03/04/08 — Annual physical examinations for our pets are crucial for their overall well being and quality of life. Pets can age up to seven times faster than humans, so changes that may occur in the human body over a course of years, may only take months in our four-legged friends. Having the veterinarian thoroughly examine your pet will increase the likelihood that progressive diseases are found at earlier stages, thus allowing treatment sooner. The sooner a treatment is started, the greater the chance of success.

The first part of any successful physical examination is the conversation that occurs between the veterinarian and the client. A wealth of information can be gleaned from a conversation starting with “So how is Fluffy doing?” This is your time, as the client, to let the doctor know if you have observed any changes in behavior or physique. Changes is appetite, water consumption, stool consistency, frequency in urinations, energy level, personality, mobility, scooting, and other habits are all information that is crucial for the owner to monitor and report on as a physical examination will usually not give the entire picture.

We always recommend making a list of questions and concerns prior to coming to the hospital. This allows you to make sure that you’ve given and received all the information that is needed. Keeping these records to review in the future may also prove helpful if changes begin to occur.

When the doctor conducts a thorough examination, they are looking at the entire animal and their overall health from the tip of the nose, to the tip of the tail.

The coat is examined for its overall appearance. Lumps and bumps are noted for their location, size, and general appearance. Depending on the lump, the doctor may recommend that the pet undergo general anesthesia to have it surgically excised. The lump may then be sent out for additional testing that will specify if the mass is benign or malignant (spreading). The coat and skin are also evaluated for indications of fleas, allergies, and/or infection.

Eyes are another important part of the physical examination. An ophthalmoscope is used to check the eyes for eyelid deformities or healthy masses, cornea lens opacity, iris and retinal abnormalities. A second piece of equipment used to determine the health of the eye is the tonometer, which checks the eyes inter-ocular pressure. This instrument can detect the presence of glaucoma, an increased pressure or the eye.

Ears are checked with the otoscope for inflammation, irritation, masses, excessive hair or wax, as well as the condition of the tympanic membrane (ear drum). If the ears are found to be red and irritated, the doctor may recommend ear cytology to check for the presence of bacteria or yeast. Another organism that plague some pet ears are ear mites. In all cases, a thorough cleaning is recommended, sometimes with the help of sedatives, anesthetics and medications can be taken home to treat the problem.

The mouth is another important area that the veterinarian will closely examine. They will be looking for the presence of tartar, gingivitis, periodontal disease, ulcers, masses, or abnormal teeth or dentition. If any of the aforementioned problems are present, a dental may be recommended to treat the issue. The mouth is crucial to the pet’s overall health, as pain is usually associated with dental disease.

The pet’s extremities will be evaluated for their range of motion, nail problems, foot or hair discoloration, swelling, and of course lameness. If your pet is having a decrease in activity, difficulty rising and more difficulty moving around, climbing stairs, or seems painful mention this to your veterinarian. Radiographs may be recommended to get a peek to determine the source of the pain or decreased mobility.

The abdomen will be palpated to check for enlarged organs, abnormal internal masses, presence of pain or tensins. During this time the doctor will also check for mammary growths.

Heart and lung sounds are also key to the physical examination. The doctor will listen with the stethoscope to check for heart murmurs, abnormal rhythms, and abnormal heart rates. While they are listening to the heart, they will also listen to the lungs to see if there are abnormal sounds, abnormal frequency of breath, or congestion. The mucous membranes should also be pink, which is another indicator that the heart and lungs are functioning properly.

Your pet will be given a body score, 1-5: 1 being too thin, and 5 being obese and 3 being ideal. Life style changes may be recommended to help your pet achieve its optimal, healthy weight. Before coming to the hospital for your pet’s annual physical examination take a look at what and how much you are feeding. This way, the doctor can accurately access if the feed should be decreased, increased or switched.

The neurological system will also be evaluated. Since the doctor cannot view, touch, or listen to the nervous system symptoms clinical signs are used to diagnose problems. If the pet cannot properly place their feet, tilts their head to one side, demonstrates seizure activity, or if the eyes oscillate back and forth rhythmically the doctor may recommend further diagnostics. If your pet does experience any of the aforementioned symptoms don’t wait for your annual exam, rather call immediately. Finally, the nose and throat are examined for any abnormalities. Along with the nose and throat, the lymph nodes (part of the body’s second circulatory system) are palpated to check for enlargement, which may indicate the presence of disease.

Did any of this sound familiar? Perhaps, a bit like going to your own physician? A thorough examination is the key to any medical profession, be it human or animal. Our doctors take pride in giving thorough wellness physicals at your pet’s annual physical examination, if your pet is geriatric we recommend the exam biannually. The doctors use a comprehensive Health Report Card that allows them to make comments about each and every system present. These report cards are then entered into your pet’s permanent health history. Interested in keeping your pet’s report card in your own file? Just ask for a copy and we will be happy to make one for your records.