By Dr. Gerald Brown, DVM

A do-it-yourself exam performed every month can safeguard your pet’s health by detecting possible problems early on, when they’re most treatable and often less costly. More importantly, if your pet does have a problem your exam may prevent it from having to suffer in silence until the next vet appointment. In fact, the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the American Veterinary Medical Association now recommend twice yearly exams for senior and geriatric cats. Like human senior citizens, they are more likely to have medical conditions develop between appointments. Accordingly, these monthly self-exams should never take the place of a yearly veterinary exam.

Most dog owners understand the necessity of the yearly vet visit because their pets are taken outdoors and exposed to diseases from other dogs and therefore need to be vaccinated. Unfortunately, some cat owners falsely assume that the annual vet exam is unnecessary for their cat because it never goes outdoors or because it seems to be healthy. Nothing could be further from the truth. The majority of really sick cats veterinarians see are those that haven’t been examined in years. An indoor cat can become ill with diabetes, kidney failure, dental disease (usually painful), and other problems which can be diagnosed in the early stages by a veterinarian.

Some pet owners are against vaccinations; however, the law in most states requires rabies vaccinations for your dog or cat. Basic vaccinations protect your pet from common diseases which can cause suffering and death. Ignoring the need for a yearly veterinary exam may be tantamount to neglect.

Getting Started

Many pets, especially cats, won’t exactly be thrilled about being examined and may wriggle and run. If your pet is small enough, examine it on a bar stool because it has a small surface and is high enough to intimidate your pet and to give you more control for the exam. No bar stool? Next best place is the kitchen counter. If your pet is a large dog, you’ll probably have to sit on the floor next to it. Talking and petting during the exam will help to calm your pet. After the first few times, Fluffy or Fido will become used to the routine and usually will be more cooperative.

Head First

Check your pet’s nose. There should be no discharge. It should appear smooth with no new discolorations. It doesn’t matter if the nose is cold or not. A cold, wet nose being a sign of good health is the biggest animal health myth ever!

Next, look at the eyes. Pull down the lower lid to view the entire eye...it should be clear and bright. The lid tissue should be pinkish not white, red, or yellow. There should be no yellowish or unusual discharge.

Use a flashlight to check the ears. You shouldn’t see any wax, oiliness, or debris in the ears. If there is, gently swab the ears with a cotton ball dipped in mineral oil. Do not use cotton swabs (commonly called Q-tips)! The ear should appear clean; look for mites or sores. If your pet frequently shakes its head, it probably has an ear problem.

Lymph Nodes

Check the lymph nodes by feeling around the neck under the jaw bone. For cats, normal nodes are two millimeters; about the size of a baby pea. If they feel larger report this to your vet. The first time around you may have difficulty finding the nodes. During your next appointment, ask your vet to help you locate the nodes so you’ll recognize the size that’s normal for your pet when you examine it.

In dogs, lymph nodes are located behind the salivary glands and vary in size according to the size of the dog. Finding your dog’s nodes can be tricky — ask your vet to show you so you’ll know how to locate them and what’s normal for your dog.

Mouth Matters

Checking the mouth is really important because dental problems are so common in dogs and cats. Don’t stick your fingers in the animal’s mouth! Pull up the lip; first the front and then the sides.

The tongue and gums should be a light pink, not white or reddish. If the gums appear yellowish, call your vet. There should be no signs of bleeding anywhere in the mouth. Some cats and dogs have dark spots in their mouths because of their coloring, but if you detect new, darkly pigmented areas, have your vet check it out.

Take a whiff of Fido’s or Fluffy’s breath. It won’t be minty fresh, but really bad breath is not okay. A change in the way the breath smells means something is wrong. Make a vet appointment right away.

Next check the teeth by running your fingers over them; you shouldn’t feel any loose ones. Look for one or more dark, discolored teeth, tartar; or loose or broken teeth. Teeth should be white and tartar free.

Other signs of dental problems: your pet frequently drops food from its mouth; stares at the food, but doesn’t eat; chatters its teeth and/or chews food on one side; paws at its mouth or drools. When checking the mouth, look for any changes such as spots or growths. If you see one or more of these problems, get your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Dental problems are painful. If you’ve ever had a toothache, you know the pain can be unbearable. A cat may let you know it’s in pain by inappropriate elimination, hiding, or aggressive behavior. Dogs with dental pain sometimes become more aggressive or just plain unfriendly, even to you.