The Importance of Preventive Care
Routine wellness exams are a critical part of helping your beloved pet to keep up their long-term physical health and well-being.
Combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention and proper nutrition, these routine examinations include regular physical checkups to give your pet the best chance at excellent lifelong health.
When bringing your cat or dog in for their routine checkup with us, we are able to help prevent health issues from ever developing in your pet in the first place. We can also have an extra chance to diagnose conditions in their earliest stages when they are at their most treatable.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
Your Lincoln Park vet will give your dog or cat a checkup in order to get a complete picture of his or her overall health. Routine wellness exams at our animal clinic include the following elements:
General Condition
Your pet's general condition and demeanor will be able to provide us with clues as to their overall health and well-being. Their level of alertness, their weight compared to their breed and size and the way your pet stands and walks can all be important indicators of how your pet is doing.
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 ears, eyes and nose will be examined for any discharge and other abnormalities. We will also check your pet's mouth for symptoms of oral health issues like periodontal disease and plaque buildup.
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.
Review of Findings
At the end of your cat or dog's routine checkup, your vet will take the time to discuss any concerns they may have about your pet's overall health and talk to you about your dog or cat's nutritional requirements.
Veterinary 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 will provide your newest family member with a complete physical exam, appropriate immunizations and deworming medications. 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 advancements in veterinary medical care, knowledge, treatments and therapies, our senior pets are living longer now than they ever have before.
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 wellbeing.
First Appointment Discounts
During your pet's first veterinary checkup at our Lincoln Park animal hospital, Dix Animal Hospital is proud to be able to offer you and your four-legged friend 50% off of your appointment fees. Learn more today!