"A NOSE TO TOES EXAM"

We believe at Sechelt Animal Hospital, the most important aspect of health care and preventive medicine is a thorough physical exam, high quality nutrition and love and attention.

“You can miss more for not looking, than not knowing” Otto Roldoskto.

When you arrive your pet will be weighed and the weight will be recorded in the file. 

In the examination room the Doctor will observe your pet as it moves about the room or the exam table. You will be asked if you have any questions or concerns about your pet. If your pet's weight has changed significantly since the previous visit this will be brought to your attention. Significant changes in weight can signal health or diet problems. Once concerns have been noted the physical examination begins. The Doctor usually starts by examining the coat and skin. This gives the Doctor a chance to quietly handle your pet and  increase its confidence in a strange situation. The Doctor will note any problems such as poor hair coat, lesions, lumps or parasites. Grooming may be discussed at this time. Next to be checked are the muscles, bones and joints. The nails and feet are also inspected. The lymph nodes are checked for any sign of enlargement. At the head end the eyes, ears, nose,  and teeth are thoroughly examined. It will soon become obvious if you have been brushing your pet's teeth! At the rear end the anus, anal glands, prepuce/penis or vulva are checked for signs of trouble. The chest is listened to with a stethoscope. This lets the Doctor hear the heart and lung sounds. The quality of the pulse is assessed. Each room is equipped with an ECG machine that can provide our doctors with precise information about your pet's heartbeat.

In some cases the lungs are percussed and the chest assessed for compressibilty. In cats particular attention is given to the thyroid glands in the neck. The abdomen is thoroughly palpated in order to check for organ pathology or abdominal masses. This part of the Exam is very important. The temperature is taken; rectally in dogs and cats. If you have an elderly or unneutered male dog a rectal examination will likely be performed to check the prostate gland

Anything Abnormal will be brought to your attention. Further testing may be suggested. The doctor may use an swab to get a sample from your pet's ear or a fine needle aspiration may be performed on a lump to determine if there is a condition that requires treatment. These samples can then be put onto glass microscope slides and then studied in further detail. The microscopic slides can be projected onto the tv monitors located in each of our examination rooms so you can see what the doctor sees.  It can be very interesting!
     If your pet has had previous problems which are being monitored, is elderly, unwell or is needing a general anaesthetic for a recommended procedure blood and/or urine specimens may be collected for testing. You will be contacted with the results later the same day or early the following day depending on the time of day the test was taken and the tests that were performed.  Management options will be discussed at this time.

Flea, worm and tick prevention/treatment will be discussed and the appropriate product recommended.

You will be asked to describe your pet's feeding and exercise regimes. Changes may be recommended based upon your pet's breed, age wellness and lifestyle.

We will discuss your pet's behaviour, and the role it plays in the lives of you and your family. Young children, compromised seniors and interaction with other animals are often a concern for pet owners. Any problems such as inappropriate urination/defecation, furniture scratching, aggression, barking, separation anxiety, etc., can be addressed at this time.

At the end of the visit you will be asked if there is anything else about your pet you wish to discuss and if you have any questions relating to the examination and recommendations given.  If necessary a follow up visit will be scheduled.

Here at the Sechelt Animal Hospital we hope that each person leaves our hospital understanding that they and our staff form an essential team in their pet's ongoing health care.