A wellness exam is a planned nose-to-tail checkup, once a year for most adult dogs and cats and twice a year for seniors, where the vet looks for small changes and updates vaccines and parasite prevention. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Indian Land, a vet clinic off US-521 in Indian Land, South Carolina, keeps a running record of what normal looks like for your pet so that a change stands out.
Call (803) 232-9817 or book online.
What does the vet check at a wellness exam?
At Petfolk Indian Land, the vet checks every body system, and none of these checks needs a needle:
Weight and body condition: slow weight gain, muscle loss, thyroid changes.
Eyes and ears: ear infections, mites, cloudy lenses.
Mouth: tartar, gum disease, broken or painful teeth.
Heart and lungs: murmurs, irregular rhythm, airway noise.
Belly: enlarged organs, pain or a mass.
Skin, coat and lymph nodes: lumps, fleas or ticks, swollen nodes.
Joints and gait: early arthritis, knee or hip problems.
The team uses Gentle Handling: treats, a slow pace, and letting nervous pets stay close to you.
How often should my pet have a wellness exam?
How often depends on life stage, following the general approach of AAHA preventive care guidance:
Puppies and kittens: every few weeks until about 16 weeks, for the vaccine series, deworming and stool checks.
Adults (about 1 to 7 years): once a year, with boosters as due, a heartworm test for dogs and parasite screening.
Seniors (about 7 and up): twice a year, with blood work and urine tests to watch the kidneys, liver and thyroid. Large-breed dogs reach senior age sooner; the senior pet care page covers that stage.
What do wellness visits at Petfolk Indian Land usually include?
Most wellness visits at Petfolk Indian Land include a vaccine. Since the clinic opened (May 8 to October 19, 2026):
Four in five Indian Land wellness visits (82%) included at least one vaccine.
About 1 in 3 (34%) were for puppies and kittens under a year old.
More than 4 in 10 (42%) were a pet's very first visit with Petfolk, as many families moved care to the new clinic.
About 5 in 6 Indian Land wellness patients (84%) were dogs.
They took time with us, answered all of our questions, explained everything thoroughly and even followed up with calls and texts to see how our dog was doing.
Kim N., Google review
Which local risks does the vet ask about in Indian Land?
The Petfolk Indian Land vet asks about your pet's routine because South Carolina's parasites shape the plan:
Heartworm. South Carolina ranked fifth in the nation for canine heartworm cases in the American Heartworm Society's 2025 incidence survey.
Ticks. Ticks in South Carolina can bite and spread disease year round, and six species are common here (SC Department of Public Health).
Rabies. South Carolina law requires dogs, cats and ferrets to stay continuously vaccinated against rabies (S.C. Code 47-5-60).
Tell the vet if you walk at county parks such as Deputy Roy Hardin Park, or if your pet boards, goes to daycare or travels, since time around other animals changes which vaccines matter.
Is a wellness exam different from a sick visit?
Yes. A wellness exam is planned around your pet's yearly due date and looks at the whole body and long-term trends. A sick visit is for a new symptom such as limping, vomiting, itching or not eating, and starts with that problem. A checkup can absorb a small concern, but a bigger one may need its own sick pet visit so it gets proper time.
What should I bring to my pet's checkup?
Bring these to Petfolk Indian Land:
A list of food, treats and supplements, with brand names.
The name and last dose date of any flea, tick or heartworm product.
Your written questions, since they're easy to forget in the room.
A fresh stool sample if the team asked for one.
You leave with a summary and next steps. Consent and payment happen in the exam room with your care team, and you see an estimate before any test or treatment beyond the exam.
What if my pet seems seriously ill on checkup day?
Skip the checkup and go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet collapses, has trouble breathing, has pale gums or a swollen, hard belly. Wellness visits are for planning, not emergencies.
Where can I book a yearly checkup off US-521?
Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Indian Land is a veterinarian in Indian Land at 1150 Sherbrook Ave, Ste B109, Indian Land, SC 29707, and sees families from Bailes Ridge and across Indian Land. Call (803) 232-9817 or book online.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Indian Land, or see all veterinary services in Indian Land.
Checkup questions, answered plainly
A short hop off US-521 in Indian Land