Your pet is part of our family, and we would rather head off disease than treat a life-threatening situation. A great way to optimize your pet’s health is by ensuring they have a regular wellness screening once per year. Our team at Twin Lakes Veterinary Hospital is here to share the importance of these screenings in preventing progressive disease.  

#1: Protect your pet from disease

Your pet is at risk of suffering a serious health condition if they see their veterinarian only when they are ill. Because they cannot communicate that they do not feel well, and often do not show pain or illness signs until their condition is advanced, the earlier your veterinarian diagnoses an adverse health condition, the better your pet’s prognosis. Regular wellness screenings are the best way for your veterinarian to detect your pet’s serious disease in the earliest stage.   

#2: Protect your pet from parasites

During your pet’s wellness screening, your veterinarian will determine whether they have parasites. By identifying the parasite types before they cause your pet a life-threatening illness, your veterinarian can plan an effective treatment. A fecal check and a heartworm test can detect parasites such as:

  • Heartworms 
  • Tapeworms  
  • Roundworms 
  • Hookworms 
  • Coccidia 
  • Giardia 

If your pet is parasite free, your veterinarian will remind you to continue to schedule your pet’s monthly parasite preventives. 

#3: Protect your pet from vision loss

As a pet ages, their vision-loss risk increases. During your pet’s regular wellness screening, your veterinarian will examine their eyes for abnormalities or vision impairment. Eye examinations can reveal: 

  • Glaucoma — Glaucoma, a condition in which the fluid in the eye does not drain properly, if left untreated, can lead to painful eye pressure and blindness. 
  • Cataracts — A cataract is an opaque-white haze that develops in the lens that is attributable to lens water-balance changes or lens protein changes. The cloudy lens interferes with clear image formation, which causes blindness. Although pet owners think of cataracts as an old-age sign, these growths can indicate disease, such as diabetes. 

#4: Protect your pet from dental disease

Most pets older than age 3 have some dental disease signs. Oral bacteria damage your pet’s gums, teeth, and supportive tooth structures, leading to loose teeth and infection, and causing your pet significant pain. Your veterinarian will assess your pet’s dental health, and likely will recommend preventive care and a professional cleaning if dental disease signs are present.

#5: Protect your pet from joint pain

Arthritis and joint pain are common in older pets, who may not exhibit discomfort signs, but may still be in extreme pain, and their mobility impeded. During your pet’s wellness visit, your veterinarian will palpate your pet’s limbs and manipulate their joints, to determine if they have arthritis or other joint conditions. 

# 6: Protect your pet from missed wellness visits

Your pet’s wellness visit frequency depends on their age. Veterinary professionals recommend monthly wellness checks for puppies and kittens, during which they receive their all-important initial vaccinations, annual examinations for pets 12 months and older, and semi-annual examinations for senior pets (i.e., pets older than 7 years of age). 

#7: Protect your pocketbook from unnecessary veterinary costs

By proactively protecting your pet from preventable disease, you can avoid costly prescriptions  and procedures. Through regularly scheduled wellness examinations, your veterinary professional can treat your pet’s disease signs before they become advanced, keeping costs down and minimizing your pet’s suffering. 

We know you do all you can to protect your pet’s health and wellbeing by ensuring they keep their regularly scheduled veterinary care appointments. Call our Twin Lakes Veterinary Hospital team to schedule your pet’s annual wellness screening.