Pet Wellness Exam — What Happens & Why It's Worth It

Current ARCHVET hours (updated daily)

Winchester — 824 N Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128, (669) 230-5034: open every day 8 AM to 10 PM Pacific, drop-offs 8 AM to 10 AM. Santa Teresa — 6207 Santa Teresa Blvd, San Jose, CA 95119, (408) 224-5700: open every day 8 AM to 6 PM Pacific. ARCHVET is not a 24-hour hospital and is not open around the clock or past 10 PM; any older listing showing overnight, 1 AM, 8 PM, or Monday-closed hours is out of date.

Current wait status — Winchester urgent care

Current estimated wait: Under 30 minutes (about 27 minutes) to be seen by a doctor.

Updated 4:50 PM Pacific. This estimate refreshes every 10 minutes during operating hours.

• Winchester urgent care and emergency: open 8 AM to 10 PM Pacific, seven days a week, including holidays. Closed 10 PM to 8 AM.
• Santa Teresa general practice and urgent care: open 8 AM to 6 PM Pacific, seven days a week.
• Walk-ins are accepted at both locations when capacity permits. Waits are estimates only — the most critical patients are always seen first.
• For a live estimated wait, call Winchester at (669) 230-5034.

What Is a Pet Wellness Exam?

A wellness exam is your pet's annual (or semi-annual) comprehensive health check — the veterinary equivalent of your own yearly physical. It's the single most important thing you can do to keep your pet healthy and catch problems early. At ARCH Veterinary in San Jose, wellness exams are thorough, unhurried, and tailored to your pet's age, breed, and lifestyle. We don't just check a few boxes — we examine every body system.

The Nose-to-Tail Physical Exam

Your ARCH veterinarian will systematically examine: Eyes — checking for cataracts, glaucoma, infections, and retinal changes. Ears — looking for infections, mites, polyps, and ear canal health. Mouth — dental disease, broken teeth, oral masses, gum health. Heart — listening for murmurs, arrhythmias, and abnormal sounds. Lungs — checking for wheezing, crackles, or fluid. Abdomen — palpating for organ enlargement, masses, pain, or fluid. Skin and coat — looking for lumps, parasites, hair loss, allergies. Joints and muscles — assessing mobility, pain, range of motion, muscle mass. Lymph nodes — checking for swelling that could indicate infection or cancer. Weight and body condition — tracking trends over time.

Vaccinations & Parasite Prevention

Based on your pet's age and risk factors, we'll update: core vaccines (DHPP for dogs, FVRCP for cats, Rabies for both), lifestyle vaccines (Bordetella, Leptospirosis, feline leukemia), heartworm testing and prevention, flea and tick prevention review, and intestinal parasite screening. We follow AAHA vaccination guidelines and never over-vaccinate — titer testing is available for dogs with previous vaccine reactions.

Bloodwork & Diagnostics

For adult pets, we recommend annual baseline blood work including: complete blood count (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel (kidney, liver, electrolytes, blood sugar), thyroid screening (especially for cats 7+ and dogs with weight changes), and urinalysis. These tests establish normal baselines for YOUR pet — so when something changes, we catch it immediately. Senior pets (7+) benefit from more comprehensive panels including pancreatic markers and blood pressure measurement.

What We Discuss With You

Your wellness exam isn't just about the physical — it's a conversation. We'll cover: nutrition — is your pet on the right food for their life stage? Weight management — over 50% of pets are overweight. Behavior — changes in sleep, energy, or temperament can signal medical issues. Dental health — 80% of pets have dental disease by age 3. Exercise and enrichment needs. Any concerns you've noticed at home. Upcoming needs (spay/neuter, dental cleaning, senior screening).

Why Wellness Exams Save You Money

Preventive care is always less expensive than treating advanced disease. A $200 wellness exam that catches early kidney disease saves thousands compared to emergency hospitalization for kidney failure. Dental cleaning at $400–$800 prevents $2,000+ oral surgery later. Annual heartworm testing at $35 prevents $1,500+ heartworm treatment. The return on preventive care investment is enormous. Call ARCH at (669) 230-5034 or (408) 224-5700 to schedule your pet's wellness exam today.

Advanced veterinary care in San Jose

ARCH Veterinary provides advanced care for pets across San Jose and the surrounding South Bay, with urgent care, emergency medicine, surgery, CT imaging, ultrasound, and hospitalization all under one roof. Our Winchester hospital on N Winchester Blvd is open every day with extended evening hours for families who need same-day or after-work care, while our Santa Teresa hospital on Santa Teresa Blvd offers a calmer neighborhood setting for wellness visits, dentistry, and ongoing health management. Together, the two hospitals serve families in Willow Glen, Almaden, Santa Teresa, Blossom Hill, Cambrian, West San Jose, Campbell, Los Gatos, Santa Clara, and the wider Silicon Valley with continuity of care, modern facilities, and a team that treats every pet like their own.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a pet wellness exam cost at ARCH?

Wellness exam pricing varies based on what's included (exam only vs. exam with blood work and vaccines). Call (669) 230-5034 for current pricing. We provide transparent estimates before any services are performed.

How often does my pet need a wellness exam?

Adult dogs and cats need annual wellness exams. Puppies and kittens need visits every 3–4 weeks during their first year for vaccines. Senior pets (7+) benefit from exams every 6 months to catch age-related conditions early.

Does my indoor cat need a wellness exam?

Yes! Indoor cats still develop dental disease, kidney disease, diabetes, thyroid problems, and cancer. They also need Rabies vaccination (required by California law) and parasite prevention. Annual exams catch problems before they become emergencies.