Comprehensive Health Check – FAQs

Regular Full Health Assessments can help identify and address potential health issues early, giving your pet the best chance for a long, healthy life.

During a Full Health Assessment, your Veterinarian evaluates your pet’s health in several ways:

• Discussing any changes in behavior observed at home.
• Conducting a thorough physical examination during the consultation.
• Taking blood samples to assess internal organ function, blood cell levels, thyroid levels and hydration.
• Collecting urine samples to look for signs of diabetes, kidney disease or urinary infections. 
• Performing further tests such as skin cytology, fine needle aspirates of lumps or blood pressure measurement.
• Comparing changes over time in all these different measurements.

During July and August 2024, the Full Health Assessment is discounted by $100 to encourage all pet owners to prioritize their pet’s health.

Additionally, to promote dental health, a scale and polish under general anesthesia is further discounted by $100 for participating senior pets.

Full Health Assessments can be booked Monday to Friday throughout July and August.

During your pet’s Full Health Assessment your Veterinarian will

• Record your concerns.
• Confirm any regular medications and current dosages.
• Review vaccinations and parasite control.
• Record all findings from the physical examination.

Once the tests on blood, urine, and other samples are complete, the results will be summarized and recorded in our database.

Your Veterinarian will then write an assessment of your pet’s health and recommend any necessary treatments or further monitoring. An email will be sent to you with all the test results.

If there are any concerns, your veterinarian will discuss the changes with you over the phone to determine the best future treatment for your pet.

If your veterinarian is concerned about your pet’s teeth, they may recommend an examination under general anesthesia. During this procedure, your pet’s teeth will be scaled and polished, and any diseased teeth will be extracted.

If a dental procedure is needed, you will receive a comprehensive estimate, including an approximation of the cost for any extractions. The dental procedure will be discounted by $100 off our regular dental charges.

Additionally, any pet that undergoes a dental procedure at Pittwater Animal Hospital will be enrolled in the Pittwater Dental Program, which provides discounted dental care for life.

Before you arrive, please take the following steps to prepare for your pet’s Full Health Assessment:

• Write down any health concerns you have about your pet.
• List any medications your pet is currently taking.
• Record the parasite control measures your pet is on, including tick and flea control, intestinal worming, and heartworm control in dogs.
• If possible, collect a sample of your dogs urine as close to the time of the consultation as possible.
• For cats, try to schedule the consultation when they are likely to have a full bladder. 

A Full Health Assessment is beneficial at any age, but it becomes particularly important once your pet turns seven, similar to a major service for your car.

While we hope all results are normal in animals under ten, it is not uncommon to detect early changes in various health parameters.

Healthy pets should have a Full Health Assessment at least every two years, but preferably more often. Since one year of your pet’s life is equivalent to more than five human years, they can rapidly develop changes as they age.

When pets are on regular medication for managing health issues, it is recommended to have Full Health Assessments annually. Changes detected in blood and urine tests can influence how medication affects the body.

Regular Full Health Assessments are crucial for effectively managing chronic health problems.  

Often behaviour change can be a sign of a developing medical problem. 

Conditions such as urinary tract disease, heart disease, arthritis, skin disease, and failing senses can all contribute to behavior changes.

Your veterinarian can provide advice on how to manage these problems, helping your pet to be much happier and more comfortable.

Many pets experience mobility issues as they age. During your pet’s Full Health Assessment, these issues can be evaluated and a management plan discussed. This may include:

• Weight loss
• A modified exercise plan
• Cartrophen courses, regular Beransa/Solensia injections 
• Anti-inflammatories
• Pain relief
• Further diagnostics, such as X-rays, may be recommended for more concerning problems.

Your veterinarian will work with you to develop a tailored plan to improve your pet’s mobility and overall quality of life.

As pet’s age they often have a decrease in the health of the skin barrier.  During your pet’s examination, skin cytology and ear examination can be performed to check for bacterial or yeast overgrowth.

A skin management plan can be discussed to help maintain healthy skin for your pet well into old age. This plan may include recommendations for diet, supplements, grooming routines, and any necessary treatments to improve skin and coat health.