What Does a Pet Wellness Exam Include?
Proactivity vs Reactivity in Pet Veterinary Care
Between surprise costs, inconvenience, and pet anxiety, there are many reasons why pet owners may not take a proactive approach to their pet’s health. Testing and preventative treatments can be costly, wait times to get an appointment with a veterinarian can be long, and some pets are too anxious or immobile for a traditional veterinary experience.
Despite these barriers, proactivity will always win over reactivity when it comes to the health and well-being of our pets, as regular testing and preventative care allow us to catch issues early or prevent issues altogether.
Whether you’re new to pet ownership or aren’t quite convinced of the need for regular proactive care for your animal, it’s important to know what you can expect from a pet wellness exam, both at your local veterinary practice and with the team at DVC.
Wellness Exams: Traditional vs Dallas Veterinary Concierge
Pet wellness exams might look different depending on your location, the hospital you go to, or the veterinarian you see. The general structure is largely the same across traditional veterinary hospitals: schedule an appointment, show up to the appointment, physical exam, treatments and medications, and follow-ups, as needed.
Dallas Veterinary Concierge (DVC) — led by our founder and veterinarian, Dr. Daniel Olson — is different. We’re a mobile vet that brings expert veterinary care to the comfort of our patients’ homes. There’s no commute, no stressful hospital environment, no distractions from other clients and patients; just attentive care that eases pet anxiety and improves outcomes.
What to Expect Pre-Appointment
With a traditional pet hospital or office, pre-appointment engagement is usually minimal outside of the phone call to get on the calendar. Some offices will send appointment reminders, but in general, it’s on the owner to prepare their animal, drive, and show up on time.
At DVC, we prefer to be more involved before showing up at your home. We capture as much advanced information as we can while scheduling appointments, so we can come up with a game plan and specific things to look at during the exam. We also discuss costs openly before scheduling an appointment, so pet parents know what to expect and aren’t hit with an unexpectedly high bill after the visit. We want veterinary care to be accessible, so we work with owners to find solutions that are within their budget and comfort zone.
On the day of the appointment, you’ll get an arrival window for the appointment, and we’ll send an ETA when we’re on the way, so you know when to expect us at your home and can get your pets ready for the visit.
What to Expect During the Appointment
At most veterinary hospitals and offices, you can expect to show up to your appointment, check in with the receptionist, and start your visit with a veterinary technician or veterinary nurse. The vet tech or nurse will capture key information about your pet for their file and to prep the veterinarian, like what foods they eat, their weight, their temperature, any illnesses or diseases they may have, and any concerns you’d like to discuss.
Then, you’ll meet with the veterinarian for an exam. This will look different depending on your animal, what species and breed they are, and their personality. Components of a physical exam may include listening to their heart and lungs, checking their ears and eyes, feeling for any lumps or bumps, or examining any problem areas you’ve called out. After the exam, they’ll propose any treatments or testing they think your pet needs, which may include preventative actions, like vaccines and medications, or further diagnostics, like blood work or x-rays.
On the DVC side, because Dr. Olson is coming to your home for your pet’s appointment, the process is much more involved, hands-on, and relaxed. Dr. Olson always greets owners and pets in a way that matches their comfort, whether your animal is excited about people or a little skittish. From there, he’ll start with an in-depth conversation about your pet so everyone can get on the same page about the exam and care plan while giving your pet time to calm down and warm up to Dr. Olson.
During the exam, Dr. Olson takes the time to observe pets in their natural environment while listening to pet parents’ concerns. This allows him to get the full picture and ensure no issues are missed. Doing exams at home both limits anxiety for the pet and gives him the clearest picture of any symptoms, as many animals may not display symptoms in a stressful vet office environment.
Physical exams with Dr. Olson are usually conducted on furniture or on the floor to ensure he’s approachable to the animal, and we use minimal restraint along with treats as distractions to help pets form a positive association with us. Once we’re confident in a path forward, we’ll propose any elective treatments and ensure pet parents are comfortable with them before wrapping up the appointment with any testing or additional diagnostics needed.
What to Expect Post-Appointment
While some vet hospitals are getting better at post-appointment follow-ups in the form of printed notes, discharge instructions, or emails, not all of them do this step, which makes it hard for pet owners to follow through on any at-home needs.
At DVC, patients get a written summary with detailed instructions for follow-up and can take time to think about any elective procedures or testing before committing. Dr. Olson is available via phone, text, and email for any questions or follow-ups, and we can help decide together if another appointment or additional testing is ever required.
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Making Pet Wellness Care Accessible & Stress-Free
Whether you prefer a traditional veterinary hospital or a mobile vet like DVC, proactive wellness care is critical to help our pets live long, happy, and healthy lives.
DVC aims to take the stress and inconvenience out of regular pet wellness care. By coming to your home and forming a deeper connection with you and your pet, when you work with Dr. Olson, you get a true partner who’s just as invested in your pet’s well-being as you are.
Have more questions about pet wellness exams, or want to see if DVC is the right fit for your animal? Call, text, email, or schedule an appointment online with us, and we’d love to be your partner in pet care.