Your trip to the veterinarian is almost as educational for you as it is checking out your pet. Besides your many questions and concerns that you may bring with you to the exam room, please bring any relevant health information you have, such as records of vaccinations and deworming. While answering your questions, your veterinarian will likely do the following:

The Clinton Veterinary Hospital advises that all animals undergo an annual health check. This is often carried out at the time of the annual vaccination, although pets who don’t need vaccinations done yet still need to have check-ups to enable early detection of diseases. 

During the annual health check, our vets will examine: 

1. Eyes for signs of conjunctivitis, tumors, cataracts, and glaucoma.
2. Ears for signs of infection, irritation, and tumors.
3. Mouth for signs of dental disease such as gingivitis and periodontitis which can result in tooth loss. Many insurance companies require that pets have regular dental check-ups. Rabbits and guinea pigs can also suffer from overgrown teeth.
4. Heart for irregularities in the heart beat and murmurs enabling early detection of congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy, as well as the pulse.
5. Lungs, for signs of infection and pulmonary congestion and breathing rate.
6. Abdomen is examined for indications of painful areas or tumors.
7. Skin and coat are examined for signs of infection, parasites such as fleas, lice, mites, ticks, and tumors. Advice is also given on parasite control using modern effective preparations.
8. Limbs are examined for causes of lameness, along with indications of arthritis and tumors. Many effective treatments are now available to alleviate the discomfort of osteoarthritis enabling your pets in living an active, pain-free life.
9. Nails are also cut and anal glands evacuated as required.
10. Weight of the pet will be measured and their temperature taken.

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