Your pet’s annual health check is much more than a routine visit; it is a vital preventative screening tool.

Because cats and dogs instinctively mask discomfort and cannot communicate when they feel "off," a professional clinical exam is designed to detect the subtle, early signs of illness that are easily missed at home.

By evaluating your cat or dog from nose to tail, we establish a health baseline that helps us to identify new clinical signs and prevent manageable conditions from escalating into complex medical issues.

The Clinical Examination

Our veterinarians systematically review all major body systems to assess your pet's overall condition and identify underlying changes.

1. Comprehensive Physical Assessment

   We perform a thorough evaluation of your pet's physical health, focusing on each organ system individually, including:

   
   

   • Cardiorespiratory Health: Auscultation of the heart and lungs to screen for murmurs, arrhythmias, or respiratory changes.

     
     

   • Dental & Oral Cavity: Inspection of the teeth and gums for signs of periodontal disease, inflammation, missing teeth, fractures or resorptive lesions.

     
     

   • Joints & Mobility: Gentle palpation to check for localised discomfort, swelling, or early signs of osteoarthritis.

     
     

   • Skin & Ears: Examination for dermatological issues, parasites, or chronic ear canal inflammation.

     
     

2. Weight and Body Condition Tracking

   Weight management is a critical component of our pets' health. With the wide variety of commercial food available, along with the temptation to feed our pets human food, the daily calorie budget is easy to blow!

   
   

   During the visit, we record your pet's weight and determine their current Body Condition Score (BCS). Tracking these metrics over time allows us to monitor for early indicators of underlying diseases, such as endocrine conditions, kidney or heart disease, and cancer. We also assess the impact of body condition on mobility and how it impacts their quality of life.

   
   

3. Establishing a Health Baseline

   Every pet is an individual. By recording specific clinical data when your pet is healthy, we establish a personalised "normal." Having this historical baseline on file makes it significantly easier to detect, interpret, and treat subtle deviations or future illnesses with greater certainty.

   
   

4. Tailored Preventative Medicine

   A health check is also an opportunity to ensure your pet’s specific protective measures match their current lifestyle.

   
   

   • Individualised Vaccine Guidance: Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we review available vaccinations to determine exactly which protocols are medically indicated for your pet. This decision is based on their specific environment, risk of exposure, and current health status. For those who prefer to monitor antibody level in lieu of vaccination, we can provide this service at a comparable cost to vaccination.

     
     

   • Microchip Verification: We verify that your pet’s microchip is functioning correctly and confirm that your contact details are accurately recorded in our database. We can cross-check registration on the national Companion Animal Register. This remains the most reliable safeguard for reuniting you if they ever go missing.

Regular examinations allow us to intervene early, often expanding treatment options and improving long-term outcomes. If you have noticed any subtle changes in your pet's appetite or activity levels at home, please mention them to our team during your appointment.