Animal Health Week is a national public awareness campaign organized by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and hosted by veterinarians across Canada. Each year, during the first week of October, veterinarians and veterinary hospitals across Canada promote animal health and responsible animal ownership as part the of the Animal Health Week celebrations. The campaign slogan this year is ” Their health in your hands” and is centered around the benefits of preventative health care for your pets and other animals.
What should you expect from an annual examination for your pet?
All dogs should have a veterinary examination at least annually. For many dogs, more frequent visits may be appropriate. Decisions regarding specific frequency of visits should be based on individual needs of the dog.
Health Evaluation
Subjective
Objective
Assessment
- Medical conditions
- Infectious and zoonotic diseases
- Parasite prevention and control
- Dental care
- Genetic, breed, and age considerations
- Behavior
- Nutrition
Plan
Client communication and education plan to include:
- Diagnostic plan:
- Every dog should have:
- Annual heartworm testing
- At least annual internal parasite testing
- Customized plan based on assessment:
- Other diagnostic tests (including dental radiography)
- Early disease screening tests
- Genetic screening tests
- Every dog should have:
- Therapeutic plan:
- Every dog should receive:
- Year-round broad-spectrum parasite control with efficacy against heartworms, intestinal parasites, and fleas
- Customized plan based on assessment:
- Tick control as indicated by risk assessment
- Therapeutic recommendations
- Dental recommendations
- Behavioral recommendations
- Dietary recommendations
- Every dog should receive:
- Prevention plan:
- Every dog should have or receive:
- Immunizations with core vaccines in accordance with existing guidelines
- Rabies virus
- Canine distemper virus
- Canine parvovirus
- Canine adenovirus-2
- Appropriate identification including microchipping
- Reproductive and genetic counseling and spaying or neutering unless specifically intended for breeding purposes
- Immunizations with core vaccines in accordance with existing guidelines
- Customized plan based on assessment:
- Immunization with non-core vaccines in accordance with existing guidelines
- Other preventive recommendations and counseling regarding zoonotic diseases
- Every dog should have or receive:
- Follow-up plan:
- Establish a plan for follow-up based on assessment and future care recommendations
- Set expectations for next visit
- Documentation:
- Thorough documentation of the patient visit.
Health Evaluation
Subjective History, including evaluation of life style and life stage, behavior, and diet Objective Comprehensive physical examination, including dental assessment, pain assessment, and body and muscle condition scoring Assessment On the basis of history and physical examination findings, assessments are made for:
- Medical conditions
- Infectious and zoonotic diseases
- Parasite prevention and control
- Dental care
- Genetic, breed, and age considerations
- Behavior
- Nutrition
Plan
Client communication and education plan to include:
- Diagnostic plan:
- Every cat should have
- Retrovirus testing in accordance with existing guidelines
- At least annual internal parasite testing
- Customized plan based on assessment:
- Other diagnostic tests (including dental radiography)
- Early disease screening tests
- Genetic screening tests
- Every cat should have
- Therapeutic plan:
- Every cat should receive:
- Year-round broad-spectrum parasite control with efficacy against heartworms, intestinal parasites, and fleas
- Customized plan based on assessment:
- Tick control as indicated by risk assessment
- Therapeutic recommendations
- Dental recommendations
- Behavioral recommendations
- Environmental enrichment recommendations
- Dietary and feeding recommendations
- Every cat should receive:
- Prevention plan:
- Every cat should have or receive:
- Immunizations with core vaccines in accordance with existing guidelines
- Rabies virus
- Feline panleukopenia virus
- Feline herpesvirus-1
- Calicivirus
- For kittens, feline leukemia virus*
- Appropriate identification including microchipping
- Reproductive and genetic counseling and spaying or neutering unless specifically intended for breeding purposes
- Immunizations with core vaccines in accordance with existing guidelines
- Customized plan based on assessment:
- Immunization with non-core vaccines in accordance with existing guidelines
- Other preventive recommendations and counseling regarding zoonotic diseases
- Every cat should have or receive:
- Follow-up plan:
- Establish a plan for follow-up based on assessment and future care recommendations
- Set expectations for next visit
- Documentation:
- Thorough documentation of the patient visit