As a caring dog owner, you want to ensure your furry friend stays healthy and happy for years. In this blog, our Clarksville vets share how often you should take your dog to the vet and discuss the importance of routine exams.
Prevention & Early Detection
To help your dog live a longer, healthier life, it is crucial to prevent serious diseases or to catch them in their earliest stages when they are the easiest to treat.
Regular vet visits allow your vet to monitor your dog's overall health, spot early signs of diseases, and provide recommendations for the best preventive products that will suit your pup.
Our vets realize the costs of taking your dog to the vet for checkups can worry you, especially when they appear healthy. However, taking a proactive and preventive approach to your furry friend's health can save you on the fees of more costly treatments in the future.
Routine Wellness Exams - Checkups for Dogs
Bringing your dog to the vet for a routine exam is similar to taking them for a physical checkup. As with people, how often your pet should have a physical depends upon your dog's lifestyle, overall health, and age.
Generally, healthy adult dogs should have an annual wellness exam. Puppies, older dogs, and those with health issues may need more frequent checkups.
Puppies Up to 12 Months Old
If your pup is less than a year old, visiting the vet monthly is recommended.
During the first year of your dog's life, they will require several rounds of vaccinations to help protect them from common infectious diseases such as hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, corona, parvo, leptospirosis, and rabies. These vaccines will be given to your puppy over 16 weeks and will go a long way towards keeping your puppy healthy.
The exact timing of your young dog's vaccinations will vary depending on your location and your furry friend's overall health.
Our vets recommend having your dog spayed or neutered between 14 and 16 weeks old to help prevent a variety of diseases and undesirable behaviors, as well as unwanted puppies.
Adult Dogs Up To 7 Years of Age
Yearly wellness exams are recommended for healthy, active adult dogs between 1 - 7 years old.
Your vet will do a thorough check, including teeth, joints, and paraide protections.
Your vet will also administer any required vaccines, speak to you about your dog's diet and nutritional requirements, recommend appropriate parasite protection, and discuss any training or behavioral issues you may be noticing.
If your veterinarian detects any signs of developing health issues, your vet will discuss their findings with you and recommend the next steps.
Senior Dogs
Dogs are considered senior, around 8 years old, except for giant breeds. Dogs such as Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, Mastiffs, and Saint Bernards age faster than other breeds and will need more preventive care more frequently earlier, usually around 5 years of age.
Due to common age-related issues, senior dogs should see the vet every 6 months. These checkups include the same as for adults but may also involve diagnostic tests like urinalysis and blood tests.
Geriatric care for dogs also consists of a more proactive approach to keeping your dog comfortable as age-related problems such as joint pain become more common. If you have a senior dog, ask your vet how often you should bring your pet in for an examination.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.<