The Importance of Preventive Care
Wellness exams are critical to helping your pet maintain good long-term physical health.
Combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention and proper nutrition, these routine examinations include regular physical checkups to give your pet the best chance at excellent lifelong health.
When bringing your dog or cat in for their routine wellness checkup, you give our vets the chance to prevent health issues from developing in the first place in your pet, when they are at their most treatable.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
Your Marina del Rey vet will give your dog or cat a thorough physical checkup in order to get a complete picture of his or her overall health. Routine wellness exams at our animal clinic include the following elements:
General Condition
Your pet's general physical condition and demeanor are both able to give us clues as to their overall health and well-being. The way your pet stands and walks, their level of alertness and their weight when compared to their size and breed standard are all very important signs of their general health.
Coat & Skin
During your pet's checkup, we will examine your dog or cat's skin and coat for signs of problems, including excessive oiliness or dryness, lumps, bumps, dandruff, or abnormal hair loss or shedding.
Face & Head
We will examine your pet's ears, eyes and nose for any signs of discharge or other abnormalities. We will also check your pet's mouth for any symptoms of oral health issues including periodontal disease or excessive plaque buildup.
Internal Health
Your pet's heart rate, pulse, rhythms and blood pressure are all critically important diagnostics to determine your companion's heart health. The lungs will then be examined for evidence of abnormal breathing.
Lymph nodes will be checked for pain or swelling, and we will also examine the abdomen to ensure the intestines, kidneys, bladder, spleen, liver, and stomach all feel normal, and that your pet is not exhibiting any signs of discomfort.
Review of Findings
At the end of your pet's routine wellness exam, your vet will take the time to discuss any concerns they may have about your pet's overall health and talk to you about your dog or cat's nutritional requirements.
Checkups for Puppies & Kittens
Puppies and kittens need proper medical attention in their first few weeks of life to get off to a healthy start.
We'll give your new best friend a complete physical examination, appropriate immunizations, and deworming medication. We will also test for intestinal parasites. You'll be provided with a puppy or kitten 'kit' filled with educational material and samples to help you care for the newest member of your family.
Please never hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have about caring for your new pet, both at your appointments or following your visits.
Once your puppy or kitten's checkup is complete, you'll return periodically for his or her required booster shots.
Seniors
With recent advances in medical knowledge and veterinary medicine, our senior pets are living longer than ever.
While this is terrific news for pets and their owners, it means that special attention needs to be given to your pet's routine healthcare as they age. As your pet surpasses middle age, regular examinations become increasingly crucial to ensure their continuing health and longevity.
On top of the routine wellness procedure that is performed on all adult pets, we will also give special attention to conditions commonly associated with aging including arthritis and decreased vision.
Additional laboratory tests may be recommended for aging pets to provide more detailed information about your senior pet's overall health and wellbeing.
Vaccinations & Prevention
During your pet's veterinary checkup at our Marina del Rey animal hospital, the vet will also check whether your animal requires preventive care, or if they are due for any routine vaccinations.