Important Medical Checks For Your Newly Adopted Pet To Ensure His/Her Health

When you bring a new pet into the home, one of the biggest priorities should be your pet’s overall health and wellness. It can be exciting to get a new puppy into your house, create a space for it and buy all the supplies necessary, such as food and toys.

However, some specific medical examinations and tests need to occur for any new pet that you adopt. Pets rely on us to oversee their health to have long and happy lives. So it is crucial to ensure that we are bringing our pets to their vet as often as needed to undergo any tests as they age.

But, as a new pet owner, what checks should you be sure to get for your newly adopted pet? Here are some of the more essential things that all new pets should have.

Physical Veterinary Exam

If you’ve adopted a pet in the past, you probably already have an established veterinarian in mind for your new one. Taking your new pet to the vet should be the very first “to-do” that is on your list. The veterinarian will do a complete physical exam from your pet’s head to toe, checking its temperature and looking over all areas like the eyes, ears, and mouth, ensuring that your pet is healthy and does not have any medical issues. Your vet will typically also ask you questions regarding your pet’s diet, exercise, habits, and more.

Having a veterinarian is essential when encountering any issues or problems you detect with your new pet. If you cannot get your pet to a veterinarian that day, Bond Vet Online Veterinarian states that it can be helpful to find a vet with online assistance. Speaking to a licensed professional about any concerns you have can be beneficial to understand whether a visit is necessary.

Fecal Tests

Various types of internal parasites can be found or occur in your newly adopted pet, such as:

• Tapeworms
• Roundworms
• Hookworms
• Protozoa (Toxoplasma / Cryptosporidia)
• Whipworms

Symptoms of parasites include weight loss, severe diarrhea, decreased appetite, or when you see your pet dragging its behind across the floor. These types of activities indicate that your pet is more heavily infected and you should seek out your vet right away.

These parasites can only be detected by testing animal stool. These tests are vital with pets because the parasites can be easily transmitted to other animals and even spread to people. However, do not be concerned if your pet does have a parasite. Effective treatments can get rid of it quickly and effectively.

Urinalysis

Some vets may need to test your pet’s urine along with fecal testing. Urinalysis can identify things like urinary tract infections, kidney stones, or other kidney-borne diseases. Sometimes, this test is more overlooked with pets, so it may benefit you to inquire that your pet receives a urinalysis along with fecal testing. 

Heartworm Detection

Heartworms can affect both dogs and cats, contrary to the belief that it only occurs in dogs. Unfortunately, heartworm disease can be fatal, as it is caused by a type of worm that lives in the heart and arteries of the lungs.

Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes and is found all over the United States. Prevention of heartworm disease is by far the best remedy, as once your animal has it, there are a lot of complications that develop. Consulting with a veterinarian will involve testing your animal for the disease and then providing prevention treatments as long as your pet doesn’t have it.

Tick-born tests are typically performed for older animals, so if you have a more senior or rescue pet, tests for tick-borne illnesses may be administrated. Sometimes tests for tick illnesses are run with heartworm tests together, especially in areas where ticks are more common. 

Blood Testing

Screening blood is another crucial medical test that should be performed for any newly adopted pet. The tests help detect diseases within the blood before becoming symptomatic. Your pet may look healthy, but blood tests can quickly discover if it is suffering from such problems, including:

• Diabetes
• Thyroid disease
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Blood cell counts
• Renal disease
• Anemia
• Protein levels
• Organ function

Some symptoms of these illnesses in your pet might include excessive thirst, frequent urination, increased or decreased appetite, and cloudy eyes. Your might also display some lethargy and lose interest in things that were previously exciting, or sleep often.

Blood tests are also crucial for animals needing to have any type of surgery. Any abnormality that the naked eye may not detect can be found with blood screening tests. Therefore, your veterinarian will most likely recommend that your pet return annually or every couple of years to receive bloodwork to detect any abnormalities.

Pet Vaccinations

The more you understand regarding your pet’s previous medical history, the more you can make decisions regarding future veterinary care. For example, vaccines may or may not have been administered for your new pet, so it might be necessary for your pet to receive more shots. 

Vaccines are important, but not all pets need every vaccine. The core vaccines for pets include DHLPP (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvo, and parainfluenza), which is more commonly called the “distemper shot”, and a Rabies vaccine. 

Some states require these vaccines by law, and your pet may need a license on their collar to indicate that they have received it. The vet will assess your pet, and factors such as previous vaccine history, age, and activity will help determine which other vaccines are necessary.

Microchips

Depending on your location, your vet may strongly recommend that your pet be microchipped. Getting your pet an implant of the tiny device is an excellent option if you have concerns about your pet ever becoming lost. Even pets that will be considered “indoor” pets can accidentally end up outside and become lost, so having a microchip provides your pet with a lifetime registration so that your pet has the best chances of being returned to you whenever it escapes.

Additional Testing

Many tests may be recommended for your new pet after your vet has been able to examine it thoroughly. In addition, more tests may be necessary if there are any signs of other illnesses or health problems. Some of these tests include:

• Thyroid testing – any thyroid issues will need further testing for things like hypothyroidism.
• Ultrasound – if your dog has physical ailments or showing signs of another disease, your pet may need an ultrasound to check organs like the pancreas, lymph nodes, and more. It’s important to have a vet with a veterinary ultrasound machine.
• Specialized testing – depending on your pet’s breed, tests may be required to diagnose specific types. For example, Scottish Terriers are highly susceptible to bladder tumors, so your pet may require certain tests to ensure the presence of other illnesses.

If your pet shows any signs or symptoms of distress or anxiety, you should always contact a veterinarian. You are your pet’s best advocate, so you need to keep watch and be the one to keep your newly adopted friend happy and healthy for many years.