Dogs and cats are very good at hiding when they are not feeling well. This is instinctive behavior held over from when they lived in the wild and dared not show weakness to other animals. Unfortunately, this instinctive behavior can mask health problems, often to the point where they can be difficult or impossible to treat. For this reason, we recommend at least once yearly physical exams for your pet. If you have a geriatric pet, we may recommend more frequent checks and possibly screening tests. It is not at all uncommon for us to discover life-threatening problems on routine physical exams, and the earlier we catch something, the more likely we can successfully treat it.
