Welcome to Our Etobicoke Animal Hospital!

At Richview Animal Hospital, we take great pride in being the Etobicoke area's trusted team of veterinary professionals. We understand that your pet is an important part of your family, which is why we treat each creature that comes through our door as one of our own! Although we offer an extensive range of veterinary services for dogs and cats at various stages of life, one of the most common services we provide is that of the annual wellness exam.

The Importance of Annual Wellness Exams

Our vets strongly recommend wellness exams at least once a year for most pets. However, more frequent exams may be recommended for older pets or pets with a history of certain medical issues. Regardless, regular wellness exams allow us to keep an eye on your pet's health and wellness patterns, making note of any potentially problematic changes. In an ideal scenario, wellness exams serve as our way of providing pets with a clean bill of health and added peace of mind for their owners. 

However, in some situations, wellness exams allow our veterinary team to spot potential "red flags" or symptoms of medical issues that need to be addressed. As a result, we may be able to diagnose a health issue in its early stages, which drastically increases the chances for successful treatment or management.

What to Expect From Your Pet's First Exam

With all of our new patients, we typically recommend a general wellness exam for their first appointment with us. Once you arrive with your pet, we will take the time to get to know you and your furry friend. Specifically, our veterinarian and veterinary assistants will review your pet's past medical records (if you were able to bring them in, which we do recommend) and give you an opportunity to bring up any questions or concerns you may be having about your pet's health. Once your pet feels comfortable with us, we will begin the exam.

Wellness exams typically begin with a general physical examination, where our veterinarian will perform a complete "head-to-tail" exam that includes weighing your pet, listening to his or her breathing, and checking heart rate. We also generally recommend wellness blood testing as part of your pet's exam; this allows us to assess the health of your pet's internal organs and other parts of the body, as well as allow us to compare results from year-to-year and check for changes.

We will also take the time to ensure that your pet is up-to-date on all vaccines and immunizations. If needed, we can administer this right here in our office. Some vaccines will be needed every year, whereas others may only be needed every three years. We will provide you with a vaccination schedule for your pet so you know which vaccines are needed for future visits.

Other possible components of your pet's first wellness exam may include:

• A stool analysis, depending on your pet and his or her lifestyle
• Viral testing (for cats), which can check for FIV and FeLV
• A tooth and gum examination
• Nutrition counseling

Towards the end of your pet's appointment, we may make recommendations for future appointments. For example, depending on the state of your pet's oral health, we might recommend that you schedule a dental cleaning for your pet to remove plaque and tartar build-up that could otherwise lead to painful tooth decay or gum disease. We might also make recommendations regarding your pet's diet and lifestyle to improve health and wellness. Ultimately, our goal is to help your pet lead the happiest and healthiest life possible!

Request Your Appointment With Our Animal Clinic

Now that you have a better idea of what to expect from your pet's first appointment with our animal clinic, are you ready to schedule an exam? You can reach our office at Richview Animal Hospital by calling (416) 245-8805!