular exam, then use this directory to find a local animal doctor today!