Hey! What is an exam anyway?!

Mrs. Chambers: "Why does Fluffy need an exam?  All she needs is her vaccine..What is the exam anyway??"

Questions like this one come quite frequently at many animal hospitals and especially at Oronoque Animal Hospital.  Since our clients are so important to us we want to define what is involved in a physical examination and why it is so meaningful to have your pets examined annually!

The wellness checkup is a critically important part your pet’s yearly exam. All body systems should be assessed to check for any abnormalities. During the physical exam the doctor also checks a pet's weight, muscle tone, and joint range of motion, and measures the animal's current status against past exam findings as well as norms for the breed, age, and gender.

The following list may help owners to better understand and prepare for your next exam!

Mouth-

• Signs of periodontal disease in teeth and gums
• Bad breath
• Tooth wear
• Fractured teeth
• Plaque accumulation patterns
• Tongue coat and color
• Gum hydration and color

Neck- 

• Irregularities or changes in size of lymph nodes and thyroid gland
• Cervical range of motion
• Muscle tension from collar

Eyes- 

• Signs of disease
• Discharge
• Squinting or tearing
• Abnormal movement or reaction to light
• Clouding of the lens
• Iris health and irregularities
• Eyelid, corneal, and sclera (the white part) health
• Changes in vision

Ears-

• Signs of an ear infection (pain, tenderness, redness, swelling, yeasty smell, discharge)
• Excessive wax
• Color of the pinna (flappy part)

Heart-

• Weak or abnormal heart sounds
• An abnormally fast or slow rate
• Irregular beats or murmurs

Lungs-

• Wheezing, crackling, or other abnormal lung sounds

Abdomen-

• Any irregularities in the margins of the liver, spleen, kidneys, and bladder
• Masses or tumors
• Thickened intestines
• Mammary chain abnormalities

Base of tail-

• Abnormalities in anal glands
• Fecal mats
• Evidence of soft stools
• Growths
• Parasites, like tapeworm segments and flea dirt

Legs-

• Limited range of motion in all limbs
• Signs of pain or discomfort
• Grinding sound in joints

Coat, Skin, Nails-

• Poor overall quality of coat
• Lumps and bumps
• Warts and skin tags
• Rashes
• Areas of hair loss or excessive dander
• Matted or saliva-stained fur
• Fleas or ticks
• Calluses
• Ingrown, overgrown, or flakey toenails
• Dehydration

There are several common tests that are also performed during wellness checkups! See below to learn more about these diagnostics and why they are important.

• Complete blood count (CBC)-​The CBC gives information on hydration status, anemia, infection, the blood's clotting ability, and the ability of your pet's immune system to respond. It provides a detailed look at the blood itself and reveals problems such as anemia or the presence of infection.
• Urinalysis-​The urinalysis is used to assess the overall health of your pet's urinary tract, including the kidneys and bladder, and to check for other health indicators such as glucose regulation and liver function. A complete urinalysis measures the function of the nephrons in the kidneys and gives information about your pet's metabolic and fluid status. The test is also used to evaluate substances in the urine that might indicate an underlying disease process.
• Thyroid screen-​The thyroid screen helps diagnose thyroid disease, which is an especially common ailment in older cats and dogs. T4 (thyroxine) is a thyroid hormone. Decreased levels of thyroid hormones often signal hypothyroidism in dogs, while high levels indicate hyperthyroidism, commonly diagnosed in cats. Performing a complete thyroid panel is important, as measuring just a T4 may not reveal an underlying thyroid problem.
• Glaucoma screen-​Glaucoma testing measures the pressure in each of your pet's eyes quickly and painlessly. This is an important test because undetected glaucoma can lead to permanent blindness.
• Retinal exam​-This eye test is used to check for evidence of problems deep in the eyes by viewing the structures beyond the lens, through the pupil. The retinas should be healthy and there should be no signs of bleeding, degeneration, inflammation, or detachment.
• Blood pressure measurement-This test checks your pet for hypertension (high blood pressure). Like humans, pets with hypertension are at significantly increased risk for kidney problems, heart disease, blindness, and other complications. Cats are especially prone to high blood pressure.
• X-rays-Radiographs (x-rays), if indicated, can also be helpful as part of a pet wellness checkup. If your vet finds abnormalities on physical examination, digital x-rays may be needed to identify the underlying problem. Chest x-rays, for example, can reveal certain things about the heart and lungs.
  Abdominal x-rays can be used to assess the liver and kidneys. X-rays best define problems within the skeletal system, such as arthritis and bone tumors. Since many vet clinics don't have digital x-ray equipment and their x-rays still involve radiation, I don't typically order them unless the results of other tests indicate a potential problem requiring further investigation.
• SNAP 4Dx Plus or Accuplex4 (dogs)-These tests check for tick-borne illnesses, including heartworm, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. They should be done once or even twice a year for dogs living in areas where ticks are a problem.
• FeLV/FIV testing (cats)-When it makes sense (like if you’ve just rescued a kitty or your cat has never been tested), these tests are run to check for the presence of the feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency viruses.
  These viruses can suppress the immune system and lead to secondary infections, anemia, and even cancer. Early identification of viral positive cats gives you the best chance of managing infections optimally.

(Information provided by dvm360.)