Sick Pet Exams

When your pet is feeling ill you shouldn’t have to wait 2 weeks to be seen, or make a trip to the emergency room for a minor ailment. We will always be there for you and your pet, offering same or next-day sick appointments during our regular daytime practice hours.

Veterinarian holds a stethoscope up to a young tricolor tabby kitten

How do I know if my pet is sick?

While routine wellness exams are recommended every 6-12 months, it’s important to recognize some common signs that your pet might not be feeling well so that you can get them in for a sick exam and get them the care they need, before things get worse.

Signs of illness in pets can include lethargy, not eating or drinking, diarrhea, persistent scratching or head shaking, limping, vomiting, discharge around the eyes or nose, coughing, and more.

What happens during a sick patient exam?

A sick patient exam starts much the same way as our comprehensive wellness exam, by taking your pet’s weight and body temperature, followed by a thorough physical examination and a discussion of their symptoms with you. Depending on the issue, additional diagnostics may be recommended to find the source of the problem. This could include bloodwork or fecal testing, imaging, other lab work, or more.

Once a diagnosis has been reached, your veterinarian will recommend a treatment plan to get your pet back to health, as well as discuss any potential action on your part that could help prevent the issue from reoccurring. Our veterinary team will always discuss options and costs with you before proceeding with treatment.

Sick Pet Exam Questions

You might be wondering…

Keep an eye out for things like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, stiffness, changes in appetite or weight, persistent scratching or head shaking, limping, discharge around the eyes or nose, unusual bathroom habits, coughing, sneezing, and more.

Depending on the issue, the doctor may need to do further testing, or they may be able to diagnose and prescribe a treatment plan right away. Our goal is to help your pet recover as quickly as possible and a follow up visit may, or may not be required. We will always discuss treatment options, costs, and recovery times with you before moving forward with any procedures.

Yes, you will be with your pet throughout the doctor’s exam. The doctor may ask additional questions about your pet in order to help reach a diagnosis. If it is determined that your pet needs lab work or other treatment requiring specialized medical equipment or supplies not available in the exam rooms, we will need to take your pet into our treatment area where you will not be able to accompany them.

Yes, we accept all forms of pet insurance, as well as our in-house wellness plans, and Scratch Pay.

Paw-sitive Vibes Only →

Modern Pet Care

With all new, top-of-the-line equipment and a gorgeous new facility, we’re modernizing the entire pet care experience. Our hybrid primary-and-emergency care model eliminates day-to-ER transfers, reducing stress on both pets and owners, while also allowing for consistency in treatment planning and standard of care.