The Importance of Preventive Care
Wellness exams are essential to helping your pet maintain good long-term physical health and vitality.
Combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention and proper nutritional guidance, these routine examinations involve regular physical checkups performed by our veterinarians, so your pet has the best chance at excellent lifelong health.
When you bring your dog or cat in for a routine checkup, we're able to prevent a range of health issues from developing in your pet or detect them early, when they are most treatable.
Your Timmins vet will give your pet a thorough head-to-tail exam, checking their skin and coat, eyes, ears and nose for abnormalities. An internal health check of the heart, lymph nodes, stomach and more ensures your pet is as healthy inside as they appear on the outside.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
To capture a complete picture of your cat or dog's overall health, your Timmins vet will give your pet a thorough physical checkup. Routine wellness exams at our animal clinic cover these elements:
General Condition
Your pet's general demeanour and physical condition can provide clues to their overall health. How they stand and walk, their level of alertness, and whether they are a healthy weight for their size are all important indicators of overall 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
Your pet's eyes, ears, and nose will be examined for abnormalities or discharge. We will also check the mouth for symptoms of oral health problems such as plaque buildup or periodontal disease.
Internal Health
Heart rate and rhythm, pulse, and blood pressure are vitally important to your pet's heart health. We'll test these to ensure they're normal. 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.
Diagnostic Wellness Testing
Our vet may recommend wellness testing as part of your annual exam. In some cases, we may be able to perform this testing as part of your exam. In other cases, we may need to book a separate appointment in order to complete all the necessary tests.
Most routine tests are done within our in-house laboratory. Additionally, more sophisticated testing is sent overnight to specialty laboratories if required. These tests include cultures and sensitivity analysis from bacterial swabs, histopathology of tissue samples and blood samples.
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 veterinary medical knowledge and care, as well as newer therapies and better nutrition, 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.
In addition to the routine wellness procedures we perform on all adult pets, we will give special attention to your senior pet's potential geriatric conditions, such as arthritis or decreased vision.
Additional laboratory tests may be recommended for aging pets to provide more detailed information about your senior pet's overall health and well-being.
Nutritional Counseling
Diet is one of the most important aspects of your pet's life. Issues with diet can lead to problems with urinary health, diabetes, joint function, and many others.
As part of your pet's yearly exam and ongoing care, you'll have access to nutritional counseling. We also carry a variety of maintenance and specialty diets.
Vaccinations & Prevention
While performing your pet's veterinary checkup at our Timmins animal hospital, the vet will also confirm whether your animal requires preventive care, or if they are due for any routine vaccinations.