Bringing a new pet home is one of the most exciting moments a family can share, and the weeks that follow are full of firsts. Among the most important of those firsts is a wellness exam, a head-to-tail physical evaluation that sets the foundation for your pet’s long-term health. Many pet owners arrive at the clinic unsure of what to expect, what to bring, or how their companion will respond to the environment. Knowing what happens during that first visit takes the guesswork away and helps your pet walk in prepared, rather than anxious.
At Grace Animal Hospital in Holly Springs, our team approaches every pet examination with a low-stress, fear-free philosophy designed to make both pets and their families feel at ease. We are a family-owned practice built around the idea of being your forever vet, which means our whole team learns your pet’s baseline today so we can recognize changes years from now. From the moment you walk through our doors to the moment you leave with a plan in hand, every step is designed around your pet’s comfort and your peace of mind.
What to Bring to Your Pet’s First Visit
A little preparation goes a long way toward making the appointment smooth. The most important thing you can bring is information. If your pet came from a breeder, rescue, or shelter, any vaccination or deworming records will help our team pick up where prior care left off. A fresh fecal sample collected the morning of the appointment is also helpful, as it allows us to screen for intestinal parasites that may not cause visible symptoms.
For cats, placing the carrier out a few days in advance helps them treat it as familiar territory rather than a cue that something stressful is coming. Dogs should arrive on a leash. If your pet has a known fear response or has been difficult to handle at previous appointments, let us know when you schedule so our team can plan around it. We also accept walk-in appointments and offer same-day care, so if something comes up before you have a scheduled visit, we are open seven days a week to see your pet.
What Happens During the Exam
Your pet’s first wellness exam covers every major body system from nose to tail. Our team will take weight and assign a body condition score, which gives us a baseline we can track over time. Unexplained weight gain or loss is often one of the earliest indicators of a metabolic or organ health issue, so this number matters more than it may seem. From there, the physical evaluation covers eyes, ears, teeth, gums, coat and skin condition, lymph nodes, heart, lungs, and abdomen.
The American Veterinary Medical Association notes on its wellness exam guidance page that if a problem can be detected before your pet shows signs of illness, steps can often be taken to manage or correct it before irreversible damage occurs. That philosophy is at the core of how our whole team approaches every visit here. Beyond the physical exam, your first appointment will typically include a review of your pet’s pet vaccinations and a discussion of what is due now versus what will be scheduled at future visits.
Screening and Diagnostics
Depending on your pet’s age and history, our team may recommend additional screening at the first appointment. We offer in-house diagnostic lab work, which allows us to run bloodwork and process results during your visit rather than waiting days for results. For puppies and dogs who spend time outdoors in North Carolina, we will also discuss heartworm testing and prevention, as this region sees meaningful parasite pressure throughout the warmer months.
Some of the additional topics your first exam commonly covers include the following. These are not always performed on the same day but are part of the broader conversation we begin at your first visit.
- Fecal exam for intestinal parasites, particularly important for puppies and kittens
- Spay or neuter discussion, including timing and what to expect from the procedure
- Parasite prevention planning for fleas, ticks, and heartworm based on lifestyle and exposure
- Nutrition and feeding guidance tailored to your pet’s breed, size, and life stage
- Dental health assessment, with recommendations for at-home care and future cleanings
Every recommendation our team makes is grounded in your pet’s individual circumstances, not a one-size-fits-all protocol. Our conservative, preventive approach means we focus on what your pet actually needs right now, with a clear plan for what comes next.
What to Expect After the Visit
Before you leave, our team will walk you through every finding from the exam and any recommendations for follow-up care. If everything looks healthy, you will leave with a clear picture of your pet’s baseline and a schedule for what comes next. If our team identifies something worth monitoring or treating, we will explain what we found, what it means, and what your options are. You will never leave a Grace Animal Hospital visit without a clear picture of your pet’s health status, and a friendly face to check you out at the front desk on your way out the door.
We accept most pet insurance plans and offer financing through CareCredit and Cherry so quality care is always within reach for your family. A military discount is also available for active duty and veteran families in the Holly Springs area.
Schedule Your Pet’s First Wellness Exam at Grace Animal Hospital
As Holly Springs’ highest-rated veterinary practice, Grace Animal Hospital is a locally owned, family practice open seven days a week with extended hours designed to fit the schedules of busy families in the area. Our caring team is committed to building long-term relationships with every patient and family we see, from your first phone call to your visit and every checkup after. Whether your pet is a puppy meeting our team for the first time or an older dog due for a checkup, we bring the same careful, low-stress approach to every visit, at every step along the way. You can learn more about who we are on our meet the team page.
Ready to get your pet’s care started on the right foot? Book your appointment with Grace Animal Hospital today and let us show you what it means to have a caring team that is truly in your corner for the long haul.
