Routine veterinary appointments are a key part of responsible pet care. Even if your pet isn’t sick, it’s important to schedule these yearly visits to detect and prevent disease and take steps to keep your pet healthy. Here’s what services your pet may receive at their routine vet visits that will help them lead a long and healthy life. 

5 Services Vets Routinely Perform 

1. Vaccinations

Vaccinations keep your pet safe from diseases transmitted by insects and other animals. After your pet’s initial vaccinations, your veterinarian will provide boosters every one to three years to keep the immunizations effective. The vet may suggest both core and non-core vaccines – that is, those that are necessary and those that are only recommended based on your pet’s health and lifestyle.

2. Checking Your Pet’s Vital Signs

The veterinarian will check your pet’s weight, listen to their heart, and examine their skin, coat, eyes, and ears for any abnormalities. If your pet is overweight or underweight, the vet may recommend changing your pet care routine to include an appropriate level of exercise and different food. 

3. Offering Pet Care Tips

Wondering how to get your dog to stop barking at the mail carrier or your cat to stop scratching the furniture? Your pet’s routine wellness exam is the perfect time to ask for pet care tips. From behavioral issues to health care, your vet is a valuable resource for learning more about keeping your pet healthy and living together in harmony. 

4. Laboratory Testing

Sometimes your veterinarian may need to collect a urine, stool, or blood sample for laboratory tests. These tests can provide early detection of diseases and conditions like high cholesterol, diabetes, and infections, and are particularly useful for identifying health problems in senior pets. Your vet will let you know and provide instructions in advance if they’ll need your help collecting the specimen. If your vet’s office has on-site laboratory testing, you can get results while you wait.

5. Checking Your Pet’s Dental Health

Healthy teeth and gums enable your pet to get the nutrition they need to thrive. Your vet will look at your pet’s teeth and gums for signs of decay or gingivitis, and they may suggest you schedule a dental cleaning. They can also show you how to include brushing your pet’s teeth in your regular pet care routine to keep their teeth strong.  

Looking to schedule your pet’s next appointment? Kapolei Pet Hospital in Kapolei, HI, offers quality services in a friendly, bilingual office. With the latest technology on site, like radiography, diagnostics, and blood testing, as well as Saturday hours, this clinic makes pet care convenient. They offer state-of-the-art treatment options like stem cell therapy and are committed to keeping their services affordable. Call (808) 462-8040 to schedule an appointment or send a Facebook message if you have questions.