Puppy and Kitten Wellness Exam FAQs

When you first bring your new puppy or kitten home, you will primarily be focused on helping them get settled into their new environment and your family. However, there are several things that you will need to make a priority in the days and weeks after their arrival. One of those should be arranging a puppy or kitten wellness exam.

What are puppy/kitten wellness exams?

Wellness exams are routinely performed with the aim of evaluating and monitoring the health and condition of our pets. Veterinarians almost always recommend that you schedule an appointment for a wellness exam shortly after you bring an animal home for the first time.

This provides them with the opportunity to create a medical record for your pet, against which the results of future wellness exams, as well as any interim visits to their office, can be made. In the future, this record will be referred to if any medical problems arise, as well as being pro-actively referred to, to determine if any health issues may be developing in your pet. By doing this, your vet can spot any potential illnesses or conditions early, enabling them to diagnose, possibly deter or prevent the problem from becoming worse and having unpleasant consequences for your pet.

After their initial wellness care exam, your veterinarian will be able to advise you if your pet requires regular appointments for vaccinations and will arrange a schedule for these to be completed. After this, annual wellness exams are recommended.

What to expect during a puppy/kitten wellness exam?

Most puppy/kitten wellness exams include some or all of the following elements:

Consultation

This is an informal chat with your vet where you will be asked questions about your pet’s behavior and lifestyle. You may be asked what and how often they eat, how much they drink and how much exercise they get. These are used to build up a picture of what is ‘normal’ for your pet. If there are any recommendations that your vet can make that would improve the health and wellbeing of your pet, your veterinarian will advise you.

Physical Examination

Unsurprisingly, your pet’s wellness exam will also include a physical examination. This will include looking at:

How they stand and walk
Their weight and general body condition.
The quality and condition of their coat. Poor condition can be indicative of an underlying health problem.
The quality and condition of their skin.
Their eyes, ears, nose and face, checking for any abnormalities or signs of problems such as swelling or infection.
Their mouth and teeth to check for periodontal disease, abnormal lumps and bumps and other dental problems.
Their lymph nodes.
Their heart and respiratory rate.
Their legs and paws, assessing for muscle problems or issues with the paw pads or claws.
Their internal organs. This is done by palpating their abdomen so that your vet can feel the organs to check that they are the right size and in the right place.
Their general behavior and attitude.

Urine or fecal analysis

In some cases, owners may be asked to supply a sample of their pet’s urine or feces. This is because bodily excretions can actually tell your vet a great deal about the health and wellness of your animal. For example, intestinal worms usually produce eggs that are passed out in your pet’s poop while their urine can show issues such as kidney dysfunction or diabetes.

Preventative Care Recommendations

Preventative care involves more than just monitoring the ongoing health of your pet. Vaccinations and medications to protect against infectious diseases and parasites are also a crucial element of preventative care. Your vet will be able to tell what vaccinations your puppy or kitten needs and which parasite preventatives should be administered. Your vet will also work with you to create a schedule of preventative care so that you can rest assured that your pet won’t be left vulnerable to infectious diseases, parasite problems and subsequent illness.

For more information about what to expect from a puppy/kitten wellness exam, please call (720) 709-2400 to speak to our knowledgeable veterinary team.