SA Consultations

Annual exam: 

We recommend all pets, regardless of health status, should recieve an annual exam. This annual exam can coincide with your pets annual vaccination.

An annual exam is an excellent opportunity to catch any changes in your pets health early. Early detection can allow us to address any issues before they start to negatively impact your pet or become more complicated to treat and manage.

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What Happens During an Annual Exam?

• Prior to your visit the vet will have read through your clinical history and make themselves familiar with your pet and any ongoing issues that you are dealing with.
• Upon arrival at the clinic you will be checked in at reception and guided to our waiting area.
• The vet will get an update from you on your pet and discuss any changes that you’ve noticed. We will review your pets health history including diet, behaviour, mobility, appetite, bathroom habits, and any changes you’ve noticed.
• We will perform a nose to tail physical exam which includes checking the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, skin, coat, temperature check, anal exam, heart and lungs.

• Screening tests are available if needed. This includes blood work and urinalysis. Annual blood testing may be recommended as you pet ages to monitor their organ function, particularily kidney and liver function.

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Fearful pets and the clinic environment

We understand that vet visits can be stressful for some pets so the team here at Gorteen Acre Veterinary use a calm and gentle approach. Exams can be modified for our more anxious patients to make them more comfortable. Our team works with you as the owner to tailor a plan specifically for your pet.

If you know your pet doesn’t interact well with other pets let us know at the time of booking. We can meet you at your car and walk your pet through to the consult room from an alternative entrance. This can help avoid any interactions with other pets which may cause stress to your pet. 

An annual exam is an excellent opportunity for our more nervous patients to become used to the clinic environment and the staff. Having good initeractions with them while they are well can help reduce the stress of the clinical exam and visit when they are feeling unwell.