What Does a ‘Wellness Exam’ Actually Include for Dogs and Cats in San Antonio?

Why Routine Wellness Exams Are Important for Your Pet

Dogs and cats age faster than people, which means their health can change more quickly than many owners expect. A yearly or twice-yearly pet exam gives your veterinarian a chance to check for concerns before they become more serious.

Wellness visits are especially important for puppies, kittens, senior pets, and pets with ongoing health conditions. They also help your veterinarian understand what is normal for your pet, making it easier to spot changes in weight, behavior, mobility, appetite, or energy.

What Happens During a Pet Wellness Exam?

During a wellness exam, our veterinarian evaluates your pet from nose to tail. This includes checking visible signs of health, listening to the heart and lungs, looking at the eyes and ears, examining the teeth and gums, and feeling the abdomen for discomfort or unusual changes.

Your pet’s weight, skin, coat, joints, mobility, and overall alertness may also be assessed. These details help your veterinarian build a clearer picture of your dog or cat’s overall health.

Common Parts of a Dog or Cat Wellness Visit

A wellness exam may include several important checks depending on your pet’s age, lifestyle, and medical history, such as:

Eye, ear, and dental evaluation

Heart and lung check

Weight and body condition review

Skin and coat assessment

Joint and mobility evaluation

Abdominal palpation to check for pain, growths, or swelling

Discussion of vaccines, parasite prevention, nutrition, and behavior

This visit is also a good time to bring up any changes you have noticed at home, even if they seem small.

Vaccinations and Preventive Care

Vaccinations are a key part of wellness care for dogs and cats in San Antonio. Your veterinarian can recommend the right vaccine schedule based on your pet’s age, health, environment, and risk of exposure.

Dogs may need routine protection against diseases such as rabies, distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and kennel cough depending on their lifestyle. Cats may need vaccines for common feline diseases, with some vaccines recommended based on risk level.

Additional Testing Your Pet May Need

Some wellness exams include testing beyond the physical exam. Your veterinarian may recommend heartworm testing, fecal testing for intestinal parasites, or blood work to screen for infection, organ changes, or early signs of disease.

These tests are especially valuable because some conditions do not show obvious symptoms right away. Preventive testing gives your veterinarian more information and helps guide care before your pet feels sick.

A Better Way to Stay Ahead of Health Changes

A wellness exam helps you be proactive instead of reactive. By keeping up with routine veterinary exams, vaccinations, and recommended screenings, you give your dog or cat a better chance at long-term comfort and health.

Contact MPC Veterinary Care to schedule a wellness exam for your dog or cat and stay ahead of important health needs like vaccinations, parasite prevention, dental concerns, and early signs of illness. Visit our office in San Antonio, Texas, or call (210) 556-7950 to book an appointment. For emergencies, call (210) 737-7373.