Often, our pets can suffer from hidden diseases that may not manifest themselves clinically or we may not notice it. The Veterinary Center recommends an annual follow-up, which can help track any changes in your pet’s condition and can help identify a range of problems that the veterinarian will try to cope with to improve the quality of your pet’s life, or answer any questions you may have about housing, feeding and prevention.
Clinical examination is a complex of procedures, medical examinations carried out with the aim of preventing and detecting various diseases.
How often should I see my veterinarian?
Check-ups are recommended for all pets annually and every 6 months for older pets and pets with chronic health problems.
What examinations are included in the clinical examination?
The list of necessary examinations for each patient is selected individually, taking into account age, data, habitat and breed characteristics. Standard clinical examination may include:
- Initial clinical examination – collection by the veterinarian of the necessary information on the maintenance, feeding, well-being and physical examination of the pet, which includes: palpation, thermometry, auscultation.
- A general clinical blood test is one of the most common and diagnostically significant tests. Helps us to determine the number of those cells that are involved in the fight against infectious agents, tell us about possible problems with the immune system, coagulation system and the presence / absence of anemia
- Biochemical blood test – this laboratory method is used to assess the state of the basic metabolic processes in the body and determine the functionality of internal organs
- Abdominal ultrasound is an effective research method for assessing the state of internal organs and their structural changes.
Check-ups and additional diagnostics are especially important for older pets, as there is a high chance that an underlying medical condition may be present. Older animals may need additional tests, such as urinalysis, thyroid hormone tests, chest x-rays, etc.