Adult pets often appear healthy on the outside, but maintaining good health through their prime years requires more than just responding when something goes wrong. Nutrition, dental care, body weight, and routine health monitoring all play an important role in supporting long-term wellbeing. Regular wellness checks allow us to assess these areas early and help keep pets feeling their best for years to come.
There is no single “perfect” diet for every adult pet. Nutritional needs vary depending on age, size, activity level, and lifestyle. A quiet indoor cat or a dog that enjoys short daily walks will have very different energy requirements compared with a working dog or a highly active companion.
Pets with lower activity levels generally benefit from diets with controlled calorie content to help prevent gradual weight gain. Desexed pets, in particular, often require fewer calories than owners expect. Feeding appropriate portions and choosing a diet matched to their lifestyle can make a significant difference to long-term health.
More active pets, including working and sporting dogs, may need higher-energy diets to support stamina, muscle maintenance, and recovery. Feeding larger amounts of standard food is not always ideal, and diets formulated for higher activity levels can be more suitable.
At annual wellness visits, we review nutrition and lifestyle together. As activity levels change with seasons, work routines, or age, dietary needs may change too.
Maintaining an ideal body weight is one of the most effective ways to support a pet’s health and comfort. Excess weight places strain on joints, affects mobility, and increases the risk of conditions such as diabetes and arthritis. Even small amounts of weight gain over time can have a meaningful impact.
Because weight changes often happen gradually, they can be difficult to notice at home. Regular weight checks and body condition assessments allow us to identify early trends and make small, manageable adjustments before problems develop.
Weight management is not about restriction or sudden change. Instead, it focuses on appropriate nutrition, portion control, and realistic lifestyle adjustments that support long-term success and quality of life.
Dental disease is one of the most common health issues we see in adult dogs and cats. Plaque and tartar build-up can lead to gum disease, infection, and oral pain, often without obvious signs at home. Many pets continue to eat normally despite significant dental discomfort.
Routine dental assessments during wellness checks allow us to identify early changes before they progress to more advanced disease. Addressing dental issues early can help prevent pain, tooth loss, and infection, while also reducing the need for more extensive treatment later.
Good oral health contributes to overall wellbeing, comfort, and longevity, making it an important part of routine adult pet care.
Some of the most important aspects of health cannot be seen during a physical examination alone. Wellness blood testing provides valuable information about internal organ function and overall health, even in pets that appear outwardly well.
Blood testing can help assess:
In adult pets, wellness blood tests are particularly useful for establishing baseline values. Having these reference points allows us to monitor changes over time and identify subtle trends early, often before clinical signs develop. Early detection can make many conditions easier to manage and improve long-term outcomes.
These tests are not about searching for problems, but about confirming good health and identifying risks early.
Adult pets rely on preventative care to stay healthy, comfortable, and active. Nutrition, weight management, dental care, and routine health screening work together to support long-term wellbeing.
Annual wellness checks allow us to assess the whole picture, tailor recommendations to each pet’s lifestyle, and help owners make informed decisions about ongoing care. By focusing on prevention and early detection, we can help keep pets truly in their prime for as long as possible.
