What do I need to bring to a wellness exam?

Well, you need to bring your dog! Ideally, you’d also bring a stool sample. I know that sounds kind of weird, but it would be beneficial if the dog's due for a fecal check that you would bring that sample along. That way, we don't have to have you come back again to drop off a stool sample. That would probably be it.

If it's the first time that this particular veterinarian sees your dog, then you're going to want to bring as much as you can. So what does that mean? You're going to want to bring previous records (including vaccinations) from the former veterinarian, a stool sample, the latter of which is a good thing to bring whether it's a new vet or your current vet that you've seen for years. A stool sample is often something they want to look at.

Ask the office first whether they want a urine sample. You might also consider bringing a previous rabies tag if you're unsure or you don't have the rest of the records with you. And then the other thing I would bring is a list of medications. Again, if you're seeing this veterinarian currently and have been for a while, they should have a list of those medications because they're probably the ones prescribing it to you. But if you moved or you're switching veterinarians, bring a list of all current medications that your dog has taken.

If you're a new client to us, we ask that you bring any previous records that you may have, and we would like a fecal sample.

Bring any relevant information about your pet to the wellness exam, such as the type of food they eat, current preventatives, and any medications they are taking. Your veterinarian may also request a fecal sample to test for intestinal parasites and a urine sample to check for urinary tract infections.

When taking your dog to a wellness exam, make sure to bring their vaccine records, any recent heartworm or fecal test results, and any blood work or urinary test results, if available. This helps the veterinarian have a complete picture of your dog's health history.

You just need to bring your dog along with a sample of their feces if it's an annual exam. It's important for checking for internal parasites, which can be contagious to people.