Preventive Care For Pets
Wellness exams are crucial for helping to maintain good long-term physical health for your pet.
Combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention and proper nutrition, these routine examinations include physical checkups to give your pet excellent health for their whole lives.
When you bring your dog or cat in for their routine checkup, we can prevent health issues from developing in your pet or catch them early, when they are most treatable.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
Your Kinston vet will give your dog or cat a thorough physical checkup in order to get a complete picture of their overall health. Routine wellness exams at our animal clinic include the following elements:
General Condition
Your pet's general demeanor and physical condition give clues about their overall health. The way they stand and walk, how alert they are and whether they are a healthy weight for their size are just some of the 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, such as oiliness or dryness, lumps or bumps, and dandruff or abnormal hair loss.
Face & Head
We'll examine your pet's eyes, ears and nose for abnormalities or discharge. We will also check the mouth for symptoms of oral health problems, including plaque build-up.
Internal Health
Things like heart rate and rhythm, pulse and blood pressure are crucial to your pet's heart health, so we'll test these to ensure they're normal. We'll then examine the lungs for signs of abnormal breathing.
Lymph nodes are 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 aren't causing your pet any discomfort.
Review of Findings
At the end of the wellness exam, your vet will discuss any concerns they may have about your dog or cat's overall health and talk to you about your pet's nutritional requirements.
Checkups for Puppies & Kittens
Puppies and kittens need proper medical attention in the first few weeks of life to ensure that they are off to a healthy start.
We'll give your new furry family member a complete physical examination, appropriate immunizations and deworming medication. We will also test your new pet for intestinal parasites. You'll be provided with a puppy or kitten 'kit' that is filled with educational material and samples that will help you care for your newest family member.
Once your puppy or kitten's checkup is complete, you'll return periodically for their required booster shots.
We encourage you to get in touch with any questions or concerns you may have about caring for your new pet, both during or after your visit.
Seniors
Recent advances in veterinary medical knowledge and care, as well as newer therapies and better nutrition, mean that senior pets are living longer than ever.
While this is terrific news for pets and their owners, it means that your pet's healthcare requires special attention as they age. Once past middle age, your pet should get regular examinations to ensure they're living healthy and happy lives.
In addition to the routine wellness procedures that we perform on all adult pets, we will focus on your senior pet's potential geriatric conditions, such as arthritis or decreased vision.
We may recommend some extra laboratory tests in order to get more detailed information about your senior pet's overall health and well-being.
Vaccinations & Prevention
During your pet's veterinary checkup at our Kinston animal hospital, the vet will also check whether your animal requires any preventive care or if they are due for any vaccinations.