Once a year is the minimum for an adult dog or cat's wellness exam, and every six months suits senior pets or pets with ongoing conditions, so small changes are caught early. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark, Petfolk's first clinic in SouthPark, is a veterinary clinic on Old Sardis Road in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a wellness exam starts at $99 or is included with PetfolkCare.
That once-a-year guidance comes from the American Animal Hospital Association, and it matters because a year is a long time in a pet's life.
Call (980) 580-8079 or book online.
What happens at a wellness exam at Petfolk SouthPark?
Every checkup at Petfolk SouthPark runs in the same order, so you know what to expect.
Check-in and vital signs. The team weighs your pet and takes temperature, pulse and breathing rate. The vet scores body condition by feeling the ribs and waist, which tells fat from muscle in a way the scale can't.
Head-to-tail exam. Eyes, ears, teeth and gums, lymph nodes, heart and lungs, belly, skin and coat, joints and paws. Ask questions as the vet goes. Pets who find visits stressful get Gentle Handling: a slower pace, treats where allowed and breaks when needed.
Lab work that fits your pet's age. Tests are chosen for your pet, with an estimate first.
Vaccines and parasite protection. Vaccines due that day are given after the exam, once the vet is sure your pet is well enough.
Your plan for the year. What the exam found, what is due next and when, and what changes at home would mean calling sooner. Lab results that come back later are followed up with you.
What do SouthPark wellness visits usually include?
Most Petfolk SouthPark wellness visits include a vaccine: four in five (81%) included at least one, from October 2025 to September 2026. In the same window:
About half (53%) included some kind of lab test.
About 1 in 4 (26%) were for puppies and kittens under a year old.
About 1 in 4 (27%) were a pet's very first visit with Petfolk.
Which lab tests does my pet need at a checkup?
The lab tests at a Petfolk SouthPark checkup depend on your pet's age and history:
Young adults: a fecal test, and a heartworm test for dogs. A first set of blood work gives a healthy baseline.
Middle age: blood and urine screening every year or two, depending on breed and history.
Seniors: yearly or twice-yearly blood work and urine tests, plus a blood pressure check. The senior pet care page goes further.
Which vaccines will my pet get at the yearly visit?
Your pet gets the core vaccines that are due, plus lifestyle vaccines that fit your answers about boarding, daycare, trails and travel. The dog vaccines page compares them. The Petfolk SouthPark vet also checks that flea, tick and heartworm products match your pet's current weight.
We took our foster dog for a check up. The entire staff was awesome. ... They took time with her, answering our questions and concerns. Diane M., Google review
Why does my pet need an exam before a prescription refill?
North Carolina's veterinary practice act defines a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, which includes the vet having recently seen the animal (G.S. 90-181). Petfolk SouthPark may also pause long-term prescription refills until your pet's yearly exam is done. Booking the checkup before the medicine runs out avoids a gap.
What should I bring to the checkup?
Old records, especially vaccine dates and the rabies certificate if your pet came from another clinic or a rescue.
A same-day stool sample in a sealed bag, for the parasite check.
Your notes: food, supplements, monthly preventives, and anything new, such as thirst, weight, stiffness, coughing, bad breath or litter box changes.
Cats travel best to Petfolk SouthPark in a hard carrier with a towel over it. Between visits, run your hands over your pet once a month, feel for new lumps and look at the gum line.
What if my pet seems sick on the day of the checkup?
A wellness exam is for a pet who seems well. If your pet is unwell, tell the Petfolk SouthPark team when you arrive or call ahead. If your pet has trouble breathing, collapses, has a seizure or is retching without bringing anything up, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital instead of waiting for an appointment.
You can find a veterinarian in SouthPark for dogs and cats of every age at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark, 4914 Old Sardis Rd, Unit C5, Charlotte, NC 28211.
Call (980) 580-8079 or book online.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark, or see all veterinary services in SouthPark.
Checkup questions from SouthPark families
Petfolk's first SouthPark clinic, on Old Sardis Road