What Really Happens

Ha roo, pups! It's me - Stormy. I was just reading over Davy's post from yesterday -- his version of what happens at our 6-month check up in the Senior Care Program. Hmm.... "tummy rubs", "met lots of people", "lots of cookies", etc. Sure, it was all those things, but there's much more. He and I ... look at things a little differently.

Dave on the left, me on the right

I totally agree with Dave about the wonderful people there and how kind they are! I just love seeing everyone! Instead of hugging all of them and rolling on the floor for tummy rubs, though, I like to tell them all about stuff! I'm a bit more "active" than he is, shall we say. Ha roo roo roo. But seriously, in addition to all the loving and cookies, here's the run-down on the Senior Care Program at the KSU Vet Hospital. The key principles are early detection, preventative care, and taking note of changes!

At our 6-month check-up, what Dave and I had this past week, they do the following:

- Thorough physical exam (ALL the basics!) to include checking each and every one of our joints!
- Oral and dental evaluation
- Eye exam (this involves lots of different kinds of drops, something involving a strip of paper in our eyes - I think to see if our tear production is enough so we can wear contacts, eye pressure, dilation, all kinds of stuff!)
- Rectal exam and anal sac expression, if needed (despite what Dave said, it does NOT just mean standing there eating cookies! Partly, but not totally!)
- Tumor mapping - they chart each lump and bump, measure them and test each one to make sure they're "nothing"
- Blood pressure
- Nutritional assessment
- Nail trim, if needed (we've never had them do ours - ours naturally get filed down on our walks; Mom does our dew claws herself - except for Zim... he doesn't have any!)

Let me see ... what all do they do at the yearly thing?

At the yearly check-up, they do all of the above, plus the following:

- Complete blood count
- Organ function and electrolyte profile /serum chemistry profile
- Thyroid screening
- Urinalysis
- Fecal exam for parasites
- Chest x-rays
- Blood pressure
- Heartworm test
- And we get a 12-month supply of Interceptor as part of the package

I think that's it!

So ... true, Dave covered the highlights, but it's more than hugs, cookies, and socializing! We just ALL like those parts best! Ha roo roo roo!

Mega-thanks to all our wonderful vets, students, vet techs, and staff members at KSU Vet Med Hospital for helping keep us in good heath!

Tail wags,
Stormy