Your new kitten will be an adorable addition to your family.

However, since she is unable to fully look after herself, it is up to you as her owner to be responsible for the majority of her care. Keeping her safe and healthy will be two of your biggest priorities, and your veterinarian is your biggest support in these endeavors. One of the best ways in which your vet in Nashville, TN can help you do this is to carry out regular pet wellness care exams.

What Is a Kitten Wellness Care Exam?

A kitten wellness care exam is just one name given to a type of service offered by veterinarians in Nashville, TN that focuses on the early detection and prevention of illness. You may also hear of them referred to as 'annual exams', 'regular check-ups' or 'wellness assessments' - or indeed any combination of these terms. Their purpose is to assess the health and wellbeing of your kitten at regular intervals to ensure that she is in optimum condition. The results of each wellness care exam are noted, forming a continual medical record that can be referred to if needed. Using this information, which starts to be gathered from your kitten's very first appointment, your vet is best placed to spot any developing problems early when they can potentially be averted or at least treated more easily. This prompt diagnosis can make a huge difference when it comes to the outcome of your kitty's condition.

Exactly how often your kitten will need to have wellness exams may vary. While she is still growing and developing your vet in Nashville may recommend that she is seen twice or even three times in her first year. After this, most cats move on to annual check-ups. However, if your feline develops a health problem or your vet feels that she would benefit from being monitored more closely, the frequency of these appointments may increase. It is important that you follow the advice and recommendations of your veterinarian.

What Is Involved in a Kitten Wellness Care Exam?

Pet wellness care exams can vary between veterinary practices. However, most will include the following elements.

Informal Discussion

You can expect to be asked a variety of questions. These are carried out with the purpose of enabling your vet to gain a better understanding of your kitten. Your vet will want to find out what and how often she is eating, what exercise she gets, how much she sleeps, how often she pees and poops, and what her overall character is like. This can prove valuable information when it comes to identifying any developing health problems.

Physical Assessment

One of the best ways to tell how well your kitten is is to do a physical examination of her body. This is conducted from nose to tail and includes assessing her:

• weight and body condition
• coat to ensure it is healthy
• standing and walking
• general agility
• skin
• legs, paws, and claws
• abdomen, which will be felt for your vet to check the size and placement of her internal organs
• breathing
• heart rate and pulse
• temperature
• lymph nodes, to check that they aren't swollen or painful
• facial features, including ears, eyes, and nose
• mouth and teeth
• behavior and response

Blood, Urine and Fecal Testing (Additional Charges May Apply if Recommended)

While some medical problems manifest themselves in ways that can be seen outside your pet's body, it is just as important for your vet to be able to find out what is happening on the inside of your kitty. Blood, urine, and fecal testing give your vet valuable information about how well your kitten's body is functioning, how well she is able to fight any infections and diseases she comes into contact with, and how healthy she is overall. They may not be requested at every wellness exam, but you can expect your vet to ask your kitty to undergo them at least from time to time.

Vaccinations and Parasite Prevention (Additional Vaccine Charges May Apply if Recommended)

There are many different diseases and infections that threaten the health of our felines. Some may result in mild symptoms while others could have serious or even fatal consequences. Vaccinations and parasite prevention form an essential part of any robust preventative care program. Although your kitten may have already received some of her core vaccines, there may be some that she has not yet had, or she requires boosters for. Once she reaches adulthood, boosters will normally be recommended annually. On the other hand, parasite prevention typically needs to be administered several times throughout the year and will help keep your kitty safe from worms, flea, ticks, and more.

If your kitten has not yet had a pet wellness exam and you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact our vets in Nashville, TN today at (615) 833-7387 where our staff would be delighted to help.