At Westlake Village Animal Hospital, we provide your pet's annual 'nose to toes' exam giving our veterinary doctors the chance to evaluate your pet's overall health and to detect problems before they turn into serious illnesses. Larger breed K9's and senior pets should have additional attention given to their special needs. Remember, a pet ages seven years for every one year a human does.

• Reviewing Your Pet’s Medical History - Our veterinarians will review pre-existing medical conditions and records, as well as perform a thorough ‘Nose to Toes’ physical examination. A good physical examination can detect minor abnormalities before they become a serious medical problem for your pet. Once the doctors have reviewed all of this information, we will discuss the findings to help develop a customized wellness plan.
• Ear and Eye Examination - Routine eye and ear examinations are part of our bi-annual ‘Nose to Toes’ physical examinations. Your pet’s ear exam will include checking inside the ear canal for redness, any discharge, foul odor, debris or possible infection. Your pet’s eye exam will include checking for cataracts, signs of redness, squinting, cloudy corneas, retinal disease or other serious problems that could affect your pet’s eye health.
• Cardiopulmonary (Heart and Lung) analysis - It is important to have your pet’s heart and lungs examined bi-annually. During our bi-annual ‘Nose to Toes’ exam, our veterinarians will listen to your pet’s heart to detect the presence of any murmurs, arrhythmias, and other abnormal heart sounds. Our veterinarians will listen to your pet’s lung sounds, including respiration rate and to detect any signs of abnormal breathing.
• Neurological Exam - During our bi-annual ‘Nose to Toes’ physical examination, our veterinarians will examine your pet’s reflexes, check for any abnormalities or pain along the vertebrae, as well as mental awareness and pet alertness.
• Abdominal Palpation - Abdominal Palpitation is a technique used by our veterinarians in physical examinations where the examiner feels the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts with the hands. This is also used to feel muscle tone, tenderness or pain, and to help assess internal organs.
• Dental Exam - During your pet’s physical examination, our veterinarians will examine your pet’s teeth, gums, lips and tongue. Dental disease is common in dogs and cats and our veterinarians look for the early (and often easy to treat) symptoms of dental disease.
• Dermatological Exam – Healthy skin and coat are very important indicators if something is wrong with your pet. Your pet’s outer coat and skin will often reflect the general overall health of your pet. Our veterinarians will examine your pet’s skin and coat to determine any allergies, parasites, infections or nutritional deficiencies. Remember, a healthy pet has few skin and coat problems.
• Musculoskeletal Evaluation – Our veterinarians will observe your pet’s strength and gait from various angles of view. This helps us determine if there are any signs of fractures, pain, or abnormalities. Frequently, physical exam findings indicate your pet may need an x-ray or other diagnostic testing because many apparent pet musculoskeletal problems are caused by underlying issues of other systems.
• Nutritional Counseling – Your pet’s nutrition and their healthy eating habits are important for a healthy and happy life. Our veterinarians show you how to best feed your pet, how much food to feed, and educate you on the differences in pet foods, in order for your pet to get the best nutrition for his age and breed. Feeding your furry household member the proper pet food quantity is just as important as the quality of their diet.