Preventative or general wellness care means a proactive approach to medicine. Ideally, problems are caught before they become more serious – and more expensive – and it frees you and your pet to spend your time doing what you really want to do: enjoy each other’s company and unconditional love.
At Montgomery Village Animal Hospital, we cherish the opportunity we have to nourish and care for pets over the course of a lifetime. We pamper our puppy and kitten patients, adore our adults, and celebrate our seniors. And because we understand that needs change with age, we tailor our treatment plans to best meet your pets where they are on their journey.
Annual wellness checkups are a crucial part of preventative care. Our nose-to-tail exams give us a good picture of your pet’s overall health and alert us to any changes that might have occurred since their last visit.
We recommend a physical exam at least once per year for adult pets and then every six months for senior pets. If you’ve recently adopted or purchased a pet, then we advise you that you book an appointment for their first examination within the first few weeks of ownership. Younger animals are very vulnerable to illness and this will allow us to make sure they have the vaccinations they need, reassure you of their health, and give us a starting point for their medical records.
Your pet’s comprehensive physical examination will include some or all of the following:
- Complete vital signs: weight, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature
- Eyes, ears, and mouth
- Heart and lungs
- Abdomen and skin
- Bones and joints
- Teeth/dental health
- Blood tests (to establish the health of internal organs and systems)
If you have further questions or want to schedule a wellness exam for your pet, give us a call at 301-330-2200 today!