Your First Exam

Your pet’s first exam is the most important one. The initial visit includes a complete history and physical exam, detailed review of the findings, and recommendation of any needed treatments. This first visit generally takes about 1-1.5 hours to be sure that we have plenty of time to get to know your animal and to answer all of your questions.

A complete history is more than just a list of what diet your pet eats and any past medical problems. It also includes who feeds her and where she eats. How many litter boxes are there and where are they located? Where does he go for a walk? Where does she sleep? Are there other animals in the household, including human ones? Are there any changes or new stresses? This information is important in determining the cause of any existing or future problem your pet may have.

Our physical exams include a complete nose-to-tail inspection of all the major organ systems. We check the nose and mouth for signs of respiratory and dental problems, ears, eyes and lymph nodes, and listen to the lungs and heart. Abdominal palpation is done to inspect the digestive tract, liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder etc. The skin and body condition, and general attitude are all noted. We combine this information with the complete history to determine your pet’s health needs.

Once we have completed the history and physical exam, we will review the findings and discuss treatment options and costs with you. Together we will determine the best course of action. You are an integral part of this process!

The plan may include a number of diagnostics or treatments. For example, we may recommend vaccines, checking a fecal sample for parasites, collecting blood and urine samples, x-rays, medications, changes in diet, or other means to enhance the overall health of your pet.

Our goal is to provide the best possible care for your pet in your home. Please let us know how we can improve our service.