A yearly physical examination is basically a routine medical exam of your pet that appears to be healthy, as opposed to a checkup of a pet that’s ill. Here at Carville Veterinary Clinic in Plaquemine, LA, our veterinarians, Dr. Katie Berthelot and Dr. Charles Carville, offer yearly physical pet exams to ensure your pet’s optimum health. During a physical exam, your veterinarian will examine and observe your pet for the following:
- Your pet’s stance and gait.
- Whether your pet is alert, bright, and responsive.
- Your pet’s general condition, including body weight as well as muscle mass and strength.
- Eyes: To check for discharge, redness, abnormal bumps or lumps on the eye area, cloudiness, or excessive tearing.
- Hair Coat: To look for excessive oiliness, dryness, or shedding, as well as abnormal hair loss and dandruff.
- Skin: To check for bumps, lumps, dandruff, dryness, oiliness, and thickened patches, among others
- Ears: To look for hair loss, thickening, discharges, or other red flags.
- Mouth: To check for gum disease, tartar accumulation, decay, excessive salivation, fractured teeth, mouth ulcers, and lip stains among others.
- Face and Nose: To look for discharges, symmetry, your pet’s breathing, and any issues related to excess skin folds, etc.
- Heart: To listen for irregular heart rate, heart murmurs, or heart rhythms such as extra beats or skipped beats.
- Pulse: Based on the results of the heart exams, your veterinarian in Plaquemine, LA, might also listen to your pet’s chest and check his or her pulse.
- Lungs: To listen for evidence of reduced or increased breath sounds.
- Legs: To look for evidence of nerve issues, muscle issues, lameness, as well as issues with the toenails or paws.
- Abdomen: To feel the intestines, bladder, liver, kidneys, stomach, and spleen from the outside to check whether they seem normal.
- To check for painful and/or swollen lymph nodes located in the neck, head, and legs.
In addition, based on the physical exam and health history of your pet, your veterinarian will likewise make recommendations regarding particular preventive healthcare treatments, which include vaccinations, nutrition, parasite control, joint health, coat and skin care, dental care, or weight management.
Likewise, expect your veterinarian to discuss your pet’s personal circumstances to determine whether your pet requires any other lifestyle adjustments to help keep him or her in the best condition possible.
Reach Out to Us To Learn More About Yearly Physical Examinations and Preventive Care For Your Pet. Call (225) 687-7387 to arrange an appointment with Dr. Katie Berthelot and Dr. Charles Carville here at Carville Veterinary Clinic in Plaquemine, LA.