NORTH WELLINGTON ANIMAL HOSPITAL - North Wellington Animal Hospital

The Importance of Annual Wellness Exams

7/27/2026

A Simple Checkup Today Can Make a Big Difference Tomorrow

Our pets are experts at hiding when something isn't quite right. They can't tell us when they're feeling off, and often, by the time they show obvious signs of illness, a condition has already progressed.

That's why annual wellness exams are one of the most important things you can do for your pet. Regular wellness exams allow us to get to know your pet, monitor their health over time, and catch potential concerns early, helping them live a longer, healthier, and happier life.

Whether you've just welcomed a playful puppy into your home or your senior cat has been by your side for years, an annual checkup is an important part of keeping them feeling their best.

What Is a Wellness Exam?

Think of a wellness exam as your pet's yearly health check-in.

Even if your pet seems perfectly healthy, a lot can change in a year. During their appointment, our veterinary team performs a thorough nose-to-tail examination, discusses any changes you've noticed at home, and answers any questions you may have.

It's also a chance to make sure your pet is staying on track with vaccinations, parasite prevention, nutrition, and overall health.

Most importantly, it gives us the opportunity to identify small concerns before they become bigger problems.

Why Early Detection Matters

Many health conditions develop slowly and quietly.
Pets often continue acting like themselves even when something isn't quite right, which makes regular wellness exams incredibly valuable.
During routine checkups, we may detect the early signs of conditions such as:

Arthritis
Dental disease
Diabetes
Heart disease
Kidney disease
Thyroid disorders
Obesity
Skin conditions
Certain types of cancer

When problems are found early, treatment is often simpler, more effective, and can significantly improve your pet's quality of life.

Wellness Care at Every Stage of Life

Your pet's healthcare needs naturally change as they grow.

Puppies & Kittens:
Young pets have a lot of growing to do! Regular visits during their first year help us monitor healthy development, complete vaccinations, discuss nutrition, and answer all those new pet parent questions.

Adult Pets:
For healthy adult pets, annual wellness exams help keep everything on track. These visits focus on prevention, maintaining good health, and identifying any changes before they become bigger concerns.

Senior Pets:
As our furry friends get older, regular health monitoring becomes even more important. Senior pets are more likely to develop age-related conditions, and routine wellness exams help us detect changes early so we can keep them comfortable, active, and enjoying life for as long as possible.

Book Your Pet's Annual Wellness Exam

If it's been a while since your pet's last checkup, now is the perfect time to schedule a wellness exam.
Whether they're a curious kitten, an energetic dog, or a beloved senior companion, regular preventive care is one of the best investments you can make in their health.

Pause For Claws

11/15/2024

Thinking about declawing your cat? Here are some things to consider first.

What is Feline Onychectomy (declawing)?

Declawing is the surgical amputation of the last joint on the toe. This includes the bone that houses the nail bed.

What are the concerns?

Declawing is illegal in most first world countries. Though not yet illegal in Canada many clinics are adopting a no declaw policy.
The surgery itself is very painful with reports of some cats experiencing lameness for months to years afterwards. With this amputation many cats develop permanent lameness, arthritis and other complications over a period of years.

When cats walk they use the tips of their toes as weight bearers, with their steps being cushioned by the pads under the toes. Declawed cats have to adjust their weight which leads to painful arthritis in their backs and shoulders.

Cats may also develop a litter box aversion, meaning they will not use their litter box as they may associate it with the pain they feel in their paws when trying to cover the waste. They will seek a less painful place for elimination such as carpets, beds, laundry and even in the bathtub.

Claws are a cat’s primary form of defense; without them they may resort to their only other line of defense, their teeth. Cats use scratches as a “warning” – without claws, some cats become biters.

What complications can happen when declawing a cat?

Along with the risk of general anesthesia, following surgery there is risk of infection. A different type of litter is required to ensure no dust/particles from clay litters, pellets or wood shavings gets into the incisions. Other potential complications include:

Pain and damage to the radial nerve
Bone chips that prevent healing
Painful regrowth of claw inside the paw which is not visible to the eye.
Some require constant pain management to correct while others may require a second anesthesia and surgery at added cost.

What are the other options?

Scratching is a natural behaviour for cats: it’s a way to mark territory and a form of exercise, and it feels good to them. Redirecting their scratching is a huge component of managing the behaviour.

Offering multiple cat scratchers of different forms is ideal. Every cat is different and likes to scratch at different textures, inclines and times. The cat scratcher must be tall and sturdy enough to allow them to fully extend their body without falling (which can scare them and leave them unwilling to use it again).
Having regular nail trims performed at home or at the veterinary office helps prevent damage to furniture.
Nail caps (such as Soft Paws) are soft vinyl caps that are painlessly glued over the nail, which prevents damage due to scratching. Soft paws can be purchased at many pet stores or through your veterinarian, and can be applied by one of our staff members.
There are several products that can be used to help cats find appropriate places to scratch. For example, the pheromone spray Feliway promotes feelings of comfort and familiarity in cats, which can help encourage them to use a scratching post.
Using cat nip in a scratcher is fun way to encourage your cat to use it.
Increasing play time is a fun, healthy way to tire your cat out and leaves less time for boredom scratching.

Please feel free to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with any of our staff. We can book your cat in for a nail trim at any time, and we typically carry the Feliway pheromone spray in stock. If you’d like to try the “Soft Paws” nail caps, please let us know and we can apply them at no charge.

How To Help Your Cat Adjust To A New Home

8/12/2016

Depending on your cats personality, moving to a new home may be easy or stressful for them. We've put together four tips to help make the transition more smooth.

Protect Your Cat: 4 Diseases You Can Vaccinate Against

7/19/2016

North Wellington Animal Hospital - 4 Diseases You Can Vaccinate Your Cat Against

Vaccinating your cat can seem vague. What exactly are they being protected against? What is the risk to them if they aren't vaccinated?

We don't want any experience with your vet to seem unclear, so here are the main diseases that we can vaccinate against.

Some Thought For Food: Are Raw Meat Diets Worth It?

5/24/2016

Raw meat diets can be beneficial for your pet when done carefully, but there are many risks involved. If you would like more information on how best to feed your pet, make an appointment with us for nutritional counselling.

What To Know About Grain Free Diets

5/24/2016

Many are opting for grain-free carbohydrate alternative choices for their pet food because of a belief that they are more easily digested by their pet. Here is some information you may not know about having grain in your pet's diet.

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