The veterinary exam is a vital part of ensuring that our residents live a long and healthy life and that any health concerns are caught early and treated appropriately.

The veterinary exam begins well before our veterinarian actually puts her hands on an animal. It starts while talking with caretakers about behavior, eating habits, defecation habits, etc. During this discussion, our vet will be observing the animal from afar. She will be watching things like:

• How the animal walks and stands.

• Whether the animal is bright, alert and aware of its surroundings.

• The animal’s general body condition - does it look overweight or underweight?

Once the physical exam begins, our veterinarian will pay attention to all of these areas, make note of abnormalities and come up with recommendations for any tests that may be indicated.

• The skin and haircoat - are there areas of excessive dryness, oiliness, or evidence of wounds or external parasites (fleas, ticks) as well feel for lumps or bumps.

• Eyes - evidence of redness, swelling, discharge around the eyes. Are there changes to the inside of the eyes like the iris and/or lens.

• Ears - any sign of infection such as discharge, odor, dark debris that could mean ear mites

• Nose and face - our vet will look for facial symmetry, discharge from the nose, changes to the texture of the nose and skin folds around the nose and mouth

• Mouth and teeth - all teeth will be examined for fractured or missing teeth, excessive tartar buildup, or changes to the tongue and gums.

• Heart and lungs - careful auscultation will ensure the animal’s heart rate and rhythm are normal and that there are no murmurs. She will also ensure that the lungs do not have any increased or decreased breath sounds

• Abdomen - this area will be palpated to feel organ size and location, making sure the stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, spleen and bladder feel normal.

• Limbs and spine - making sure muscling of the legs are symmetrical, no boney changes are palpated, and that muscling over the spine is adequate. Nails will also be examined to ensure they are not excessively long, split, or damaged.

In addition to the physical exam, our residents will have a blood, urine and fecal sample submitted to check organ function and rule out any parasites or infection. Many animals will also have radiographs taken to check organ size and location so any changes can be caught early and any necessary therapy can be started promptly.

We are so grateful to Dr. Noemi Plantz and the entire team at Homey Gnome for the excellent attention and care they provide for our residents!