Starting with the skin and coat of your pet, we will ensure that your pet is free from signs of infections and parasites such as fleas, ticks, or mites. We will carefully inspect any lumps and bumps to verify there are no indications of any underlying health issues. During this time, we also palpate all peripheral lymph nodes to ensure they are of normal size, shape, and texture.
We will examine the external and internal anatomy of the eyes, ears, and nose to verify normal function of the retinas, anterior chamber of the eyes, lenses, corneas, and sclera. We also check tear glands and conjunctiva to confirm normal structure and function. In the ears, we look at the health of the vertical and horizontal ear canals, the amount of wax and debris in the external canals to confirm there is no infection, and we check to make sure the eardrum is both healthy and intact with no fluid or infection in the middle ear. We check the nose for irritation of the outer and inner structures and make sure any nasal discharge is normal in amount, texture, and color.
Our oral exam includes checking the mouth cavity for healthy teeth, fractures, gingivitis, tartar, infection and abscesses. We check the tongue and structures of the throat for any abnormalities that we may need to address in the future.
We carefully listen to your pet’s heart and check for murmurs, arrhythmias, and the heart rate to make sure all is normal. We check your pet’s lung fields to make sure they are free and clear from any signs of asthma or allergies.
We then palpate your pet’s abdominal organs including the intestines, liver, spleen, kidneys, and bladder so that we can keep your pet as healthy as possible.
Finally we check the neck, spine, joints of the forelimbs, hind limbs, and hips to make sure there are no signs of arthritis, neck, or spinal discomfort.
We also check the pet’s anal glands and urogenital systems.
If any abnormalities are detected we will work as a team to decide on the best treatment plan tailored to meet you and your pet’s medical needs.
