Whether or not your dog is healthy, regular visits to the vet are important for the long-term care of the animal. As the dog progresses throughout it’s life, your dog’s medical needs will change, but they it will be a constant. Dogs, like humans are not immune to developing problems along the way. My dad used to call our dog Scooter his $70 per month friend, because that’s about what he had to pay for all her different ailments. While most dogs won’t cost that much per month in medical fees, there are standards by which any pet owner should abide by.
Most vets recommend an annual visit for younger dogs that are in good health. As the dogs age you should go see the veterinarian about every six months. If you adopt a newborn dog, or your dog has babies, you will become very good friends with us. Until the dog turns about 16 weeks old there are different immunizations you will need to get for it. We try to spread them out to once a month or so.
After the first year, if your dog is in good health, a yearly visit is fine for the first seven to 10 years. Different breeds need more care earlier, so be sure to ask us about what to expect based on the specific breed(s) of your dog. During this time heartworms are the biggest thing we check for, plus a few other immunizations every few years. It’s important to check on the health of the pet yourself during this time. If you see sudden mood changes, behavior changes, or habits that seem different you will want to take the dog to the vet as soon as possible. When we noticed Scooter biting her legs to the point they turned pink and purple we knew a quick trip to the vet was in order (she had bad allergies).
After the dog celebrates its 7th birthday you should go see the vet twice a year. Again this is dependent on the breed of your dog, but the general rule is senior dogs need twice per year checkups. Diagnostic tests will help us learn more about the overall health of your senior dog. That includes blood and urine tests to check on how the liver and kidneys are doing. Again you will want to look out for more noticeable changes in the dog’s behavior. For example, one summer day I took Scooter on one of our marathon walks and noticed she hadn’t moved the entire night (this was about age 9). When she got up that morning it was a struggle. The vet found lots of arthritis which meant we had to alter our walking routine.
Regular and routine visits to the veterinarian will help protect the pet and make sure your dog is by your side as long as possible.
Ready for your dog’s next checkup? Book an appointment for your annual or six month visit with us today.
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