Making the Most of Your Time with Your Pet

Once a year, you should take the opportunity to learn more about your pet’s health. Dr. Mike with the Animal Hospital of Largo points out that annual physical exams are immensely beneficial, not only for your furry family members but also for you by enabling an open dialogue with your veterinarian about your pet’s healthcare plan. Whether you’d like to consider your pet’s annual physical exam a Chrismahanukwanzakah gift or a New Year’s resolution, the holiday season can act as a great marker to remind you that it’s time for Shadow, Chance and Sassy to see their doctor.
Preparing your pet (and yourself) for an annual physical exam is easy when you communicate with the veterinarian’s office about your pet’s nuances or your concerns. Dr. Mike encourages you to select a veterinarian that lets you decide whether you will be present during the exam, depending on what works better for your pet. Communicating with the office beforehand also allows you to make necessary preparations for the visit, whether those involve filling out paperwork (which can be downloaded) or collecting a stool sample in advance. Before leaving home, double-check that dog collars are snug and cat carriers are locked to avoid potential mishaps, either in the car or at the office. Being properly prepared will ensure a smooth visit.
At the office, the veterinarian will examine your pet from nose to toes, inside and out, disclosing the basics of your pet’s health while providing a baseline for year-to-year changes. An annual physical exam catalogues current temperature, pulse, respiration, dental, weight details and more, providing vital insight into gradual but potentially detrimental changes that may go unnoticed at home. Many of these measurements are compared not only with the individual’s records, but also with its breed’s averages. As a result, you’ll have a greater understanding of how to optimize your pet’s health and prolong their life.
With annual veterinary visits, you’ll have tangible, up-to-date records of your pet’s health, enabling you to formulate a plan for the future with ease. With an accurate pet health history you can work with your veterinarian to efficiently customize your pet’s care while also learning about which pet-related issues are common to your region and how recently introduced products may better suit your pet. As Dr. Mike highlights, animals’ instinctual response to illness is to mask it by behaving as normally as possible; thus, annual physical exams give pet owners the chance to treat undetectable issues before it’s too late.
Whatever time of year you decide to bring in your pet for an annual physical exam is the best time of year. Animal Hospital of Largo is ready to check that your pet is on track and that you’re caught up on the latest developments. However, Dr. Mike urges you to appreciate the importance of an annual physical exam no matter where you decide to get it done: “when we preserve the medicine and all of the benefits of annual physical exams, everyone wins.” To learn more about Animal Hospital of Largo, from annual physical exams to their use of modern veterinarian methodologies, please visit them on the Web at www.ahlargo.com. If your pet is due for an exam, call (727) 595-2287 to schedule an appointment today.