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Preventive medicine · Dogs and cats
Your pet looks perfectly fine. That's exactly why a yearly exam matters.
Many problems develop without any visible signs, and animals mask discomfort by instinct. A yearly visit lets us catch what the eye can't see, tailor prevention to age and lifestyle, and plan everything with complete transparency.
One of the simplest, most useful preventive steps for your pet.
Plan the visit
Book an appointment
Online, in a few minutes.
Prepare my visit
What to bring and note before you come.
Anxious pet? Tell us when booking: we prepare a low-stress visit.
Why come in
Even when all seems well
The annual exam is not just a vaccine update. It's a chance to compare, observe trends and adapt prevention to your pet's age and lifestyle, before problems have a chance to worsen.
Early detection
Teeth, skin, ears, weight, joints, pain: many conditions develop without early signs. The exam catches changes before they worsen and treatment options narrow.
A plan tailored to your pet
A 6-month-old kitten has different needs than a 9-year-old Labrador. The visit brings personalized advice on nutrition, behaviour and parasite prevention, based on age and lifestyle.
Behavioural changes
Appetite, energy, social life, mobility: some signs are easier to notice at home. Our quality-of-life assessment tool helps you document them before the visit.
Open the assessment toolContinuity of care
If follow-up is needed, we schedule a progress exam before you even leave the clinic.
Tracking trends
Year over year, we compare weight, body condition, blood panels and overall health. These trends are often more telling than any isolated result.
Your peace of mind
Knowing your pet has been examined thoroughly, everything is on record and a plan is in place: that peace of mind is real.
The contents
What's included in the exam
A full health assessment, not just a vaccine reminder.
Complete physical exam: nose to tail
Mouth, teeth and gums, ears, eyes, skin and coat, heart and lungs, abdominal palpation, joints, pain and mobility. Every system is reviewed methodically.
Why it matters : A structured exam detects what's invisible on the surface: a fractured tooth under the gum line, a painful joint, an early abdominal mass.
Weight and body condition
We record exact weight and assess body condition on a standardized 1-to-9 scale, comparing to previous visits to spot a trend.
Why it matters : Obesity is one of the most common and most underestimated health problems in pets. Catching a trend early means acting before diabetes, arthritis or cardiac issues set in.
Full lifestyle review
Diet, behaviour, environment, outings, travel, boarding, parasite exposure, contact with other animals: an honest discussion to tailor recommendations to your reality.
Why it matters : A sedentary indoor cat has very different needs than a dog that runs in the forest every weekend. Lifestyle guides every recommendation: from vaccines to antiparasitics to nutrition.
Updated prevention plan
Vaccines and antiparasitics only if relevant to lifestyle, plus targeted screening. Nothing systematic: everything individualized.
Why it matters : We don't give all vaccines every year. The schedule depends on individual risk and immunity duration: fewer unnecessary injections, a focus on what matters.
Time for your questions, and a summary
You leave with a clear summary of observations, prioritized recommendations and a follow-up plan if needed. We answer every question without rushing you.
Why it matters : A visit should never end with more questions than you arrived with. The goal: you leave with a clear picture of your pet's health and the next steps.
Indoor cats
Even without going outside, dental disease, weight gain and age-related conditions often progress without visible signs. A yearly visit is recommended, even for the most zen indoor cat.
Senior pets (≈ 7 years and older)
Depending on profile, check-ups every 6 to 12 months help stay proactive: pain, mobility, weight, and when indicated, bloodwork for kidney and liver function. Aging comfortably takes planning.
How care has evolved
What changed in our protocols
Preventive veterinary medicine has evolved. So have our recommendations, for the better.
Traditional approach
- Systematic annual vaccines for everyone
- Visit = vaccine reminder only
- Little room for personalized discussion
- Same antiparasitic protocol for all pets
- Little follow-up between visits
- Cost estimate often came after the fact
Our current approach
- Vaccine schedule based on individual risk
- Complete physical exam independent of vaccines
- Personalized advice on nutrition and behaviour
- Antiparasitics tailored to actual lifestyle
- Progress exam scheduled if needed
- Systematic cost estimate before any procedure
On the day
What to expect
A structured visit, no surprises.
Welcome and record update
A few minutes to confirm information, note any recent changes (appetite, behaviour, medications) and update the record. This is also the time to tell us what's on your mind.
Complete physical exam (≈ 15 to 25 min)
Head to tail: mouth, eyes, ears, skin, heart, lungs, abdomen, joints, pain and mobility. Everything is recorded, and we explain what we observe as we go.
Discussion, prevention plan and cost estimate
We share our observations, propose an adapted plan and present options with a clear cost estimate, before any procedure. You decide with full information, no pressure.
Follow-up scheduled before you leave
If a progress exam or further workup is indicated, we set the date before you leave the clinic. You leave with a written summary.
Before you come
Prepare your visit well
A few minutes of preparation to make the most of it.
What to bring
- A stool sample: about 1 teaspoon (≈ 5 mL), ideally collected less than 12 hours before the visit
- Names, doses and quantities of all food, medications and supplements (a photo of the label works great)
- Health records or any previous veterinary documents if your pet is a new client
- Your pet's favourite treats: they make the exam more pleasant for everyone
Questions to prepare
- Changes in appetite or thirst since the last visit
- Changes in weight or body shape
- Changes in behaviour, energy or mobility
- Questions about diet or supplements
- Cats: covered carrier preferred, it reduces stress
- Dogs: leash or appropriately sized carrier
A calm visit
Our low-stress approach
A calm visit is better for everyone. Mention an anxious pet when booking: we can arrange a quiet environment, pheromones, acclimatization time, and if needed a pre-visit plan (calming supplements or light medication).
Gentle, kind handling
Minimal, respectful restraint. No rough handling: every gesture is meant to keep your pet's trust.
Positive reinforcement
Treats, encouragement, breaks as needed: we turn the visit into a positive experience, so the next one is less frightening.
Pheromones and a calm atmosphere
Soothing diffusers (Feliway for cats, Adaptil for dogs), separate waiting areas and a quiet atmosphere from the moment you arrive.
Anxiety management plan
For very stressed pets, we can consider calming supplements or light pre-visit medication. Just ask when booking.
Don't wait
When to come sooner?
These signs warrant a visit without waiting for the next yearly date.
Loss of appetite, repeated vomiting or persistent diarrhea
Notably increased thirst or urination
Rapid weight loss or gain without an obvious dietary change
Limping, stiffness, difficulty getting up or climbing stairs
Coughing, shortness of breath or sudden exercise intolerance
Intense itching, ear infection, skin lesions or a dull coat
Sudden behaviour change: aggression, withdrawal, disorientation
Bad breath, difficulty chewing, excessive drooling
Emergency: immediate evaluation recommended
Respiratory distress or cyanosis (blue or grey gums or tongue), fainting, seizures, uncontrollable vomiting, severe pain, urinary obstruction (especially in male cats), active hemorrhage.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
My pet seems healthy: does it really need an annual exam?
Yes. Many problems (dental, skin and ears, weight, pain and mobility) develop without visible signs at first, and animals often mask discomfort by instinct. The exam enables early detection and targeted advice, before treatment options narrow.
If no vaccines are due, why come in?
The visit doesn't depend on vaccines. We perform a complete physical exam and update the prevention plan; vaccines are only given if indicated based on lifestyle and immunity duration. The value of the visit is the exam itself.
How long does the visit take?
Usually 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the patient and topics to cover. For senior pets or those with several points to discuss, it may run a bit longer, and that's perfectly fine.
My pet is very stressed at the vet. What can we do?
Let us know when booking: we prepare a low-stress visit (calm environment, pheromones, acclimatization time, treats). Calming supplements or light medication can be considered pre-visit if needed. This is one of the most common requests we receive.
Will I get a cost estimate before any care?
Yes, always. We present a care plan with a cost estimate before any procedure. You decide with full information, no surprise at checkout.
How often should indoor cats be examined?
Once a year, even for strictly indoor cats: dental disease, weight gain and various age-related conditions often progress with no outward signs. From age 7 to 8, check-ups every 6 to 12 months are often advised.
Your pet deserves attentive care, every year
Each visit builds a health record over time: weight, body condition, trends, lab results. That's how we catch what changes, before it becomes a problem.
You will receive a cost estimate before any procedure.