Comprehensive Health Check – FAQs

Regular Full Health Assessments help detect underlying health issues early — before they become more serious or visible — giving your pet the best chance for a long and healthy life.

During the consultation, your veterinarian will:

• Discuss any behavioural changes you’ve noticed

• Perform a thorough physical exam

• Take blood samples to assess organ function, hydration, thyroid levels, and blood cell counts

• Collect urine to test for kidney disease, diabetes, or infection

• Recommend further testing if needed (e.g. cytology, blood pressure, lump aspirates)

• Compare findings with past results to track changes over time
  

The Full Health Assessment is available at a special discounted price, which may vary each year.

Further discounts are also often applied to dental procedures for participating pets.

Outside of Seniors Month (usually May–June), we continue to offer this comprehensive check-up at a reduced rate to support ongoing preventative care.

📞 Call us on (02) 9913 7979 to ask about current pricing and availability.

During your visit, your vet will:

• Record your concerns and any changes you’ve observed

• Confirm medications and review vaccination and parasite control

• Perform a full physical examination

Following your pet’s tests (blood, urine, cytology, etc.), results are:

• Entered into our database

• Reviewed and summarised by your veterinarian

• Emailed to you, with any findings or next steps clearly explained

If significant concerns are found, your vet will call to discuss management or treatment options in detail.

If your pet is found to have dental disease, your vet may recommend a dental procedure under general anaesthetic. This typically includes:

• A full oral exam

• Scaling and polishing

• Extractions if needed

You’ll be given a detailed estimate in advance.

Eligible pets receiving a dental during this assessment period also qualify for:

• A discount on the procedure

• Lifetime inclusion in the Pittwater Dental Program, offering discounted dental care for life
  

To prepare:

• Write down any health concerns or behavioural changes

• Bring a list of your pet’s current medications

• Note the parasite control you’re using (tick, flea, worming, heartworm)

For dogs:
🧪 Try to bring a fresh urine sample on the day of the appointment

For cats:
💧 Book when their bladder is likely to be full (e.g. before breakfast)

Even if your pet appears healthy, underlying issues can be missed without diagnostic tests.

Early detection means better outcomes. And if everything is normal, those results become valuable benchmarks for the future.

Our goal is always to find nothing wrong — and when we do, that’s great news!

Full Health Assessments are useful at any age but are especially important for pets over seven.

• For healthy pets: every 1–2 years

• For pets over 10: annually

• One year for your pet = 5+ years in human aging — changes can happen quickly

Think of this like your pet’s major annual service.

If your pet is on ongoing medication, annual Full Health Assessments are highly recommended.

Blood and urine results help monitor:

• The underlying disease

• Any medication side effects

• Whether treatment plans need adjusting

This is essential for managing chronic conditions like kidney disease, arthritis, or thyroid imbalance.

Yes. Behaviour changes often signal underlying medical problems.

Conditions such as:

• Urinary tract disease

• Arthritis or mobility pain

• Heart disease

• Cognitive changes in older pets

…can all lead to subtle changes in behaviour. A Full Health Assessment helps identify and address these issues early.

Absolutely. Mobility changes are very common in senior pets, and there’s often a lot we can do.

Your vet may recommend:

• Weight management

• Adjusted exercise routines

• Cartrophen or Solensia/Beransa injections

• Anti-inflammatory medications or pain relief

• X-rays if further diagnostics are needed

We’ll create a customised plan to support your pet’s comfort and quality of life.

Changes in the skin and coat are common in aging pets.

During the Full Health Assessment we may perform:

• Skin cytology

• Ear examination

• Diet and grooming review

We’ll recommend a skin management plan that may include dietary adjustments, supplements, medicated shampoos, or other treatments to help restore your pet’s coat to health.