Veterinarians do not consider the vaccination portion of the wellness visit to be the most important part of the visit. Vaccinations do protect patients, especially juvenile animals, but even indoor animals who never contact other animals still need to be examined on an annual basis. Many times veterinarians can detect early problems before an animal will ever show signs of disease. These may be detectable by blood screening, examination, or a combination of the two. In order to maintain your pet’s health, always bring your pet in for wellness examinations, even if they seem well. Diseases a veterinarian may be able to detect that are not readily apparent include:
- Dental Infection or Abcesses
- Liver Infection or Disease
- Kidney Infection or Disease
- Unexplained Weight Loss
- Cardiac Murmurs
- Pancreatic Disease
- Skin Infections Beneath the Fur
- Parasite Infestations
Many of these conditions have no signs or symptoms until disease is so severe it is difficult to treat. Early detection is very important to increase the likelihood of successful treatment.