Pets occasionally get sick and hurt, but some conditions can be prevented by regular wellness screenings. Our Milford Animal Hospital team wants to explain reasons why these visits are so important to ensure you don’t delay scheduling your pet’s appointment.

#1: Pets conceal vulnerabilities

You may think you will know if your four-legged friend has a health problem, but pets are excellent at hiding vulnerabilities. Your pet’s ancestors developed this instinct because they were at higher risk from predators when their illness or injury was evident. Your pet doesn’t have to worry about being attacked by a lion, but they still retain the instinct to conceal their weaknesses, and they may not exhibit signs of an illness until their condition is advanced. Our veterinary team performs a thorough physical examination and routine blood work during a regular wellness screening to help detect health conditions in the early stages when they are easier to manage.

#2: Pets age faster than humans

Pets age much faster than humans. Cats and small breed dogs are considered senior pets at about 7 years of age, and large breed dogs reach this life stage at 5 to 6 years of age. This means they are at higher risk for many health complications, such as cancer, diabetes, cognitive dysfunction, kidney disease, and arthritis. We recommend that your senior pet be evaluated by a veterinary professional at least twice a year so we can detect any condition that may negatively affect their quality of life. In addition to the diagnostics we usually perform for younger pets during a wellness screening, we may recommend other tests, such as a thyroid panel, if you have a senior pet. 

#3: Obesity is an increasing problem for pets

Over the past 10 years, the number of overweight dogs has increased by 158%, and the number of overweight cats has increased by 169%. Obesity is a major risk factor for several diseases, including metabolic conditions, cancer, kidney disease, and arthritis, and overweight pets live about 2.5 years less than pets who maintain a healthy weight. During a wellness screening, our veterinary team evaluates your pet’s weight status to help ensure they are healthy. In addition to weighing your pet, we assess their body conditioning score (BCS). We also palpate your pet at various points on their body and assign them a score from one to nine where one is extremely emaciated and nine is extremely obese. If your pet scores above a five, we will formulate a weight loss strategy to help them safely lose the extra pounds. If your pet is below a four, we may recommend further diagnostics to determine why they are underweight. 

#4: Dental disease causes significant problems for pets

Bad breath can be an indication that your pet has dental disease, and this problem can cause significant problems. When your pet eats, food particles are left in their mouth, attracting harmful bacteria. These bacteria form plaque on your pet’s teeth that hardens and becomes tartar. The bacteria also invade under your pet’s gumline to damage the structures supporting your pet’s teeth. Potential problems include bleeding gums, loose, painful teeth, tooth root infections, and missing teeth. In addition, the bacteria can enter your pet’s bloodstream and cause injury to their organs, including the heart, kidneys, and liver. During a wellness screening, we examine your pet’s mouth to determine if they have dental disease. If we find evidence that your pet is affected, we may recommend a professional veterinary dental cleaning to remove the harmful bacteria.

#5: Parasite diseases and infections can be problematic for pets

Heartworms are parasites transmitted by mosquitoes that can significantly damage your pet’s heart and lungs. Tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis, also can cause debilitating disease in pets. Our veterinary team recommends a yearly blood test to check for heartworms and tick-borne illnesses, and we can easily perform this test during your pet’s wellness screening. In addition, we can perform a fecal test to check for intestinal parasites that can cause issues such as weight loss, anemia, vomiting, diarrhea, and a poor hair coat. 

#6: Heart disease is known as a silent killer in pets

About 10% of dogs seen in primary care veterinary practices have heart disease, and this number increases to 75% in senior dogs. Cats also are affected by heart disease. These conditions are known as the silent killer in pets because signs don’t typically appear until significant damage to a pet’s heart has occurred. During a wellness screening, our veterinary team auscults your pet’s chest to detect heart arrhythmias and murmurs that may suggest a heart condition. If we discover an abnormality, we will recommend further diagnostics to determine what condition is causing the problem. 

#7: Kidney disease is prevalent in pets

About 30% of cats over the age of 10 have chronic kidney disease, and this condition also can be problematic for dogs. Early signs are easily dismissed or overlooked because they are mild, and more overt signs don’t typically appear until approximately two-thirds of a pet’s kidney tissue is destroyed. This leads to a poor prognosis for the pet. During a wellness screening, our veterinary team performs blood work and a urinalysis, which can detect abnormalities that indicate kidney disease so your pet’s condition can be addressed in the early stages to help improve their prognosis. 

Wellness screenings are an important part of your pet’s health care plan. If you would like to schedule a wellness screening for your pet, contact our Milford Animal Hospital team so we can help your pet live a long, healthy life.