The Value of Visiting Your Veterinarian for Routine Vaccines

When you visit your doctor for a check-up, you know that your total health will be evaluated and addressed. If anything troubling is found, you will get a prescription or treatment recommendation, or maybe even a referral to a specialist. During the course of the year, you may also get a flu shot at the clinic at your local pharmacy. Does this visit to the flu clinic replace your annual check-up? Of course not!

Similarly, a trip to the local vaccine clinic at the pet store is no replacement for a comprehensive exam with a veterinarian. Pet store clinics make it easy to keep your pet's vaccines current, and that's important. But typically all you get is a rabies vaccine, without the crucial monitoring and evaluation of your pet's overall health. Even clinics that offer further preventative care, such as other vaccines or de-wormers, do not tailor care to the needs of the pet. Generally a veterinarian will quickly assess your pet to ensure that he or she is healthy enough to get a shot - just like the nurse at your own flu clinic will ask if you a few general health questions. But most health problems will not be detected or addressed.

A comprehensive exam at a full service veterinary clinic is a completely different in-depth assessment of your pet's health. During a typical visit, the veterinarian will:

• Ask health questions
• Assess body weight and fitness
• Thoroughly examine ears, eyes, teeth, heart, lungs, lymph nodes, glands, digestive system, skin, urinary system, musculoskeletal system and nervous system
• Conduct essential tests
• Provide annual vaccines
• Diagnose health problems
• Provide treatment and follow-up care, as needed

The combination of regular comprehensive health assessments and  appropriate preventative vaccines is the key to a long healthy life for our furry family members.