Monthly at Home Pet Examinations:

Should your pet have a monthly physical examination? Yes, and you can do it yourself at home.

Pets age at a much faster rate than we do. This can cause health problems to seemingly reach crisis levels overnight. In reality, if you know what signs to look for and how to give your pet a good physical examination at home every month, you can avert many medical dilemmas.

Get your pet used to being handled from the time it's a puppy or kitten. Start at the head and work your way systematically over the entire body. Look for changes- lumps, bumps smells, weight fluctuations- up or down. The ears should be clean and not waxy or inflamed. The teeth-white and the breath- not offensive. Eyes-bright and shinny. Coat-clean, no mats, fleas or ticks, and no dandruff. Your pet should move with ease. Having difficulty rising or climbing stairs is not normal, even for our older pets. If you do find a problem or just a change that gives you concern, make an appointment to see your veterinarian.