Pet Wellness Exams: Everything You Need to Know

Staying on top of your pet’s health includes feeding a balanced diet, encouraging appropriate exercise, and providing mental stimulation on a daily basis. It also involves scheduling regular pet wellness exams for your dog or cat so your veterinarian can catch potential health problems early on.

“Regular wellness examinations are important because we can often detect any medical issues early enough to intervene,” says Dwight Alleyne, DVM, a JustAnswer Vet Expert. “Common issues that are seen on wellness exams include skin conditions, dental disease, orthopedic issues, and heart conditions.”

Here’s everything you need to know about pet wellness exams, including how to prepare, what to expect during your appointment, and next steps to take.

How Often Should You Take Your Dog or Cat to the Vet?

All dogs and cats should have a pet health checkup at least once a year. However, the frequency of pet wellness exams depends on the individual pet, their age, their lifestyle, whether they have an underlying health condition, and other factors. For example, “older pets need more frequent assessment,” says Melissa Brookshire, DVM at North River Enterprises, a premium pet food consulting company.

In general, here’s how often pets need a wellness visit:

• Puppies and kittens: Your puppy or kitten will have a monthly wellness exam for the first 16-20 weeks of life before switching to once-a-year checkups.
• Adult dogs and cats: If your dog or cat is otherwise healthy, they’ll have an annual wellness exam.
• Senior dogs and cats: Senior dogs and cats typically require exams twice a year or more, depending on their health status.

Dogs who hunt or spend a lot of time outdoors may need more frequent parasite assessment with fecal exams, Dr. Brookshire says. Dogs who spend time in doggy daycare or in a boarding kennel will require different vaccines than dogs who never leave their yard or interact with other dogs, she adds, and these vaccines may be required more than once yearly.

Cats who spend time outdoors have different risk factors than indoor cats, Dr. Brookshire continues. This may also impact the frequency of recommended wellness visits. “Currently, it is recommended that all pet parents keep their cats indoors at all times (or in enclosed ‘catios’) to avoid interaction with wild birds because of the risk of [bird flu in cats], which is potentially fatal to them,” she says.

Older pets, starting around 7 or 8 years of age, should have wellness exams at least every six months to provide the best preventative care, Dr. Alleyne says.

Pre-Visit: How to Prepare for a Pet Health Checkup

There are a few steps pet parents can take ahead of time to prepare for their pet’s wellness checkup.

Pet parents should try to bring in stool and urine samples from their pet to allow for testing, Dr. Alleyne says. Check with your veterinarian to ensure they’re okay with this and ask about ideal conditions for urine or stool sample collection.

Pet parents should also bring in any prior records of medical treatment and test results, he suggests.

You can also put together a list of questions for your veterinarian ahead of time, such as:

• What preventative measures should I take at home to keep my pet healthy?
• What diet do you recommend feeding? 
• What supplements should I give? 
• What type of environment is best to enhance my pet’s health?
• Is my pet in ideal body and muscle condition? If not, what can I do at home to help them get to their ideal body condition?
• Is [X] behavior normal? (Talk to your veterinarian about any changes in your pet’s behavior, mood, or personality, as those can be signs that something is wrong.)

What to Expect During the Pet Wellness Exam

Your veterinarian will begin by obtaining a thorough medical history. They will gather as much information as possible about your pet’s normal environment, diet, routine, and behavior. “If you have noticed anything unusual, it is best to point it out before the exam,” Dr. Brookshire adds. “Because you are with your pet every day, you are likely to notice subtle changes that could be a sign of something that needs to be addressed.” Your veterinarian will also assess your pet’s body weight, body condition score, and muscle condition score. This information will help them develop an overall picture of your pet’s health.  

Next, your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam, looking for subtle indicators of underlying disease. They will listen to your pet’s heart and lungs and check your pet’s pulses to evaluate the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. They will palpate (feel) the abdomen, looking for enlarged organs and/or masses. They will examine your pet’s eyes and ears, look inside the mouth, and check your pet’s teeth carefully. They will move your pet’s limbs around to look for pain, swelling, and/or stiffness. Your veterinarian will also assess the condition of your pet’s skin and coat, feeling for any lumps or bumps on the skin, Dr. Brookshire says. 

Your veterinarian may conduct diagnostic tests during your pet’s annual checkup, such as:

• Fecal parasite testing
• Bloodwork, including a complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry profile
• Urinalysis 
• Heartworm testing
• Tick-borne disease testing for dogs
• Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) testing for cats

Your pet’s medical history, physical exam findings, and diagnostic testing each provide valuable information for your veterinarian. With this information, your veterinarian can evaluate your pet’s health and recommend further care as needed. 

Pet Wellness Exam Cost

The cost of pet wellness exams can vary greatly. Some factors that influence a pet wellness exam cost include: location, type of practice (an upscale, private practice will cost more than a shelter wellness visit), and tests or vaccines performed during the visit. 

Here are some cost estimates that factor into the equation:

• A routine veterinary exam can cost between $50 and $150, not including vaccines or diagnostic testing. 
• Vaccines typically range from $25 to $60 each, depending on the vaccine. 
• Diagnostic tests can range from $40 to $250, depending on the specific test your veterinarian recommends.

You might be wondering, does pet insurance cover wellness exams? “Pet insurance coverage can vary between companies, but when [wellness exam] coverage is offered, it is usually at an additional cost,” Dr. Alleyne says. If you’re researching wellness coverage as part of a pet insurance plan, make comparisons between plan options and determine if the pet insurance that covers wellness exams is worth it.

Post-Visit: Reminders for Pet Parents After the Pet Wellness Exams

If your pet received a vaccine, talk to the veterinary staff about warning signs of a vaccine reaction. If your veterinarian prescribed medication for a problem they saw during the pet wellness exam, ask any follow-up questions you have about administering medication before you leave.

Once your appointment has ended and it’s time to check out, consider booking your pet’s next wellness visit before leaving the veterinarian’s office. Routine anesthetic procedures such as spay and neuter or dental cleanings can be scheduled also, Dr. Alleyne says.

Regular wellness checks are crucial for maintaining your pet’s health and longevity, Dr. Brookshire says. If your veterinarian puts your pet on a treatment plan, you should continuously monitor your pet for any changes. Keeping a daily health journal and setting reminders on your smartphone can help you keep track of your pet’s condition and medication doses — and will ensure you don’t forget about your pet’s next appointment!