Can you put off your pet’s health check?
We do get it, you know. Most of us vets were poor students at some point, and understand that money doesn’t grow on trees. Ideally our beloved pets would have regular health checks, every 6 to 12 months depending on their age and any medical conditions, but that’s not always possible when funds are limited and could be used for other things, like fixing the car, school fees, rent, your own medical expenses, etc.
Most people just do not know when something is wrong with their pet, they think it’s ‘healthy’ and are surprised or horrified or distrustful when they do get to a vet clinic only to be told there is actually something that needs addressing. Most don’t know what to look for, but many aren’t looking at all. So how can you check your pet and what can you look for to determine whether or not you can put that regular health check off by a month or so.
These at-home checks are not a substitute for a clinical exam by a registered veterinarian, and are not intended to be. They are simply an idea as to whether you can wait a little while longer before that vet check, or really need to prioritize your pet’s health asap. Always take the advice of your treating veterinarian over anything you read on the internet, including this!
These guides are for dogs and cats, and I’m going to start at the front, and work towards the back of the animal. This is not a complete exam, just a list of things I’d reasonably expect someone to be able to notice at home, if they know where to look. It is also not going to provide you a diagnosis based on these findings, that’s what a vet visit is for.
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