Pet Preventive Care
Wellness exams are critical to helping your pet maintain good long-term physical health.
Combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention and proper nutrition, these routine examinations include regular physical checkups to give your pet the best chance at excellent lifelong health.
When bringing your dog or cat in for their routine checkup, we are able to prevent health issues from developing in your pet in the first place.
If we find a disease or condition arising in them at the checkup, we are also able to begin treatment before they develop into more difficult conditions.
What to Expect During Your Cat or Dog's Checkup
Our Provincetown veterinary team will provide your dog or cat with a comprehensive physical checkup in order to gain a complete picture of their overall health. Routine wellness exams at our clinic generally include the following elements:
General Condition
Your pet's physical condition and general demeanor can both provide us with clues about their overall health. Your companion's level of alertness, their weight when compared to their size and breed, and their walk and stand can all be important indicators of their health and well-being.
Coat & Skin
During your pet's checkup, we will examine your dog or cat's skin and coat for any signs of problems or abnormalities, including excessive oiliness or dryness, lumps, bumps, dandruff, and abnormal hair loss or shedding.
Face & Head
Your pet's ears, eyes, and nose will all be examined for discharge or other abnormalities. We will also check their mouth for any signs of oral health issues, including the buildup of plaque and periodontal disease.
Internal Health
Your pet's heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, and pulse are all important indicators of their heart's health. We will test each of these to make sure they are at normal levels for your pet. We also make a point of examining their lungs and breathing for evidence of any health issues there.
Lymph nodes will be checked for pain or swelling, and we will also examine the abdomen to ensure the intestines, kidneys, bladder, spleen, liver, and stomach all feel normal, and that your pet is not exhibiting any signs of discomfort.
Review of Findings
After your pet's routine wellness exam, we will take time to speak with you about any concerns we may have about your pet's health and what next steps may need to be taken in treatment planning or diagnostics. We will also talk you through any special nutritional requirements your cat or dog may have if it's applicable.
Checkups for Puppies & Kittens
Puppies and kittens need proper medical attention in their first few weeks of life to ensure they have a healthy start.
We will provide your pet best friend with a complete examination, deworming medications, and any appropriate immunizations. We will also test them for intestinal parasites.
Please never hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have about caring for your new pet, both at your appointments or following your visits.
Once your puppy or kitten's checkup is complete, you'll return periodically for his or her required booster shots.
Seniors
With recent advances in veterinary medical knowledge and care, as well as newer therapies and better nutrition, senior pets are living longer than ever.
While this is excellent news both for pets and the people that love them, it also means that we need to give special attention to their routine healthcare as they grow old. As your pet grows past middle age, routine examinations become increasingly important in order to ensure their continuing health and longevity.
In addition to the routine wellness procedures we perform on all adult pets, we will give special attention to your senior pet's potential geriatric conditions, such as arthritis or decreased vision.
Additional laboratory tests may be recommended for aging pets to provide more detailed information about your senior pet's overall health and wellbeing.
Vaccinations & Prevention
Throughout your pet's vet checkup at our Provincetown animal hospital, we will also check whether or not your pet requires any preventive care or if they are due for any routine vaccinations or parasite prevention treatments.