Veterinary Exam

Your pet’s veterinary exam (or wellness exam) is the best way to evaluate their overall health, helping us detect any issues in their early stages to provide recommendations for maintaining their well-being. As a baseline, your pet should have wellness exams at least once per year, with the frequency increasing based on their age and overall health. To book your pet’s next wellness exam, call us at 604-427-2744.

How often do I need to bring my pet to the vet? 

Your pet’s age and overall health will determine how often they’ll need to see us. Your pet will require more frequent visits within their first weeks of life. Since they’re more likely to contract illnesses during this time, frequent checks allow us to stay on top of sudden changes. Senior pets should have visits at least twice per year, allowing us to treat any underlying health issues or diagnose early signs of a condition. However, most healthy adult pets will only need wellness exams once per year. 

What happens during a wellness exam? 

Wellness exams allow our team to assess your pet’s overall health. It is also an opportunity for you to share concerns about your pet or mention any changes you’ve noticed in your pet’s daily routines or recent behaviour. A significant component of your pet’s visit is the physical examination, which includes: 

• Assessing their weight 
• Inspecting their skin 
• Listening to their heart and lungs 
• Checking their eyesight 
• Examining their teeth 

What happens after the physical exam? 

After your pet’s physical, we use this information to inform recommendations we’ll make for their care. For example, lumps or bumps on your pet’s skin could need further diagnostic testing like bloodwork, to determine a root cause. If the culprit is food allergies, your pet could need a special diet. If we assess your pet’s weight and determine they’re obese, weight management could be recommended to help your pet achieve a healthy weight.