Bowling Green Pet Wellness Care

Because our pets can't tell us how they feel, a regular physical examination is a very important piece of your pet's health care. We recommend a complete nose-to-tail physical examination at least once a year, though more frequent exams are encouraged.

A routine examination provides you and your veterinarian with the opportunity to develop a picture of your pet's overall health as well as to spot potential medical issues before they become serious health concerns. It's an opportunity for you to ask any important questions you may have about your pet's health, habits and daily care. We also use this time to inform you about home healthcare for your pet and offer important advice and new information on the care of your particular type and breed of animal.

During your pet's wellness checkup, your Bowling Green veterinarian at Greystone Pet Hospital will:

Examine your pet's respiratory system—By listening to your pet's lungs with a stethoscope we are able to assess respiratory health and detect a range of health issues at an early stage. These include respiratory infections, obstructive diseases and other pulmonary issues.

Assess your pet's heart—A stethoscope is also a great tool for assessing the health of your companion's heart. Your veterinarian can listen for murmurs and other irregular heart beat patterns that could indicate poor or failing coronary health.

Examine the teeth and oral cavity—Your pet's entire body can be affected by poor dental health because infections can enter the bloodstream and affect other organ systems. Dental disease is also one of the most common and preventable health issues in pets.

Check your pet's vision and eyes—This does not involve an eye chart, but your veterinarian will check for issues related to sight and ocular health. For example, conditions such as glaucoma and cataracts are relatively common in older pets and can be successfully treated when discovered early.

Look in the ears—Infections, ear mites, low-grade allergies and other related health issues are relatively common in companion animals. Your veterinarian can use a couple of different tools to look inside the ears to see if there are any indications of ear disease.

Palpate lymph nodes, abdomen and skin—By using the hands to touch and feel for abnormalities such as bumps, lesions or hair loss, your veterinarian can detect dermatological and systemic illnesses.

Palpate joints and muscles—Arthritis and other orthopedic conditions are relatively common and if diagnosed at a later stage can be quite painful and limit your pet's activity. Early detection will lead to treatments that can relieve pain and provide your pet with many more active years.

Lab testing—Laboratory testing allows us to evaluate the function of organ systems and blood cell counts. These tests are critical for uncovering underlying disease processes that otherwise would remain unnoticed until they cause serious symptoms in your pet.