Cat & Dog Wellness Exams in Nashville
Preventive Care
To help your pet maintain good long-term physical health, it's critical to bring them in regularly for wellness exams.
These routine examinations can be combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention, and proper nutrition to give your pet their best chance at excellent lifelong health.
When you bring your cat or dog in for their routine physical 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 vet in Nashville will give your dog or cat a thorough physical checkup to capture a complete picture of his or her overall health. Routine wellness exams at our animal clinic include these elements:
General Condition
Did you know your pet's general demeanor and physical condition can offer clues to their overall health? Their level of alertness, how they stand and walk, and whether they are a healthy weight for their size can point to how healthy they are overall.
Coat & Skin
During your pet's checkup, we will check your dog or cat's skin for signs of issues, including bumps, lumps, excessive oiliness or dryness, abnormal hair loss or shedding, and dandruff.
Face & Head
We will examine your pet's ears, eyes, and nose for discharge or abnormalities. The mouth will also be checked for symptoms of oral health issues 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.
Review of Findings
At the end of your pet's routine wellness exam, 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.
Checkups for Puppies & Kittens
In their first few weeks of life, puppies and kittens need proper medical attention to get off to a healthy start.
We'll give your furry friend a complete physical examination, appropriate immunizations, and deworming medication. We'll also test for intestinal parasites. You'll receive a kitten or puppy 'kit' filled with educational material and samples to help you care for your newest family member.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you might 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 visit us periodically for his or her required booster shots.
Seniors
With the 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 get more detailed information about your senior pet's overall health and wellbeing.
Vaccinations & Prevention
When you bring your pet in for a veterinary checkup at our Nashville animal hospital, the vet will also look into whether your animal needs preventive care, or if they are due for any routine vaccinations.