Routine Vet Checkups & Wellness Exams
With routine exams from our vets at Montecito Pet Hospital, we can offer your dog or cat the preventive care they need. Bring your pet in for a vet checkup today to ensure they are in good health.
Preventive Care
Routine vet checkups are an essential element in your pet's healthcare routine.
Combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention and proper nutrition, routine examinations cover regular physical checkups to offer your pet the best chance at maintaining great lifelong health.
When you bring your cat or dog in for a routine vet checkup in Montecito, we're able to prevent health issues from developing in your pet, or detect them early, when they are most treatable.
What to Expect During Your Pet's Physical
Your dog or cat will receive a thorough physical checkup from your Montecito vet. This exam gives your vet a complete picture of your pet's overall health. Routine exams at our pet hospital include these elements:
General Condition
Your vet can get a read on your pet's overall health by checking their physical condition and general demeanor. Their level of alertness, how they stand and walk and whether they are a healthy weight for their size are all important indicators of overall health.
Coat & Skin
A dog or cat's coat and skin often change appearance when health issues arise, so the vet will check both for signs of problems, including shedding, dandruff, abnormal hair loss, bumps, lumps or dryness.
Face & Head
Your pet's nose, eyes and ears will be examined for discharge or abnormalities. The vet will also check the mouth for signs of oral health issues such as plaque buildup or gum disease.
Internal Health
Pulse, blood pressure, heart rhythm and rate are critical to your pet's heart health. We'll check these to make sure all is well. The vet will then examine the lungs for any evidence of abnormal breathing.
Since swollen or painful lymph nodes are a common symptom of illness or disease, these will be checked, along with the abdomen to ensure the stomach, intestines, kidneys, liver, spleen and bladder all feel normal, and that your pet is not displaying any signs of discomfort.
Review of Findings
To end your cat or dog's checkup, your vet will dedicate time to addressing any concerns about your pet's overall health and discuss your dog or cat's nutritional requirements.
Checkups for Puppies & Kittens
In their first few weeks of life, kittens and puppies require proper medical attention to ensure they get off to a healthy start.
We'll give your new member of the family a comprehensive physical examinations, appropriate immunizations and deworming medication. We will also check for intestinal parasites. You'll receive a puppy or kitten 'kit' full of educational material and samples to help you care for your new best friend.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have about caring for your pet, both during your appointments and in between visits.
Once your puppy or kitten's checkup is done, you'll periodically return for his or her required booster shots.
Seniors
Recent advances in veterinary care and medical knowledge, in addition to newer therapies and better nutrition, have resulted in our senior pets living longer than ever.
While this is fantastic news for us and our pets, it means that special diligence needs to be taken with your pet's routine healthcare as they age. As your pet surpasses middle age and enters their golden years, pet checkups become increasingly essential to ensure their continuing health and longevity.
Along with the routine wellness procedures we perform for all adult pets, special attention is given to your senior pet's potential geriatric conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, bone disorders or decreased vision.
Following a routine exam, we may recommend additional laboratory tests for aging pets so we can glean more detailed data regarding your senior pet's overall health and well-being.
Vaccinations & Prevention
When your pet comes to our Montecito animal hospital for a veterinary checkup, your vet will see whether your animal needs preventive care, or if they are due for any routine vaccinations.