Complete Health Exam

Many pet owners know the importance and value of annual vaccinations for their pets, however many do not understand the value of a physical exam. Most assume that the vaccinations are the main reason for a trip to the veterinary clinic each year and that the physical exam just goes along with those vaccinations. Some veterinarians don't even perform a physical examination at the time of vaccination. However, the physical examination should be seen as the cornerstone of your pet's annual trip to the vet. The vaccinations should be given because the physical exam is favorable (i.e. the pet is healthy). This article will discuss the importance of a complete health exam (i.e. physical exam) and what exactly the veterinarian is looking for.

There are three main reasons to have a physical examination conducted at least annually for your pets (and for yourself!). These reasons are: 1) To evaluate the overall health of your pet. 2) To identify potential problem areas and recommend

measures to prevent diseases or illnesses from occurring. 3) To identify signs of diseases or illness and recommend additional diagnostic testing with the goal of halting progression and ensuring as high a quality of life as possible for the pet. Each of these points will be explored below.

The whole purpose of the physical exam is to determine the overall health status of your pet. A year in the life of a dog is not the same as a year in the life of a human. Thus, the aging process occurs much faster in animals than in humans. By having a physical examination performed at least annually for your pet the veterinarian can help the owner to monitor the aging process. The ultimate goal of this monitoring is to identify problems early so those problems can be taken care of promptly.

Have you ever heard the saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? Well, this saying couldn't be truer when it comes to your pet. Many diseases and illnesses are preventable. This means that with proper care, certain conditions can be virtually eliminated. For example, consider heartworm disease. Heartworms are 100% preventable. By successfully giving a monthly heartworm pill, heartworm disease can be avoided. A physical examination can identify problem areas. Once these areas have been identified, recommendations for the prevention of more serious diseases can be made.

Identification of problems before they are serious is of the utmost importance for people and for animals. Finding signs of illness early in the course of the disease is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment. In some cases, finding signs of illness early can be the difference between life and death. For example, consider cancer. For many types of cancer, early detection, removal, and identification of tissue type are critical for successful treatment. If treatment is delayed, cancer can progress and spread to become a virtually unmanageable condition that will likely result in the death of the pet. A physical examination can help to identify signs of something more serious. The result can be the recommendation of diagnostic tests and treatment that can help to improve the life of your pet.

As you can see, a good physical exam is essential to the overall health of your pet. Annual physical exams are necessary to maintain a high level of health for your pet. Now that you know why your pet needs a complete physical exam we will discuss the process of a physical exam as well as what the veterinarian looks for during a routine physical.

During a physical examination, the veterinarian will systematically examine all of the major organ systems, one at a time. While some of the structures listed below are easily examined because of their exterior location, others may be more difficult to examine because of their internal location. More invasive procedures for examination of these internal structures may or may not be conducted based on the discretion of the veterinarian. In addition, signs of problems with internal organs may have outward signs. The veterinarian will look for these. The main organ systems, their components, and what is examined during a physical are listed below.

Gastrointestinal (GI) system

Mouth, including teeth, stomach, small and large intestines, and rectum. Examination of the mouth, teeth, and gums paying attention to odor, color of gums, presence of tartar, calculus, or gingivitis, and presence of masses or ulcerations. Abdominal palpation (feeling what is inside the abdomen) will be done, paying attention to size, tenderness/pain, fluid, gas, thickening, masses, etc. Examination of the rectum noting structure, presence of masses, etc. will be done.

Immune system

Bone marrow, spleen, thymus, mucus membranes, and skin. (Skin and mucus membranes are the exterior lines of defense and are often considered as part of non-specific immune defenses. The bone marrow, spleen, and thymus are responsible for production and maintenance of cells involved in the immune system.) Examination of the 

skin looking for masses, bruising, lesions, thickening, and presence of parasites (fleas and lice or signs of mange) will be done.

Neurological system (nervous)

Brain, spinal cord, and all associated nerves. Examination of animal walking paying attention to overall balance, foot placement, posture, etc. Also, an examination of the eyes (discussed below) and tongue motions will be done.

Circulatory system

Heart and all blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries). The examination includes looking at jugular veins for enlargement and palpation of pulses of vessels in the inner thigh area. Listening to the heart for murmurs, irregular rhythms, etc.

Lymphatic system

Lymph nodes. Sometimes considered as part of the circulatory system or immune system. Examination of external lymph nodes for size and symmetry.

Respiratory system

Nose (nasal passages) and lungs. Examination of nose for signs of discharge, symmetrical airflow, etc. Listening to the lungs for consistent airflow patterns, fluid, harshness, etc.

Special senses

Sight (eyes) and hearing (ears). Sometimes considered as part of the neurological system. Examination of the eyes includes looking at pupil size, eyelid structure, and presence of ocular discharge. Examination of the ears includes looking for thickness, excessive wax, hair, or debris, signs of parasites (ear mites, ticks), masses, redness, foul odor, etc.

Musculoskeletal system

Muscles and bones. Palpation of all major muscle groups feeling for symmetry and tone. Palpation of joints for pain, swelling, range of motion, etc. will be done.

Urinary system (excretory system)

Kidneys, bladder, and associated structures. Abdominal palpation for size and texture of kidneys and bladder as well as the presence of stones within the bladder will be done.

Endocrine system (hormone regulation)

Includes all organs that produce hormones such as the thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, ovaries, testicles, etc. This can be hard to evaluate because most are internal. Signs of endocrine problems are often uncovered by gathering information from the owner and considering the overall condition of the animal. (Testicles are covered below.)

Reproductive system

External and internal structures include testicles, penis, vulva, uterus, and ovaries. Palpation of testicles for size, symmetry, and masses will be done. Examination of the vulva includes looking for discharge, structure, etc. Abdominal palpation will be done to detect an enlarged uterus. 

As you can see, the complete physical exam covers all of the major systems of the body paying special attention to changes that may or may not indicate illness or disease. The cost and how you are charged for a physical exam will vary widely by the veterinary clinic. Physical exam costs will typically be billed in one of three ways:

1. The office visit charge includes the cost of the physical exam
2. There is a separate physical exam and office visit charge
3. No office visit or physical exam charge but an increased vaccination fee. Regardless of how it is billed, a physical exam will typically run anywhere between $10 and $50. Again, this varies by the clinic and is often a reflection of the quality of the exam given and the amount of time spent. 

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of your regular veterinarian. Please do not hesitate to contact your regular veterinarian if you have questions regarding your pet.