by Karen Sable, Guest Columnist As part of Pet Wellness Month,
one action every pet parent can learn to contribute to their
pet’s wellness is to frequently perform their own Snout-To-Tail
Wellness Assessment. This “tool” is a systematic and deliberate
method for evaluating and knowing the status of your pet’s
everyday health. It allows you to learn what is “normal” for
your pet, and therefore to be able to more quickly recognize
something that is not normal, making early detection more
likely. It can also be a good bonding experience for you and
your pet. The Wellness Assessment ideally should be done at
least once a week, with the results of each assessment
documented. By examining your pet from Snout-to-Tail on a
regular, ongoing basis, and keeping records of each assessment,
you are able to detect any irregularities (lumps, bumps,
swelling, tenderness, secretions, etc.), and also identify and
changes since your last assessment. This can provide vital
information for following up with your Vet. The Snout-To