Sick Patient Exam
When your pet isn’t feeling well, we provide timely, accurate assessments and personalized diagnostic and treatment plans to help them recover quickly and stay healthy.
What Is a Sick Pet Exam?
A sick pet exam is a focused veterinary visit for pets showing unusual symptoms, discomfort, or changes in behaviour. During these visits, our veterinarians carefully assess your pet, diagnose underlying issues, and begin treatment promptly to prevent complications. Because pets can’t tell us what’s wrong, early evaluation is essential for the best outcomes.
Common Signs Your Pet Needs a Sick Exam
Contact us promptly if your pet shows any of the following:
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Loss of appetite or weight
- Lethargy or unusual behaviour
- Coughing or difficulty breathing
- Skin rashes or lumps
- Excessive thirst or urination
- Pain or mobility issues
- Eye or ear discharge
- Sudden changes in elimination habits.
Even subtle changes can indicate serious health concerns — trust your instincts and seek care early.
What to Expect During a Sick Pet Exam
During a sick pet exam, our veterinarians perform a comprehensive nose-to-tail physical assessment. We review your concerns, including symptom onset, diet, behavior, current medications, and any prior medical conditions. Based on our findings, we may recommend diagnostic tests such as bloodwork, urine or fecal analysis, and imaging. From there, we create a personalized treatment plan, which may include medications, dietary changes, monitoring, and follow-up visits.
Why Choose Us for Sick Pet Care
Our experienced veterinarians, with strong backgrounds in emergency medicine, are skilled in diagnosing complex conditions and provide compassionate, low-stress care for anxious or ill pets.
We offer same-day or next-day appointments for urgent concerns, access to advanced on-site diagnostics for rapid results, and personalized treatment plans with follow-up care and ongoing support to help your pet recover quickly and comfortably.
Preventive Care vs. Sick Visits
Wellness exams help prevent illness, while sick pet exams are critical when symptoms appear unexpectedly. Prompt attention can significantly improve your pet’s recovery and overall quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly should I bring my pet in if they are sick?
If you’re concerned, we’re concerned. Pets showing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, difficulty breathing, lethargy, loss of appetite, bleeding or sudden behavioural changes should be seen as soon as possible, as some issues can escalate quickly.
Do you treat small mammals or exotic species?
We are not equipped to safely perform examinations and diagnostics or prescribe medications for small mammals or exotic species. However, we can provide compassionate end-of-life care for these pets if they are suffering, to ensure they are comfortable and supported during that time.
For urgent or specialized care, 404 Emergency and Referral Hospital accepts small mammals and exotic pets after hours, or click HERE for a list of local practices that see them during regular business hours.
Do I need to bring anything to the exam?
Bring any relevant medical records, emergency summaries, medications, or information about recent diet and behavior changes.
What if my pet needs urgent care after-hours?
We understand that veterinary care isn’t limited to standard business hours. That’s why we teamed up with VetWise to provide virtual care and can refer you to an emergency facility if needed by calling (647) 695-5411. Click Out-of-Hours for more details.
If your pet is experiencing a true emergency, please go directly to a 24-hour emergency clinic. 24-Hour Emergency Clinics Nearby
To find out about the pricing for our sick patient exams, please click the button below. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.