During a routine wellness exam, the veterinarian thoroughly checks the pet from nose to tail to ensure overall health and catch any potential problems. The exam includes checking the ears, eyes, mouth, skin, heart and lungs, muscles and bones, abdomen, and performing tests for internal and external parasites as well as common diseases. Vaccinations are also discussed to prevent deadly illnesses and keep pet health records up to date.

1. March is Pet Wellness Month
5% Off Routine Physical Exams
and Vaccinations!

2. Why does my pet need a wellness
exam every 6 months?
• To ensure your pet is healthy
• To catch problems before they become serious
• To keep you and your pet informed & up to date on the
current recommendations for vaccines and medications as
recommended by the AVMA
(American Veterinary Medical Association).
• To maintain a current doctor/patient relationship
If I’m going to the vet,
you’re going with me!

3. What does an exam cover?
During the exam the doctor is checking your pet from nose to
tail!
There are so many parts to a physical you may not notice
happening while you are right there with your pet!
While the doctor is doing her physical, she is most likely also
asking you a series of questions. Answer these truthfully!
We are a team, and we have to be truthful with each other to
make sure your pet gets the best care!
These next few slides cover what happens during a physical.
While it looks like the doctor is just being
friendly, she is doing her exam! She is
looking at this dog’s eyes, smelling her
breath and palpating her lymph nodes.
Irregularities in any of these could be a
sign of a serious problem!

4. Ears
• During an ear exam the
doctor looks deep inside
your pet’s ears to make
sure they are clean and
healthy!
• Sometimes they find
debris, as pictured below.
This can be a sign of
infection! The doctor will
run an ear cytology to see
what is wrong and to
make sure the right
medication is prescribed!
I’m not listening!
La, La, La…

5. Eyes
• Ophthalmic exams are very
important! Diseases and
injuries to eyes that go
untreated can lead to loss of
vision or the eye!
• Corneal injuries
• Glaucoma
• Cataracts
• Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca
(KCS or “dry eye”)
• Entropion
• Herpes Virus
• Cherry Eye
• Retinal Detachment
• Ocular Discharge
• Blindness
“Eye” can’t
watch!
Common Eye Problems:
Eye problems are always an
emergency!

6. Mouth
• Dental Disease
• Renal issues
• Foreign body
• Masses/Cancer
Oral exams are important too!
We look for masses, defects, tooth
problems and foreign objects!
Dental disease can lead to bone,
heart, renal & liver disease
We recommend dental cleanings
every 6-12 months!
It’s not “just” bad breath!
Bad breath can be a sign of
these problems:

7. Skin / Coat
• Parasites like fleas, ticks, lice &
mites
• Skin infections
• Skin Allergies
• Hair Loss
• Dull coat
• Flaky skin
• Ringworm
• External parasites can cause
anemia, blood borne diseases,
skin infections and discomfort
• Hair loss and poor coat can be a
sign of dietary problems or
something more serious
• Skin problems aren’t always an
allergic response to something in
the environment. Sometimes it’s to
your pet’s food!
• Ringworm & Sarcoptic mange are
contagious to animals and people!
What we are looking for: What does it mean?
This makes
me itch!
Ringworm
Skin Infection

8. Heart & Lungs
• Heart Murmurs: some pets
have very mild murmurs and
some are significant! We
monitor them closely.
Sometimes they resolve or
worsen.
• Pets can get asthma just like
you and me!
• Coughing can be a sign of
heart disease, heartworms, a
virus or pneumonia.
• Radiographs
• EKG
• Ultrasound
• Bloodwork
What we may find:
What we may do to further
diagnosis the problem:
Sounds purrrfect to
me doc!
Chest X-Ray
EKG

9. Musculoskeletal
• Arthritis
• Degenerative Joint Disease
• Cruciate Ligament Tear
• Hip Dysplasia
• Lameness
• Pain
• Radiographs
• Laser therapy
• Oral Supplements
• Injectable Supplements
• Pain Medications
What we are looking for signs of:
What we may recommend:
• Pets having severe pain
associated with lameness, or
lameness that lasts more than 24-
48 hours should be seen by a vet.
• NEVER give your pet human pain
medications. Most are very
dangerous to your pet!

10. Abdomen
• Pain
• Distention
• Masses / Tumors
• Bloodwork
• Radiographs
• Ultrasound
• Surgery
What we are looking for:
What we may recommend:
Abdominal pain and/or distention can be
a sign of a very serious problem.
Pancreatitis, bloat, foreign body, tumors,
constipation and dietary indiscretion can
all cause abdominal pain.
I think I ate too
much!

11. External Parasites
• Fleas & Ticks
• Lice
• Skin Mites
• Ear Mites
• Red Bugs (Chiggers)
During your pet’s exam the doctor will look
for these parasites and discuss which
prevention and treatments are best for your
pet! Not all products work on every pet, and
NOTHING covers EVERYTHING!

12. Internal Parasites
• Hookworms
• Roundworms
• Whipworms
• Tapeworms
• Coccida
What we are testing for:
During your visit the doctor may recommend a fecal (stool parasite screening).
This helps us identify if & what parasites your pet may have so we can treat them
appropriately. Parasites can be deadly to your pet and some parasites can be
transmitted to people.

13. Heartworm Disease
• Is spread by mosquitoes – YOUR INDOOR PET IS AT RISK!
• It is NEVER cold enough here to stop prevention
• It is completely preventable
• It can be treated in dogs, but is VERY expensive & hard on your
pet. Cats CANNOT be treated once they get heartworms!
• Affects dogs & cats
• We can test for it here and have the results in 8 minuets

14. Vaccines
• Distemper/Parvo & Rabies – Given
every 1 to 3 years depending on
type of vaccine & state laws
• Bordetella – Given every 6 months
Core Vaccines:
• Lepto – Given yearly
• Lyme – Given yearly
• H3N8 (Influenza) – Given every 6 months
• Rattlesnake – Given every 6 months
Vaccines given based on exposure:
Vaccines prevent your pet from
getting sick from deadly viruses.
Prevention is always cheaper than
trying to treat your pet once they
catch something! Your vet will
help design a plan that is right for
your pet.

15. • Distemper, Leukemia & Rabies are considered core vaccines for cats
• We use the Purevax brand of vaccines, which have to be given yearly,
but are MUCH safer for your cat!
• Bordetella – Given every 6 month
• FIV & FIP – Given yearly, but not recommended due to lack of efficacy
and side effects
Other Cat Vaccines:

16. Vaccine Boostering
• Distemper/Parvo – 3 shots
• All other vaccines a 2 shot series
• Rabies – 1 shot
Adult dogs and cats, that have had their initial series of vaccines, get boostered
every 6 months to 3 years depending on the vaccine and exposure.
Adult dogs and cats with no veterinary documented vaccine history, go through a
2 shot series 3 weeks apart (except for rabies).
Puppies and kittens go through a 2-3 shot series 3 weeks apart depending on
vaccine and what age that we start the vaccines.
• Distemper – 3 shot series
• Leukemia - 2 shot series
• Rabies – 1 shot
Puppies Kittens

17. What are these vaccines:
• Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic dogs and
other animals such as ferrets, skunks and raccoons. It is an
incurable, often fatal, multisystemic disease that affects the
respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems.
Distemper is caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV).
• The disease is spread mainly by direct contact between a
susceptible dog and a dog showing symptoms. Coughing and
sneezing can spread the virus over short distances
• As with all infectious diseases, clinical signs can vary. The main
clinical signs are diarrhea, vomiting, a thick yellow discharge from
the eyes and nose, cough and, in severe cases, seizures and
neurological signs. Dogs that recover from the disease are often left
with persistent nervous muscular twitches (chorea) and recurrent
seizures.
• There are many diseases that cause diarrhea and vomiting, several
that cause similar respiratory and neurological signs, but few
diseases that cause all of these at the same time.
Canine Distemper Virus Vaccine
If only I had
been
vaccinated…

18. What are these vaccines:
• Hepatitis is defined as inflammation of the liver. As a specific disease, Infectious Canine Hepatitis
(ICH) is a viral infection caused by a member of the Adenovirus family.
• It affects other members of the dog family, foxes for example, can be infected, but ICH virus is
harmless to people.
• The hepatitis virus is present in the urine and in the nose and eye discharges of infected animals.
The virus is transmitted by direct contact with these infected materials. Young dogs are at highest
risk of contracting this virus, and signs of disease usually occur within two to five days after
exposure to ICH; however, the incubation period can be as long as 14 days. In older dogs, some
ICH infections may go unnoticed or be mild and resolve without medical intervention.
• Clinical signs in mild cases present as merely have a decreased appetite, appear depressed and
have a mild fever. Some of dogs develop opacity (cloudiness) of one or both corneas of their
eyes (so-called 'Blue Eye') one to two weeks later.
• Some dogs have respiratory signs such as eye and nose discharge and cough that are
indistinguishable from other forms of upper respiratory tract infections like kennel cough.
• In severe cases, usually in young puppies, along with the fever, depression and loss of appetite,
there is abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, puffy edema (subcutaneous fluid swelling) of the
head and neck, and possibly jaundice. Such cases are often fatal.
Hepatitis - Adenovirus Infection in Dogs
Ocular Opacity - “Blue Eye”

19. What are these vaccines:
• Parvo, or canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious virus that can rapidly spread
through the canine population.
• The main source of the virus is from the feces of infected dogs. The virus begins to
be shed in the feces just before clinical signs develop and shedding continues for
about ten days. Susceptible dogs become infected by ingesting the virus. After
ingestion, the virus is carried to the intestine where it invades the intestinal wall and
causes inflammation.
• Unlike most other viruses, CPV is very stable in the environment and is resistant to
the effects of heat, detergents, alcohol, and many disinfectants. A 1:30 bleach
solution will destroy the infective virus. Infective CPV has been recovered from
surfaces contaminated with dog feces even after three months at room temperature.
• Due to its environmental stability, the virus is easily transmitted via the hair or feet of
infected dogs, or on shoes, clothes, and other objects contaminated by infected
feces. Direct contact between dogs is not required to spread the virus. Dogs that
become infected with the virus and show clinical signs will usually become ill within
six to ten days after exposure.
• The clinical signs and symptoms of CPV disease can vary, but generally they include
severe vomiting and diarrhea. The diarrhea often has a very strong smell, may
contain lots of mucus and may or may not contain blood. Additionally, affected dogs
often exhibit a lack of appetite, marked listlessness and depression, and fever. Parvo
may affect dogs of all ages, but is most common in unvaccinated dogs less than one
year of age. Young puppies less than five months of age are usually the most
severely affected, and the most difficult to treat. Any unvaccinated puppy that shows
the symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea should be tested for CPV.
Canine Parvo Virus
I think I
need a vet!

20. What are these vaccines:
• Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease of dogs and other mammals that primarily affects the liver or
kidneys. Leptospires are known as "aquatic spirochetes": the organism thrives in water and they
have a helical or spiral shape with a characteristic hook on one or both ends. There are many
species and serovars of Leptospira, some of which cause disease in dogs.
• Leptospira bacteria are carried mainly by rats and other rodents, but can also be carried by
almost any mammalian species, including people. Infected or recovered "carrier" dogs may act
as a source of the infection.
• Ingestion of infected urine or rodent-contaminated garbage is the most important means of
transmission, but some forms of the bacteria can penetrate damaged or thin skin. For instance,
when dogs swim in contaminated water, they may become infected through their skin. The
incubation period (from infection to onset of clinical signs) is usually four to twelve days.
• There are three main forms of the disease: Hemorrhagic (bleeding), Icteric or jaundice (liver),
Renal (kidney)
• NOTE: Leptospirosis can be transmitted to people, so owners of dogs that may have the disease
should avoid contact between the owner's bare skin and their dog's urine, and wear rubber
gloves when cleaning up any areas the dog may have soiled. Any areas where the dog has
urinated should be disinfected. The organism is readily killed by household disinfectants or a
dilute bleach solution.
Leptospirosis in Dogs
Jaundice (yellowing)
of mucus membranes
I didn’t mean
to make you
sick!

21. What are these vaccines:
• Kennel cough, the common name that is given to infectious canine tracheobronchitis, is a
very highly contagious respiratory disease among dogs. As the name of the disease
suggests, it is typified by inflammation of the trachea and bronchi. This disease is found
throughout the world and is known to infect a very high percentage of dogs at least once
during their lifetime. It is also medically referred to as kennel cough and Bordetella.
• Young puppies can suffer the most severe complications that can result from this disease,
since they have an underdeveloped immune system that is still strengthening. Also at
increased risk are older dogs, which have decreased immune capabilities, and pregnant
bitches, which also have lowered immunity to infections.
• Symptoms: Dry hacking cough is the most common symptom, a cough that may sound like
honking, retching, and watery nasal discharge. In mild cases, dogs would likely be active
and eating normally
In severe cases, symptoms progress and can include pneumonia, inappetence, fever,
lethargy and even death
• It is commonly spread in group situations such as pet stores, groomers, dog parks &
boarding facilities.
• According to the clinical signs, the visible onset of infection usually occurs three to four days
after initial exposure, but when it is combined with other organisms – such as a combination
parinfluenza-bordatella infection – the symptoms may last for up to three weeks.
Infectious Canine Tracheobronchitis (Kennel Cough)

22. What are these
vaccines:
• Rabies is one of the most devastating viral diseases affecting mammals, including dogs and humans. How is rabies
transmitted?
• The disease is usually transmitted by the bite of an infected animal.
• Rabies occurs in every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Most countries are affected, with the exception of a few
island countries.
• Rabies virus does not survive long outside a mammal's body.
• The infection is transmitted when one infected animal bites another. In Europe, foxes are the main reservoir while in North
America the skunk, fox, raccoon and bat are important sources of infection. In Asia, Africa and Latin America the main
reservoir is not wildlife but stray dogs. In these areas, human infection and fatalities are more common.
• The incubation period can vary from ten days to one year or longer. In dogs/cats, the incubation period is typically two
weeks to four months.
• The speed at which clinical signs develop depends upon:
1. The site of infection - the nearer the bite is to the brain and spinal cord, the quicker the virus reaches the nervous
tissue
2. The severity of the bite
3. The amount of virus injected by the bite
• Following a bite from a rabid animal, the disease progresses in stages. In the first or prodromal phase the animal
undergoes a marked change in temperament. Quiet animals become agitated and active pets become nervous or shy.
Following this stage, there are two recognized forms of the clinical disease:
Furious rabies occurs when the rabid animal becomes highly excitable and displays evidence of a depraved appetite,
eating and chewing stones, earth and rubbish (pica). Paralysis eventually sets in and the rabid animal may be unable to
eat and drink. Hydrophobia (fear of water) is not a sign of rabies in dogs. This is a feature of human rabies. The animal
finally dies in a violent seizure.
Dumb rabies is the more common form in dogs. There is progressive paralysis involving the limbs, distortion of the face
and a similar difficulty in swallowing. Owners will frequently think the dog has something stuck in the mouth or throat.
Care should be taken in examination since rabies may be transmitted by saliva. Ultimately the dog becomes
comatose and dies.
Vaccination prior to exposure is highly effective in preventing Rabies. Pets that are bitten by a wild animal or pet of
unknown vaccine status should be boostered right away!
Rabies

23. What are these vaccines:
• Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis or FVR (also known as Feline Herpesvirus Type-1 ) Feline
Calicivirus (FCV), Chlamydophila Felis (C. felis). Feline Panleukopenia (FPL)
• Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis is a herpes viruses, the virus is very species
specific, and is only known to cause infections in domestic and wild cats.
The virus can infect cats of all ages. It is a major cause of upper respiratory
disease in cats, and is the most common cause of conjunctivitis.
• Feline Calicivirus (FCV) is a virus that is an important cause of upper
respiratory infections and oral disease in cats. Calicivirus is one of the more
common infectious agents isolated in cats with a respiratory infection.
• Chlamydophila felis (C. felis) is the most common bacteria that cause upper
respiratory infections in cats
• Feline Panleukopenia (FPL) is caused by a virus of the parvovirus family. Since the
virus infects and destroys rapidly growing cells, the intestinal tract is often affected.
Vomiting and diarrhea are frequent and the diarrhea may contain blood. FPL cats
often have to be hospitalized if they are to survive.
Feline Distemper Vaccine (RCCP or FVRCP)

24. What are these vaccines:
• Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is one of the most important infectious viruses of cats.. FeLV is
specific to members of the cat family and does not pose a risk to other species of animals or
people.
• FeLV infection is found worldwide. In general, around 1-2% of the cat population is
persistently infected with this virus, and many more are exposed. The proportion of cats
infected differs according to the geographical location, environment and the life-style of the
cat. Infection is more common in colonies of cats where there is close contact between
individuals.
• FeLV infection results in a moderate to severe suppression of the immune system. This
means that the infected cat is less able to defend itself against a wide range of infections
that would not normally cause a problem in healthy cats. Affected cats may develop various
clinical signs, and there is a progressive deterioration in their health over time.
• Another common occurrence in FeLV-infected cats is the development of a profound and
life-threatening anemia. Other problems, including abortion, severe enteritis (intestinal
inflammation), neurological (nervous) disease, and ocular (eye) disease are commonly
associated with FeLV infection.
• FeLV is usually fatal. Studies have shown that 80-90% of FeLV-infected cats will die within
three to four years of initial diagnosis.
• Direct contact between cats is the most frequent method of FeLV infection. A cat with FeLV
sheds a large quantity of the virus in its saliva as well as in other bodily fluids such as nasal
secretions, urine and feces. Ways of spreading the virus include mating, mutual grooming,
and sharing of litter trays and food bowls. Cat bites by an infected cat can also readily
transmit infection.
• Another potential source of infection occurs when a pregnant cat infected with FeLV gives
birth.
Feline Leukemia Virus Disease (FeLV)

25. What are these vaccines:
• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is a virus specific to the cat family. Only 1 - 5% of cats show
evidence of exposure to the virus. In some cats exposure to the virus leads to clinical signs and
symptoms that result in deficiency in the immune system.
• "Just being diagnosed with the FIV virus does not mean your cat has feline AIDS." Being FIV-positive is
not the same as having feline AIDS. The FIV test (see below) detects antibodies that have been formed
in the cat's blood because of infection with the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. "FIV-positive" means that
your cat has been infected by the virus, but if it is not showing symptoms it may be years, if ever, before
the cat develops the clinical signs referred to as Feline AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome of
cats). Just being diagnosed with the FIV virus does not mean your cat has feline AIDS.
• Although HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the cause of AIDS in people) belongs to the same family
of viruses as FIV, the two viruses infect different species - HIV infects only humans and FIV infects only
cats.
• Infected cats shed the virus mainly in their saliva. Naturally occurring transmission of an infection occurs
when an infected cat that is actively shedding virus into the saliva bites another cat, directly inoculating
its saliva through the bite wound. A susceptible cat can also become infected when other bodily fluids,
particularly infected blood, enters the body. In this case, the infected blood may enter the cat's body
through a bite wound, or the cat may become infected by means of a blood transfusion. Experimentally,
the virus may also be transmitted through semen, but it is not clear whether this means of transmission is
responsible for any naturally occurring cases.
• The FIV organism is not able to survive for very long outside of living cells. This is another reason that
casual infection is uncommon. Kittens may become infected before, at, or soon after birth. In these
cases, it is believed that the virus was transmitted across the uterus during pregnancy or through the
queen's (mother cat's) milk during nursing. Around a quarter to a third of kittens born to an infected
queen are likely to be infected themselves. Normal social interactions, such as grooming, appear to have
a very low risk of transmitting FIV.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

26. What are these vaccines:
• Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is an important disease of domestic cats and most
members of the cat family (Felidae). It occurs worldwide in cats of all ages, but the
disease is most common in young cats less than two years of age. Although FIP is
not a particularly common disease, it is important because once a cat develops the
disease, the outcome is almost invariably fatal.
• "FIP remains one of the least understood of all cat diseases." Because the Enteric
Coronavirus and the FIP-causing strains of Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) are
indistinguishable in laboratory tests (see later) and because many cats, even when
infected with known FIP-causing strains do not develop FIP disease, the diagnosis of
FIP is very challenging. The factors determining why one cat becomes diseased while
others remain unaffected are unclear. Repeated re-infection and/or genetic factors
are thought to contribute to the development of FIP.
• Most cats exposed to FCoV, even to the potentially FIP-inducing strains, are able to
develop an immune response that protects them. Thus, only a small proportion of
infected cats actually develop clinical disease. However, those that do develop
disease almost invariably die.
• In cats that do develop FIP disease, the first signs of illness may be very vague.
Listlessness, lethargy, decreased or absent appetite and a variable fever are
commonly reported clinical signs. Unfortunately, the disease will eventually result in
death in almost every case.
•Feline Infectious Peritonitis

27. Horses count too!
• Encephalitis, West Nile, Tetanus, Influenza and Rhino
(Herpes) vaccines should be given every 6 months in this
area
• Rabies vaccine and Coggins tests are recommended yearly
• Horses have teeth too! Teeth floating should be done every
6-12 months. This prevents oral pain and promotes good
weight gain and digestion.

28. A final thought…
Prevention is the key to having a long and healthy relationship with your pet.
Prevents this 
Happy Pet Wellness Month!!