Pet Physical Exam - Dog Exam - Cat Exam, Annual (or Semi-Annual) & Pet Health Screen

There is so much to talk about when it comes to good care for our pets. We love them and want to take care of them but how do we decide when and what they really need? That’s where Your Veterinarian at Dunedin Animal Medical Center comes in. The following will help you to understand what we look for on a Dog Exam or Cat Exam and how we decide what is best for your pet.

The Importance of a Pet Physical Exam (Annual or Semi-Annual) & Pet Health Screen 

A Pet Physical Exam & Health Screen are vital components of what is known as “preventative medicine”. The goal of preventative medicine is to find and treat diseases BEFORE they become serious. This is generally easier on the pet, the owner, and the pocket-book! That old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” holds true for our pets as well.

There have been so many advances in veterinary medicine that many diseases which may have greatly shortened your pets’ lifespan in the past can now be managed (if detected early) so that your pet can live a longer, healthier, and happier life.

Pet Health Screen:

Annual (or Semi-Annual) Pet Health Screening Tests are vital to determine the micro-health of your pet (before serious symptoms arise), to establish his/her personal baseline normals, and to follow early trends.   read more...

Pet Physical Exam ( Dog Exam - Cat Exam):

Your Veterinarian at Dunedin Animal Medical Center will perform a thorough evaluation of all body systems during your pets’ visit to our  veterinary animal hospital. It is amazing how much your pets’ health can change over a short period of time. Examples of the more common findings are body condition (weight - too much or too little), cataracts, dry-eye syndrome, ear inflammation / infections, dental disease, heart murmurs, lung sounds, internal organs (discomfort and size), painful joints, skin (lumps, bumps and hair loss), and flea/tick/tapeworm infestations.  Many of these have the potential to cause severe discomfort and sometimes fatal diseases in your pet. Some diseases are also potentially zoonotic (transmitted to people). These and many other pet physical conditions may be detected on a Dog Exam or Cat Exam.

Body Condition Exam

You will see your pet weighed at the beginning of the exam. Your veterinarian then does a body condition score. This is actually more important than the weight because it assesses how appropriate the weight is for the body size and structure.

Pet Eye Exam

A thorough evaluation of the eyes is important. There are only two of them and we don’t want anything to lead to potential loss of vision or comfort. Glaucoma, dry-eye syndrome, and some other problems with the eyes may be a sign of other internal problems.

Pet Ear Exam

On Florida's West Coast, ear problems are one of the more common issues for your pet. Your Veterinarian will examine the ears externally and take a good look down to the ear drum with an otoscope. If there is any infection it will be dealt with immediately.

Pet Mouth (Dental) Examination

It is amazing how the old adage “out of sight, out of mind” holds true for dental disease. When is the last time you really looked at your pets’ teeth? Your Veterinarian at Dunedin Animal Medical Center will check the status of the teeth, gums, and stage your pets’ dental condition.  This allows us to make specific dental care recommendations to increase your pets’ longevity, comfort, and it may also freshen their breath.

Gum disease, which can occur in up to 85 percent of dogs by middle age, has been linked in a study to the occurrence of canine heart disease. The data clearly shows that there is a link between gun disease and heart disease in dogs.

The Heart Exam

During the mouth examination, Your Doctor will note the color of the membranes of the mouth and begin to evaluate the circulation in your pet.

Your Veterinarian at our Dunedin Animal Medical Center & Pet Resort will listen to the heart for any issues and at the same time evaluate the pulse. This can detect abnormal heart beats and murmurs among the many conditions that can occur.

Respiratory Tract Exam

Your Veterinarian will have examined the nose for any upper respiratory signs and will also listen to the lungs and note the character of the breathing for any abnormalities.

Abdomen Exam

Your Doctor will check the abdomen for any abnormalities. When palpating your pets' abdomen, Your Veterinarian is checking for discomfort as well as the size of the internal organs such as the kidneys, liver, spleen and urinary bladder. We are always on the lookout for any abnormal masses during this part of the exam.

Skin and Coat Examination

Your Veterinarian will look at the skin to be sure there is no inflammation or infection. Any lumps or bumps will also be evaluated. We know how close you are to your pet and you can help us out by pointing out any new lumps during the exam. We will also talk to you about flea, tick, and internal parasite control.

Neurological Exam

Your Doctor will check the spine from the head to the tail. During this portion of the exam the function of the nervous system will be checked.

Pain Examination

Dunedin Animal Medical Center Veterinarians take pride in their ability to detect and control pain in your pet.

Your Veterinarian at Dunedin Animal Medical Center will evaluate and actually record a pain score which indicates any level of pain and where it is located.

From there our aim is to rid your pet of any pain or discomfort.

Consultation, This takes place Before, During, and After your Pets' Physical Examination.

Other items that may be addressed during your Pets' Physical exam.

• Chronic Medication(s) Monitoring
• Dietary needs
• Life stage recommendations

• Parasite Control
• Vaccinations

Healthy Pet Plan

Your Veterinarian will explain any abnormal findings and recommend, if indicated, any necessary diagnostic testing.

Your Pets’ Physical Exam is an excellent time to discuss any behavioral issues you may have noticed.  Many times these behavioral issues may be related to underlying medical conditions.

Your Veterinarian and the staff at Dunedin Animal Medical Center, an AAHA Accredited Veterinary Animal Hospital, are here to help!