A thorough physical exam is where a lot of quiet, early problems get caught. It only takes a few minutes, but an experienced pair of hands and eyes can spot changes long before you'd notice anything at home.
What we check, nose to tail
A complete exam covers your pet from front to back:
- Eyes, ears and nose for signs of infection, pain or vision changes
- Mouth and teeth for dental disease and oral health
- Heart and lungs, listening for murmurs or abnormal sounds
- Skin and coat for lumps, parasites and irritation
- Abdomen, feeling for anything unusual in the organs
- Joints and muscles for signs of pain or arthritis
- Weight and body condition, an early clue to many problems
Why it catches so much
Pets age far faster than we do, so a year between visits is a long time. Regular exams build a baseline of what's normal for your specific animal, which means we can recognize the moment something shifts - a new heart murmur, a slight weight loss, a sore joint - while it's still easy and affordable to address.