My pet appears to be healthy; does it need annual checkup? Having routine checkup is not the same concept of seeing the vet when your pet is ill. The focus of annual checkup is to maintain optimal health, and early detection of potential medical conditions of your pet.
Why preventive annual exam is important?
Pets are genetically wired to hide illness. Through routine body exams, preventable diseases like obesity, ear infections and dental disease can be addressed, and early screenings for arthritis, diabetes and kidney disease can be performed. The aim for routine exam is early detection and prevention of disease. If a disease or condition can be detected before your pet shows signs of illness, steps can often be taken to manage the issue before irreversible damage occurs. In addition, early detection and treatment is often less costly than waiting until a disease or problem becomes serious enough to affect your pet’s quality of life.
What exams will be performed?
Your vet will review your pet's medical history and check with you if any of your pet's behavior is unusual, including your pet's diet, lifestyle, exercise routine, level of thirst, and urination that can severely impact your pet's health.
Then, a comprehensive physical examination of your pet will be performed, which generally includes:
- Weighing your pet
- Checking the pet's stance and gait for irregularities
- Examining feet and nails for signs of more serious health concerns
- Listening to the pet's heart and lungs
- Skin checkup for issues such as dryness, parasites, or lumps
- Checking eyes for redness, cloudiness, eyelid issues, excessive tearing, or discharge
- Examining your pet's ears for signs of bacterial infection, ear mites, wax build-up, or polyps
- Dental check for any indication of periodontal disease, damage or tooth decay
- Feeling along your pet's body (palpating) for signs of illness such as swelling, evidence of lameness such as limited range of motion, and signs of pain
- Palpate your pet's abdomen to access whether the internal organs appear to be normal and to check for signs of discomfort
Appointment/Enquiry:
3650 3000 (Mon-Sun: 9:00am – 7:00pm)
Address:
G-2/F, Trinity Towers, 339 Lai Chi Kok Road, Sham Shui Po
Online booking for revisit with primary care veterinarians or vaccination:
https://www.cityuvmc.com.hk/en/online-booking