Pet Health Check-ups: What Is It and Why Is It Necessary?

A health check-up, also known as "dispensary care," is a comprehensive set of regular medical examinations for your pet. Routine diagnostics can help detect and treat diseases at an early stage. Health check-ups are especially useful for emergency surgeries as they ensure in advance that your pet can safely undergo anesthesia.

Medical History Collection: The specialist will ask the owner questions about:

• Spay/Neuter status
• Vaccination schedule
• Animal origin
• Living conditions: shelter, climate, diet, frequency of walks, bowel and urinary habits
• Any health concerns regarding the pet

Physical Examination: The veterinarian examines the animal, palpates organs, conducts auscultation, and measures temperature and blood pressure.
Organ Systems Assessment: Subsequent examinations target the following systems:

• Cardiovascular
• Respiratory
• Digestive
• Genitourinary
• Nervous

X-ray: A quick and painless examination to assess organ function and detect any mechanical injuries. X-rays reveal issues that may not be discernible through physical examination alone. Radiation exposure is minimal, making frequent x-rays safe for your pet. It's recommended to have x-rays done every six months.
Urine, Fecal, and Blood Tests: Owners need to bring in urine and fecal samples, while blood is drawn on-site by the veterinarian. These samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis to detect any pathologies, parasites, and deviations from previous results.

Many diseases in animals are difficult or impossible to treat at late stages. Regular checks help identify issues early on and treat them before severe symptoms manifest. Test results also guide in determining the right diet for your pet, ensuring better growth and development. Health check-up data can be utilized in future surgical procedures. You'll save valuable time in critical situations and potentially save your pet's life.

• Fasting Diet: Usually, this involves 4-6 hours of fasting.
• Sorbents: When an ultrasound is to be performed, excessive gas in the stomach could distort images.
• Full Bladder: Having a full bladder can aid in certain tests.

Health check-ups are typically conducted once a year for pets under 5 years of age. For older pets, it's advisable to have them twice a year.