Routine Veterinary Examinations in Baltimore
At Falls Road Animal Hospital, we focus on preventive care by providing cats and dogs routine exams to help your pet maintain excellent long-term physical health - and detect health issues early.
Preventive, Proactive Care
Routine exams are critical to ensuring your pet maintains excellent long-term physical health.
Combined with regular vaccinations and parasite prevention in addition to proper nutrition, your pet's routine examinations include regularly scheduled physical checkups to provide your pet the best chance at optimal lifelong health.
Bringing your pet in for their regular checkup will help your vet prevent health issues from developing, or detect conditions and diseases in their early stages, when they tend to be most treatable.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical Exam
Your pet will be given a thorough physical examination. This allows the vet to build a complete picture of his or her overall health. An exam involves these elements:
General Condition
Did you know your pet's physical condition and general demeanor give us clues to their overall health?
From how they stand and walk to their level of alertness and their current body weight (in context of size) are all important indicators of health.
Coat & Skin
Health issues may result in problems with your pet's coat and skin, such as bumps, lumps, dryness, dandruff, shedding or something else. We will check their skin and coat thoroughly for any issues.
Face & Head
We will check your pet's ears, eyes and nose for any discharge or other abnormalities. We'll also examine the mouth for symptoms of oral health issues such as periodontal disease or plaque buildup.
Internal Health
Heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure and pulse are extremely important to your pet's heart health.
We'll test these to confirm they are within a normal range, then check the lungs for evidence of abnormal breathing.
Lymph nodes will also be examined for swelling or pain. We'll also check the abdomen to ensure the kidneys, bladder, intestines, liver, stomach and spleen all feel normal, and that your pet is not displaying any signs of discomfort.
Puppies & Kittens
In their first few weeks of life, a puppy or kitten requires medical attention to ensure they get off to a good start health-wise.
We'll ensure your furry friend is dewormed and that he or she receives appropriate immunizations as well as a complete physical examination.
Plus, you'll receive a puppy or kitten kit filled with educational material to help you care for your new family member, along with samples.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns you may have about caring for your new pet, both during your appointments or in between visits.
Once your pet has had an initial appointment, you'll return every so often for his or her required booster shots.
Seniors
Advances in veterinary medical knowledge, care, best practices, better nutrition and innovative therapies, our senior pets have a longer lifespan than in the past.
While this is heartwarming for owners, it also brings special challenges. As your pet ages, regular physical examinations become even more important to ensure their health and longevity.
Along with routine wellness exams for adult pets, we are especially attentive to your senior pet, as age-related conditions such as decreased vision or arthritis can easily develop. Additional laboratory tests also yield valuable data about your pet's health.
Vaccinations & Prevention
During your pet's regular physical exam, the vet will take the opportunity to check whether they need preventive care, or if they require any routine vaccinations.