Vet 2025 Guide: Preparing for Your Dog or Cat’s Wellness Exam 🐶🐱

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc – Wellness exams are foundational in preventive pet care. Here's how to prepare effectively, know what to expect, and leverage Ask A Vet tools to ensure a stress-free, productive visit.

📘 Table of Contents

• Why Wellness Exams Matter
• How Often to Schedule
• How to Prepare
• What Happens During the Exam
• Common Diagnostic Tests
• Vaccinations & Preventives
• How Ask A Vet Can Help
• Conclusion

1. Why Wellness Exams Matter 🩺

Wellness visits are proactive evaluations when your pet is healthy—designed to catch early signs of disease and ensure optimal long-term care :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}. They’re essential for preventing illnesses before they become serious :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

2. How Often to Schedule by Life Stage

• Puppies & kittens: Every 3–4 weeks until 5 months for vaccines, deworming, and growth tracking :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
• Adults: Typically once a year, but twice annually for pets over 7 (dogs) or 9 (cats) :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
• Seniors: Bi-annual checkups recommended to monitor age-related conditions :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.

3. Before the Appointment: Preparations ✅

3.1 Bring Detailed Pet Info

• List of food, treats, medications, supplements, lifestyle habits, and recent behavior changes :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
• Medical records (vaccinations, past illnesses, medications).
• Fresh stool sample in a sealed container, especially for parasite testing :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.

3.2 Reduce Stress for the Visit

• Use a familiar carrier or leash. Keep carriers out at home with toys/treats to ease anxiety :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
• Spray with synthetic pheromone (Feliway or Adaptil) for calmer travel.
• Feed light before the exam if advised—avoid full stomach for travel.

3.3 Prepare Questions Ahead

• Ask about nutrition, dental health, weight, vaccines, parasite prevention, joint care, or behavior.
• Write down and bring these questions to ensure a focused discussion.

4. During the Exam: What to Expect

1. Lifestyle Review: Vet discusses diet, activity, behavior, and home environment :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
2. Comprehensive Physical Exam: Head-to-tail check of eyes, ears, mouth, coat, skin, lymph nodes, heart, lungs, abdomen, joints, and weight :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
3. Behavioral Assessment: Vet observes temperament and comfort handling.
4. Nutrition & Weight: Body condition scoring and nutrition plan discussed.

5. Routine Diagnostic Tests

• Fecal exam: Parasite screening from stool sample :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
• Blood tests: CBC/chemistry and thyroid screening based on age/history :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.
• Heartworm & tick-borne disease tests: Recommended for dogs in endemic areas :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
• Urinalysis: Especially for seniors or pets with urinary issues :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.
• Blood pressure: Important for senior pets or those with kidney/heart disease.

6. Vaccinations & Parasite Prevention

Vaccination schedules depend on age and exposure:

• Kittens: FVRCP at 9, 12, 15 weeks; FeLV if outdoor :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.
• Puppies: Distemper/parvo/lepto/kennel cough at 8–14 weeks :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.
• Adults: Core vaccines—rabies, distemper/parvo (dogs), FVRCP/rabies (cats), plus risk-based vaccines.

Parasite control—fleas, ticks, heartworm—often reviewed and prescribed during visit :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.

7. How Ask A Vet Supports You

• Pre-visit planning: Chat with vets to confirm what to bring and ask about clinic protocols.
• Reminder tools: Woopf reminders for exam appointments and preventive care.
• Follow-up guidance: Upload post-exam lab results or questions and get personalized advice.
• Product recommendations: Purrz suggests calming aids, supplements, and sample tools for exam prep.
• Telemedicine: Consult remotely for health concerns identified during the visit.

8. Conclusion

Wellness exams are core to lifelong preventive health. Preparing ahead ensures effective, low-stress visits and empowers proactive care. With Ask A Vet, every vet visit—from puppy to senior—is smooth, supportive, and tailored. Here's to your pet’s vibrant health in 2025 and beyond! 🐾❤️

Warm regards,
Dr Duncan Houston BVSc
Founder, Ask A Vet Blog
Visit AskAVet.com & download the Ask A Vet app for pre-visit planning and peace-of-mind vet support.