The veterinary review is something that we must do regularly, at least twice a year, from the moment our pet arrives at our home. There are many who wonder if they can do something to make the medical review effective, so we share these 5 points that your veterinarian should consider in the consultation:
1. Create a history: When you take your dog or cat to the vet for the first time, he must fill out a card in which he will record his health status. In each of the appointments, his general health status, the last deworming, vaccination history or the last tests carried out will be evaluated; if he is going through any disease or if he is under treatment.
2. Your weight: Weight says a lot about your pet’s health status. According to a survey carried out by Royal Canin® to more than 3,000 Mexicans, 27% of those surveyed do not know the weight of their pet and this point is very important to know in order to know the dose of a medication or something as daily as the amount of croquettes that you should give a day. For this reason, at each veterinary check-up your pet will be weighed, its body condition will be evaluated and the data will be noted on the file.
3. Vital signs: Heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature are parameters that are recorded at each visit with the veterinarian. The ideal is to stay with your pet for the review, since the temperature is taken rectally; With this you will facilitate the vet’s exploration in a calm way.
4. General review: The ears, eyes and muzzle are parts of the body that should be reviewed, since they are the parts most exposed to the outside and, therefore, the most exposed to diseases. A thorough review of all of them, as well as a comprehensive examination of the eyes and their response to light, will be essential to monitor the state of your pet’s health or possible infections in the ears, eyes or teeth.
5. Review of the body: Something important that should be done in any veterinary review is to feel the body of your pet. Loin, abdomen, legs, bones, nodes, muscles or neck will allow us to know if there is any type of anomaly such as lumps, bumps, inflammation or pain symptoms.
If you are going to consult your puppy for the first time or want to change the vet, keep in mind that they are interested in creating a medical history that covers the points that we indicated above, be honest with the information that you share with the vet, sometimes we hide customs eating, mood, or behavior that may bias the review. Remember to follow the instructions of the veterinarian and follow up at the times that he asks you, the health of your pet begins with you.