Dear Readers,

This time of year, many people ask me if I take my own pets for a "spring wellness test," an annual pet checkup that has become popular with veterinary hospitals.

Short answer: yes.

In my opinion, it's a "pay now or pay later" scenario. The wellness test can catch diseases in their earliest stage, which gives the owner a heads-up, allowing them to manage or reverse certain problems before they become insurmountable and even more costly to correct. Yes, I'm a believer.

When we set our clocks forward one hour in the spring, the fire departments remind their communities to check their smoke alarms. I've now programmed myself to change my clocks, check the alarms ... then make a veterinary appointment for each of my four-legged companions.

Even if I feel my pets are perfectly healthy, I can't "see" what's going on inside their bodies and I don't possess the expert eyes, hands and knowledge of a skilled veterinarian.

Case in point: my five-year old cat, Mona, a life-long kibble eater, recently began refusing to eat her regular kibble in favour of canned food. My first thought was that she was bored with her regular diet and was simply seeking a change.

Fair enough, but when she refused three trial packages of different kibble, I knew something was wrong.

It was during our recent wellness test appointment that I discovered the reason for Mona's behaviour: periodontal disease. Yes, Mona was suffering from dental problems that would certainly cause pain leading to avoidance of hard food. Not only was Mona experiencing tender gums and discomfort, she was at risk of developing secondary complications that could affect her overall health in the same way as periodontal disease carries medical risks for humans.

Thanks to our annual appointment, we caught her dental woes early and have scheduled surgery.

The wellness test may differ slightly between veterinary hospitals and according to your pet's age and general health.

My own veterinary clinic begins the test with a weigh-in followed by a physical check starting with the head (eyes, ears, mouth) and moving along the body to check for lumps and bumps, condition of coat and skin and tenderness or swelling that may indicate a closer look or additional tests.

A blood sample is taken and sent to a laboratory to assess organ function levels and check for heartworm. Your veterinarian can add any other tests required to address specific concerns with your own pet. When the blood panel results are returned to your veterinarian (usually within a week), he will analyze the results, compare them to last year's report if necessary and alert you to any that may require further analysis.

This is also the time to discuss any other health questions pertaining to your pet.

I always suggest that owners write a "shopping list" prior to their appointment. The list is essential to remind yourself of all the things you wanted to bring to your veterinarian's attention. The list can include everything from diet and weight concerns to behavioural issues and all those things you want to address but always seem to forget as soon as you step into the veterinarian's office.

Ask your vet about any possible changes in protocol relating to vaccines and other preventive products to address heartworm, fleas, ticks and other parasites and any diseases that may be prevalent in your own community.

Veterinary research and resulting products continue to move at a rapid pace and your veterinarian will have the most updated information and can tailor the products specifically to your own pet's needs.

One last note: when booking your appointment for the wellness test, ask if you should provide a sample of your pet's urine and feces for examination. Clinics can differ in what each offers within the wellness test.

E-mail jacque-newman@rogers.com with a question, comment or suggestion.