Good health is essential for a happy, comfortable, long life. Early detection of disease through wellness visits to your veterinarian help prevent disease. If symptoms of disease are already present, your veterinarian can help improve the quality and length of your pet’s life.
As you get to know your pet, you should become familiar with its normal body characteristics, daily habits, and personality. This knowledge will help you to be aware of any changes that occur. Listed below are things that you can monitor about your pet between their regular twice-a-year wellness visits. If you find anything abnormal, call your veterinarian to schedule a thorough exam.
Eyes/ears
Eyes should be clear and bright. Redness, swelling, or discharge are signs of a problem. Eyelids should be smooth.
Inside of the ears should be light pink, a small amount of ear wax is normal, but yellow or brown waxy discharge is not. Redness, swelling, or foul odor are signs of infection. Head shaking and ear scratching can be your pet’s way of telling you there is something wrong.
Nose/mouth
Clear, watery nasal secretion is normal. Thick, colored, or bloody discharge is not. Whether or not a pet’s nose is cold or warm is not an indicator of a problem.
Teeth should be free of yellow-brown tartar buildup. Gums should be light pink. Bad breath, excessive drooling, inflamed or bleeding gums, and loose or missing teeth are an indication of infection. White or blue gums are indications of more serious internal problems.
Skin/coat
Coat should be glossy, but not too oily. A dry, dull coat; excessive hair loss; or odor from the skin can be a sign of incorrect diet or illness. Skin should be free of parasites, redness, sores, and scabs. Excessive scratching, biting, or licking can be a sign of a problem. Don’t assume it’s “just “because they have fleas.”
Digestive system
The anal area should be clean and free of discharge. Whether it is prolonged or intermittent over time vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation are signs of a digestive problem. Excessive thirst, frequent urination, or blood in the urine or stool are all signs of possible health problems.
Weight
Your pet should not have excessive body fat. You should be able to feel your pet’s ribs, but they should not be protruding or highly visible. Obesity is the cause of many diseases. Watch for changes in appetite (decrease or increase) and sudden changes in weight (loss or gain.)
Behavior
Watch for changes in activity and energy level, stiffness or limping, loss of housetraining, and hiding. Any prolonged or intermittent changes over time in normal habits or behavior patterns can indicate illness and should be discussed with your veterinarian.
Body/breathing
Breathing should be even and unlabored. Prolonged sneezing, coughing, or shortness of breath is not normal, whether ongoing or intermittent.
Check your pet’s entire head, body, and legs regularly for lumps and bumps.
The most dangerous health statement: Maybe it will go away. If you have any question about a possible problem with your pet, do not hesitate to call your veterinarian.
Our pets are increasingly vulnerable to many illnesses as they reach their later years of life. Their health problems related to advancing years are like our own, including heart, liver, and kidney disease; dental problems; digestive disorders; cancer; and diabetes. So pay special attention to your senior pet’s normal behavior and habits.
A preventive-care blood panel is like a window into the body. Since pets age more quickly than we do, diseases progress more rapidly in them than in humans. A preventive-care blood panel will help to detect many diseases, at an earlier stage, often even before your pet is displaying symptoms.
Since the process of disease in pets can be slow and insidious, being proactive with your pet’s care is far better for your pet and more cost-efficient to you than reactive medical care.
When an organ system starts to fail, that organ will compensate to bring function back to normal. Over time, this compensating mechanism will fail, and the pet will become ill. Once the pet is in organ failure, treatment options are limited. Early detection is key! Once a problem has been identified, we can make appropriate treatment recommendations at a point when treatment will make the most difference. Often, a simple diet change is all that is needed to avoid major health issues.
By sharing life and love with you, your pet has given you a precious gift. We hope this article will help you to help your pet live a long, happy life. So schedule a wellness visit for your pet today!
