Mona Lisa is very excited to be at the vet's!
Do you ever wonder what goes into your pet’s physical examination when you bring your pet to Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals for wellness care? It may appear as though we pet your dog or cat…listen to his or her heart for a moment, perform whatever vaccinations or other care is needed and move on. In actuality, much more observation and interpretation goes into that examination than you may have realized…until now!
Lucy Kitten contemplates. Photo courtesy of Shelby Thomas
Obtaining a Thorough History of Your Pet
We start by spending time talking with you, because…we like you! And we are honored you have brought your pet to Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals! The technician or veterinary assistant obtains a thorough history of your pet – lifestyle, diet, exercise, housemates - anything that could help us as a team provide your pet with the best possible care.
Lucy does not mind coming to the vet if it involves picking out a toy!
The Examination Before the Examination – Spying on Your Pet
While we discuss your pet with you, we try to not make eye contact with them, cute as they are, and we get down on his or her level (dogs) or let him or her sit in the open bottom half of the kennel (cats) and allow them to greet us. Even if we know each other, but especially if we do not, these few moments are crucial in setting a positive and non-threatening tone for your pet.
Charlie decided being at the vet's is actually quite fun.
Before the examination officially even starts, the veterinarian is gauging your pet’s neurological and orthopedic status – how they sit, stand and walk and how they interact with their environment.
It is All About Your Pet! Fear Free Practice at its Finest...
Next, we gauge your pet’s mood and stress level. Will an exam be less scary on the floor or the table? Will it take more time to earn trust? Should we be playful or gentle? Does your pet want to be talked to and doted on or do they want the visit over as quickly as possible?
Reese and her family have done much work to make things like vet exams less scary!
Next, we will either sit on the floor or gently lift your pet onto the exam table.
Well That is a Strange Way to Pet a Pet!
We then check from head to tail, feeling for healthy skin and coat, any bumps or painful areas or other abnormalities. We check body condition – whether your pet is at an appropriate weight and how developed or atrophied the muscles are.
Dr. Jones and Max Page share a sweet moment after acupuncture.
We feel over the neck, back, shoulders and hips, some of the more common areas for arthritis and injury, checking for pain and the ability to move well.
We pet the forehead back to check the whites of the eyes and pet the lips back to check the mouth.
Who Knew There Was So Much to be Learned from a Veterinary Oral Exam?
We inspect all the teeth, feeling for tender areas, gauging the amount of tartar present, and looking for fractured teeth, discoloration and tooth root exposure. We examine the color of the gums and gently press them to see how quickly they turn white and then turn back pink again and whether they are moist or dry. On a puppy or kitten, we check the progression of baby tooth development and replacement by adult teeth and check for a cleft palate.
Beau being silly! Photo courtesy of Allie Scamardo
Well That’s a Cute Face…and Healthy!
We examine the rest of the face – Are the eyes clear? Is there discharge from the eyes or nose? Can they breathe well through the nose? Is everything symmetrical?
Stella being spoiled at the vet's. What's not to love?
We pet under the openings of both ears. If an ear infection is brewing or present, the vertical canal will almost always be tender. We turn the ear flaps inside out one at a time. We smell the ears and look for redness, discharge and excess hair. We look at the skin on the underside of the ear flap and feel if the flap itself is thicker than it should be.
Dixie thinks the veterinary hospital is the most fun playground ever!
Moving Methodically Towards the Tail…
We feel five paired sets of external lymph nodes, mainly to see if they are bigger than they should be. The ones we routinely check are under the jaw, in front of the shoulders, in the armpits, in the inguinal area (on the inner side of the back legs near the abdomen) and behind the knees. On a cat, we will also check for abnormalities of the thyroid gland, which is a paired gland on the underside of the neck.
Gracie Blisser loves being at the vet's!
We feel the abdomen to make sure organs are the right size and check for abnormal lumps or pain. We gently lift and drop the skin over the scruff to check for adequate hydration.
On a young pet, we will check the belly button and inguinal area for hernias. On a baby boy, we will check for the presence of one or both testicles in the scrotum.
Dr. Munger's sweet Sophie as a pup. Photo courtesy of Greg Munger, DVM
We check the nails to make sure they are healthy and an appropriate length and check between the toes for moisture or redness.
We look at the tummy and armpits and groin area for redness or itchiness. We pet the fur “backwards” over the head and back and sides to look for parasites (fleas, ticks or lice) and any skin abnormalities.
Stop, Look and Listen…
We listen to the cranial and caudal lung fields on both sides. We count the breaths per minute and make sure the breathing is even and clear.
We listen to the heart on the right side and the left side. We count the heartbeats per minute and determine if the rhythm is normal or abnormal and if there is a murmur and if so, what kind of murmur and how pronounced it is.
Your Pet is Perfect!
Veterinary technician Becky and receptionist Jan's sweet Loki
Then we say “Your pet is perfect!” or “Your pet is perfect, and these abnormalities need to be addressed…” and we go from there. If need be, we continue the examination, focusing on any areas - ears, eyes, joints or whatever else - that need more attention. Only then will we take the next steps of any needed testing and treatment.
Celebrating Wellness
As your pet’s family, it is good for you to know what all goes into examining your friend. In health, but even in disease, every detail of wellness – every positive exam finding – is a detail to be celebrated.
Comic courtesy of "When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Vet"
This article was first published on Life with Dogs, March 26, 2012