Wellness Exams
Wellness exams—you hear about them all the time in the human medical field. There’s screenings for high blood pressure and cholesterol, tests for breast and colon cancer. In the veterinary world, October is National Pet Wellness month. So what do “wellness exams” actually mean for pets?
Wellness means learning how to prevent disease and catch it early. Obviously owner education factors heavily into wellness for pets. Owners should arm themselves with knowledge about common animal illnesses and learn which problems their pet is prone to based on his species, breed and age. Wellness means something very different to a 10-year-old Golden Retriever than it does to a 10-year-old cat. And it means something different to a 2-year-old Yorkshire Terrier than it does to a 2-year-old Great Dane.
So how does someone learn to prevent or catch disease early in their dog or cat? First, ask your veterinarian which medical problems your pet might be at risk for. This should be easy considering the species, age and breed of the animal. For example, a senior Golden Retriever (age 7+ years) is genetically very prone to hypothyroidism and various forms of cancer. Knowing this, blood tests are good tools for catching these diseases early. Second, educating owners about the common signs associated with these diseases is also important. Most owners do not know that drinking more water and urinating more often are two major signs of illness—signs that among other things can indicate cancer. If owners learn the subtle signs associated with common medical problems, their daily observations can help detect illness early. After discussing which medical problems your pet is at risk for, ask your veterinarian for any suggestions on decreasing their chance of developing disease. For instance, vitamin E has been shown to help with liver issues while fish oil and glucosamine support joint health.
Once-a-year vet visits aren’t enough any more to stay on top of your pet’s health. Given that six months in an animal’s life is like three years in ours, it makes sense to see your veterinarian twice a year in order to catch problems early. This becomes more important the older your pet gets. Going from age 13 to 13 ½ is a bigger deal than going from age 2 to 2 ½! And bloodwork that looked normal at age 13 can look completely different six months later.
So what should a semi-annual wellness exam include? At a bare minimum, a physical exam and baseline bloodwork. Depending on your pet’s species, breed and age, more tests may be warranted. For example, senior cats (age 13+ years) should have their thyroid levels and blood pressure checked. Dogs that are prone to bladder stones or bladder cancer (like Schnauzers, Dalmatians, Scotties and Shelties) should have a urinalysis screening. Dogs and cats that are prone to heart disease (like Maine Coons, Dobermans and Boxers) should have an ECG/heart screening. Wellness exams should be tailored to meet the needs of the pet and that includes the vaccine protocol. Rabies vaccines are required every 3 years in Larimer County. Other vaccines are recommended yearly to every 3 years depending on your pet’s lifestyle. Cats who roam outdoors or dogs that interact with wildlife or travel to dog shows are more exposed to contagious diseases than pets that stay mostly inside. Protection becomes more of a concern for these animals.
Over the years, the role of pets in society has changed. They are rarely banished to the back yard any more. Most are considered to be family members. Veterinary medicine has evolved to accompany these changing views. Because of advances in medicine and nutrition, pets are living longer than they ever have before. Twice-a-year wellness exams play a key role in keeping your pet’s life long and healthy!
A June 2006 article in USA Weekend summarized what wellness means now in the veterinary field. It pointed out the importance of early detections and noted that pet owners may actually save money by visiting their veterinarian twice a year. Read the entire article here.