Did you know that our vets love it when things get physical? We’re referring, of course, to the importance of a good physical examination for assessing your older pet’s general health, comfort and condition! Whilst every pet gets a nose-to-tail assessment, here are the four things we focus on when examining a middle-aged to older pet:

Dental Health

Unfortunately, dental disease can affect not only your pet’s quality of life and comfort but also their general organ health. To assess your pet’s dental health, we will smell their breath (not our favourite job, admittedly!), palpate around their face and jaw, and then assess their mouth for any gum swelling or inflammation, brown calculus build-up, exposed tooth roots, or fractured or missing teeth.

Heart health

With mitral valve disease (one of the most common heart problems seen in dogs) occurring mainly in middle-aged to older pets, we are particularly vigilant about checking the hearts of older pets. We will count the pet’s heart and pulse rate and assess the sounds and rhythm of their heart for any abnormalities.

Joint comfort

Arthritis is widespread in older pets due to general wear and tear . We also see it in younger to middle-aged pets who have suffered from a previous joint injury or developmental problem (such as hip dysplasia). As part of your pet’s physical examination, we will check their general mobility and assess their joints’ comfort and range of motion. We will also check for any muscle loss that could suggest a particular area’s reduced function.

Lump checks

Unfortunately, older pets are more likely to develop lumps and bumps, some of which may be a worry and require prompt treatment. We’ll check in your pet’s mouth and feel over their body (including examining their lymph nodes), but it helps if you can show us any lumps you may have felt while patting your pet, too.

With a thorough hands-on assessment, our vets can handle your pet’s general health and condition with care!