7 Things Your Veterinarian Wishes You’d Mention at Your Pet’s Checkup
You know your pet better than anyone.
You know which bark means “someone’s at the door” and which one means “I would like some of whatever you’re eating immediately.” You know your cat’s favorite hiding spot. You know how excited your dog normally gets when the leash comes out.
That makes you a pretty important part of your pet’s healthcare team.
We can learn a lot during a physical exam, but we don’t live with your pet. You do. And sometimes the little things you notice at home give us the first clue that something has changed.
Not sure if it matters? Tell us anyway.
Seriously.
We’d rather hear about the weird thing your dog has been doing at 2 a.m. than have you leave wondering if you should’ve mentioned it.
Here are seven things we definitely want to hear about at your pet’s next checkup.
- “They’re Drinking More Water Than They Used To”
Maybe you’re filling the water bowl more often. Maybe your dog suddenly drains it after barely touching it before. Maybe your cat has developed a new and passionate relationship with the bathroom faucet.
There are plenty of reasons a pet might drink more. Hot weather, increased exercise, diet changes, and certain medications can all affect thirst.
But increased drinking can also be associated with medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, and hormonal disorders.
The important word here is “change.”
You don’t need to measure every ounce your pet drinks. If you’ve caught yourself thinking, “Wow, they’ve been really thirsty lately,” that’s worth mentioning.
And if they’re peeing more too, definitely add that to the conversation.
- “They’ve Slowed Down a Little”
Ah, the classic:
“They’re just getting old.”
Maybe.
But we don’t like giving age credit for something until we’ve made sure it deserves the blame.
If your dog hesitates before jumping into the car, takes longer to stand after a nap, doesn’t want to walk as far, or seems stiff after playing, tell us.
Cats can be even sneakier about this.
Your cat probably isn’t going to sit you down and announce that their hips have been bothering them. Instead, they might stop jumping onto the highest part of the cat tree. They might choose the couch instead of the counter. They may pause before jumping or start sleeping somewhere that’s easier to reach.
Those little changes can matter.
Getting older is normal. Being uncomfortable shouldn’t automatically be dismissed as part of aging.
- “Their Breath Could Knock You Over”
We’re not expecting your dog’s breath to smell like peppermint.
But there’s normal pet breath, and then there’s “please stop breathing directly on me” breath.
If your pet’s breath has become noticeably worse, mention it.
Persistent bad breath can be associated with plaque, tartar, gum inflammation, infection, or other dental problems.
And here’s where pets make things tricky.
They’ll often keep eating.
Dogs and cats can adapt surprisingly well to dental discomfort, so an empty food bowl doesn’t necessarily mean everything in the mouth feels great.
Also watch for:
- Dropping food
- Chewing differently
- Pawing at the mouth
- Excessive drooling
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Losing interest in chew toys
- Pulling away when their face is touched
Routine checkups give us a chance to catch dental changes you might not be able to see at home, especially problems happening around or below the gumline.
- “I Found This Lump”
Finding a new lump on your pet can send your brain straight to the worst-case scenario.
Try not to diagnose it with Google at midnight.
Not every lump is something serious. At the same time, we usually can’t tell exactly what a lump is just by looking at it or feeling it.
So show us.
If you find a new lump between appointments, take a picture and make a note of where it is. You can even put something next to it for scale in the photo so you have a better reference if it changes.
Then bring it up at your pet’s next visit, or give us a call sooner if it’s growing quickly, bothering your pet, bleeding, changing appearance, or otherwise concerning you.
And please don’t worry about “wasting our time” if it turns out to be nothing concerning.
We like boring answers.
- “They Throw Up Sometimes, But They’ve Always Done That”
We hear this one a lot, especially from cat parents.
When something has happened for years, it’s easy to decide that it’s simply part of who your pet is.
But “they’ve always done that” and “that’s normal” aren’t necessarily the same thing.
Recurring vomiting, diarrhea, changes in stool, or other digestive issues are worth discussing, even if they’ve been happening for a while.
Tell us what you’ve noticed.
How often does it happen? Is it usually after eating? Has your pet’s appetite changed? Have they lost weight? Does it seem to be happening more frequently?
You don’t need to show up with a spreadsheet.
Although, if you do, we won’t judge.
The point is that patterns matter, and something you’ve gotten used to seeing may give us useful information about your pet’s health.
- “They’ve Gained or Lost Some Weight”
Weight changes have a way of sneaking up on us.
You see your pet every day, so gradual changes can be difficult to notice.
That’s one reason the scale at a routine vet care appointment tells us more than you might think. When we have weights from multiple visits, we can look at the trend rather than just one number.
We’re also looking at body condition and muscle mass.
If your pet seems hungrier than usual, is eating less, has lost muscle, or just feels different when you pick them up, tell us.
And if we tell you your pet has put on a few pounds, we promise it’s not personal.
They’re still perfect.
We just want them to be a healthy version of perfect.
- “They Just Haven’t Seemed Like Themselves”
This might be the most important one on the list.
Sometimes you can’t explain what’s different.
Your dog isn’t greeting you at the door quite the same way. Your cat has started sleeping somewhere unusual. Your pet seems quieter, clingier, grumpier, more restless, or less interested in something they normally love.
You don’t have a specific symptom.
You just have a feeling.
Tell us.
Pet parents sometimes apologize for bringing up something vague because they’re worried they’re overreacting.
You’re not expected to diagnose your pet before coming to see us.
You’re the expert on what’s normal for your pet. We’re the ones who can help figure out whether the change means something.
Those two pieces work really well together.
Your Phone Is Actually a Pretty Great Veterinary Tool
No, we’re not recommending another pet health app.
We mean your camera and notes app.
If your dog does a strange cough at home, record it.
If your cat walks differently every morning but magically develops flawless mobility the moment they arrive at the vet, get a video.
If your pet has an unusual episode that’s over before you could possibly get to the hospital, record it if it’s safe to do so.
Videos can be incredibly useful.
The same goes for your notes app.
A few days before a routine appointment, make a quick list:
- Has their appetite changed?
- Are they drinking more or less?
- Have their bathroom habits changed?
- Have I noticed any lumps or bumps?
- Are they moving differently?
- Has their behavior changed?
- Is there anything I keep meaning to ask about?
That’s it.
You don’t need a medical vocabulary. You don’t need to organize your observations perfectly.
Just bring the weird stuff.
Routine Vet Visits Aren’t Just About Vaccines
This is where we want to change the way people think about wellness appointments.
A routine veterinary visit isn’t just a vaccine appointment.
It’s our opportunity to establish what’s normal for your pet and notice when that normal starts changing.
Over a year, your pet’s weight can change. Their teeth can change. Their mobility can change. New lumps can appear. Their nutritional needs can shift. An adult pet can quietly start entering their senior years.
Regular visits give us context.
And context becomes incredibly valuable when something eventually isn’t right.
If we know your pet when they’re feeling great, we have a much better starting point when you come in and say, “Something’s off.”
Yes, WAG Does Routine Care
We know a lot of pet parents around Lake Carolina and Northeast Columbia first hear about WAG Vet because of our urgent care.
And we love being here when something goes sideways.
But we’d much rather get to know your pet before it does.
WAG Vet is also a full-service primary care veterinary hospital serving dogs and cats in Columbia, SC. That means wellness exams, preventive care, vaccines, dental conversations, nutrition, senior care, and all those questions you’ve been meaning to ask somebody.
We built WAG to be the kind of veterinary hospital where you can actually have those conversations.
You’re not just another appointment. Your questions aren’t an inconvenience. And if you think something about your pet has changed, we want to hear about it.
Sometimes we’ll take a look and tell you everything seems great.
Sometimes we’ll recommend watching something.
And sometimes that tiny detail you almost didn’t mention gives us a reason to look a little closer.
So bring the questions.
Bring the videos.
Bring the “this is probably nothing, but…” observations.
That’s what having a primary veterinarian is for.