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Why Are Wellness Exams Important?


I can’t tell you how many times I have heard a client tell me that their pet has never been to the vet or, at least, not since their first round of vaccines or spay/neuter appointment. Every time I hear this, a little part of me dies inside. While I know that most clients love their pets dearly and correlate not seeing a veterinarian as some measure of success toward their efforts of caring for their pet’s overall health, more times than not, there is a lot they are missing.

What some folks fail to understand, is that by nature, most animals instinctively hide their illness, pain and discomfort. It isn’t until the disease or illness has been left to cause unchecked havoc on our patients, are we as veterinarian, then called in to try and help. Sometimes, we can help, other times it is too late.

I don’t think the blame lies solely on the pet parent. Many times, we as veterinarians rush through our appointments (certainly not intentionally). We perform our exams, make recommendations, mark in our charts and schedule your next appointment. We have been scheduled a full day of appointments, surgery and walk-in emergencies that make it so that we have a very finite time with you. There is simply not enough time during our 15-minute appointment to explain why it is so important for you to follow our recommendation for annual exams, heartworm and other preventative therapies, immunizations, oral health evaluations and so on. We simply hope and pray that you do. (Why Pick A Mobile Vet)</