Don’t take your pet’s health for granted. Many pets don’t show any outward signs of illness until the disease has progressed. Yet, many diseases are treatable and manageable if detected early. The doctors at Apache Animal Hospital will perform wellness screens on your pet to check for developing problems before they become serious. Your pet’s breed, age and general overall health will determine what type of wellness screen will be performed.
Adult Wellness Screen:
Each year your pet should receive a complete physical examination. Pets that are between 1-7 years of age should also have an Adult Wellness Screen at least every 2 years. An Adult Wellness Screen consists of a blood test that checks several major organ functions such as the liver and kidneys. By performing routine wellness screens, our doctors can record and track your pet’s blood values and spot any abnormalities or trends sooner, often before serious diseases can develop.
Performing routine wellness screens also will assist your doctor when making recommendations regarding medication for your pet. Many medications can have detrimental side effects if your pet has an undiagnosed problem such as kidney or liver disease.
Senior Wellness Screen:
As your pet ages, he or she will need more frequent examinations (at least twice a year) and additional tests. Pets that are 8 years old and older will receive a Senior Wellness Screen. Certain breeds of dogs (Great Danes, St. Bernards, Boxers) age faster than other breeds and should start Senior Wellness Screens at the age of 5.
The Senor Wellness Screen is a group of blood and urine tests that give an in depth look at your pet’s health. The Senior Wellness Screen helps detect:
- Diabetes
- Liver disease
- Thyroid disease
- Kidney disease
- Other metabolic diseases
The twice a year physical examination will help the doctor keep on top of your pet’s changing condition. Since pets age approximately 7 times faster than humans, health problems can progress much more rapidly. Conditions such as heart murmurs, abdominal tumors, cataracts and arthritis can found during these examinations and the sooner they are found, the easier they are to manage.
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