Physical exams — we all hate them. I hate going to the doctor’s office and getting my weight and blood pressure and temperature taken and more. It’s invasive and frustrating. That being said, I also know how important it is. If you have yearly physical examinations on your animals, there are a multitude of things that could be caught early which can prolong your "best friend’s" life. For example:

• Weight changes: Weight gain or weight loss can indicate either a diet issue or other diseases such as issues with the thyroid, diabetes, and other systemic illnesses.

• Heart murmurs: This can be an early sign that can be monitored at future visits, and your pet could start meds early to help the heart function better!

• Changes with lungs: Listening to multiple areas of the lung fields help us determine if there is an issue in one area or all over, and help us determine further diagnostics that may be necessary.

• Palpation of the body/limbs: Helps us find evidence of tumors and/or masses early, and help to determine signs of arthritis or other musculoskeletal concerns.

• Vision: Allows us to see early changes in the eyes, such as signs of cataracts.

There are so many things that your doctor is looking for when doing a physical exam — this is the same for human doctors and animal doctors. Providing yearly examinations and making notes helps us find changes that may indicate early signs of diseases and disorders that could be treated, and provide you more time with your special animal!

HPAI A (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) Exotic Services Update:

Due to the outbreak of HPAI A in Georgia, a contagious strain that has been show to transmit to other animals and humans, at this time we will see caged pet birds on an emergency basis only.

Exotic bird owners are advised to keep their birds in as closed an environment as possible, and to avoid letting birds outside or opening windows for fresh air, as the HPAI A virus has been shown to be transmitted by wind and soil.

Please view this post on our Facebook for additional information.

It’s baaaaack! Newsletter subscribers are the first to hear that our popular Dental Month promotion will return Feb. 1 through 28.

Dental cleanings will be 10% off and your pet’s freshly polished smile will include some take-home items as well: OraVet dental treats, a toothbrush, and enzymatic toothpaste! We’ll also be doing a bunch of dental-related social media posts to educate pet parents about the importance of brushing teeth on their furchildren.

Please note, the 10% discount only applies to the dental cleaning procedure itself! It does not include any anesthesia or additional medications that may be deemed necessary. Give us a call today at 706-783-5111 to get your pet’s dental booked before the calendar fills up!

Put those “Claws Up” —

Have you snagged tickets yet for Pucks & Paws Night at the Athens Rock Lobsters hockey game on Sunday, Feb. 2?! The first 500 fans to stop by our table will receive a Rock Lobsters + Comer Vet pet bandana (two sizes available, small and large, while supplies last), treats, and a coupon to use at a future appointment! The Rock Lobsters will have plenty of festivities for this fun Sunday afternoon out, so be sure to follow them on social media to stay in the loop. We hear doggos are invited, too!

The February photo contest theme is SELFIES!

Take a horizontal selfie with your pet(s) and send it to us by Feb. 23! Entries can be submitted via DM on the Comer Vet Facebook page or Instagram. Voting will be short this month due to February being February — ballot casting runs the 26 through 28.

Stay in touch on Facebook & Instagram!

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