When it comes to maintaining the health and wellness of your pet, there has never been a truer statement than, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Pets need to be taken to the animal hospital for their annual checkup, not only to ensure they are in prime condition but also to identify and rectify potential problems before they become serious.
Your Pet’s History
When you make arrangements to visit the vet in Norridge, the vet or a staff member will discuss your pet’s medical history and background. If you are a new patient, it will help the vet immensely if you bring along your pet’s medical records. You can expect to be asked questions about your pet’s diet, the exercise regimen that it gets, its water intake, etc.; anything that will help the vet better understand your pets needs.
A Typical Annual Checkup
An animal’s nose, ears, and eyes are excellent barometers of its overall health, so you can expect the vet to look at all of these.
The Nose
Many people believe that a wet or dry nose is an indication of the animal’s health. Although there may be an element of truth about this, the vet is more concerned with any evidence of abnormal discharge or odd color.
The Ears
Dogs and cats have deep ear canals; these are an open invitation to parasites, which can quickly cause infection. If you notice your pet digging or scratching its ears or your smell a foul odor, mention this to the vet when he or she is conducting the examination.
The Eyes
The vet will pay particular attention to your pets’ eyes; they are a window into its overall state of health. Cataracts are often a symptom of diabetes; the eyes also will show up problems like jaundice or anemia.
The best way to keep your pet healthy and happy is to get an annual examination and any vaccine booster shots.
If you are looking for an excellent animal hospital, take your pet to Portage Park Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic near Norridge; for more information visit . Like us on our facebook page.
