What to Expect on Your Trip to the Veterinarian

When you bring your cat or dog to Walkertown Veterinary Hospital for a routine physical checkup, your veterinarian will review your pet’s medical history and ask you if you have any specific questions or concerns about your pet’s health.

Following this, your veterinarian will conduct a physical examination of your pet which will generally consist of any or all of the following:

• Listening to your animal’s lungs and heart
• Checking your cat or dog’s stance, gait, and weight
• Examining your pet’s eyes for signs of excessive tearing, discharge, redness, cloudiness, or eyelid issues
• Checking your companion’s coat for overall condition, abnormal hair loss, or dandruff
• Examining your furry friend’s nails and feet for damage or signs of a more serious health condition
• Looking at your pet’s ears for signs of bacterial infection, ear mites, wax build-up, or polyps
• Examining the condition of your pet’s teeth for any indications of periodontal disease, damage, or decay
• Checking your pet’s skin for a handful of problems such as parasites, dryness, lumps, and bumps (specifically in skin folds)
• Palpating your companion’s abdomen to access the internal organs to see if they appear normal and to check for signs of discomfort
• Feeling along your cat or dog’s body (palpating) for hints of illness including swelling, evidence of lameness ( such as limited range of motion), and signs of pain

All of the tests above are meant to find signs of any health problems your cat or dog could be experiencing. Because our pets aren’t able to tell us what they are physically feeling, these tests and checks help to determine how your furry friend is generally feeling.