You want your dog to live a long and happy life, so you love and care for them. Regular preventive veterinary care can help with this. However, how often should you take your dog to the vet? Our vets in Poway can provide an explanation.
Preventive Care & Early Detection
Preventing serious diseases or detecting them early can improve your dog's health and lifespan.
By taking your dog for regular checkups, your vet can monitor their health, identify the first signs of disease (which are easier to treat), and recommend preventive products.
Although you may worry about the cost of these checkups, our vets recognize that a proactive and preventive approach can save you money on costly treatments in the future.
Routine Wellness Exams - Checkups for Pets
Bringing your dog to the vet for a regular checkup is similar to getting a physical for yourself. The frequency of these checkups depends on your dog's age, health, and lifestyle.
Typically, healthy adult dogs should have an annual wellness exam, but puppies, seniors dogs, and those with underlying health issues may require more frequent examinations.
Puppies Up to 12 Months Old
If your dog is under one-year-old, monthly visits to the vet are advised. During this time, your puppy will need several vaccinations to protect against common infectious diseases, such as distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvo, corona, rabies, and leptospirosis.
The timing of these vaccinations will depend on your location and your dog's health.
When your puppy reaches 6–12 months of age, our vets recommend spaying or neutering to prevent diseases, unwanted behaviors, and unwanted litters.
Adult Dogs Up To 7 Years of Age
Yearly wellness exams are suggested for healthy and active adult dogs aged 1-7 years old. During this exam, your vet will thoroughly examine your pet from head to tail to detect early signs of illness, tooth decay, joint pain, or parasites.
In addition, your vet will administer any necessary vaccines, discuss your dog's diet and nutritional needs, suggest parasite protection, and address any training or behavioral concerns you may have.
If your vet notices any signs of potential health issues, they will inform you of their findings and provide recommendations for further action.
Senior Dogs
Dogs are typically considered senior or geriatric at around 8 years old, except for giant breeds that age more quickly and may require more frequent preventive care from age 5. Since older dogs are more prone to diseases and injuries, we suggest taking your senior dog to the vet every 6 months.
Twice-yearly wellness check-ups for senior dogs include all the previous checks and advice and additional diagnostic tests such as blood tests and urinalysis to identify early signs of issues like kidney disease or diabetes.
As pets age, they may experience age-related issues such as joint pain, so geriatric care involves a proactive approach to keep your pet comfortable. If you have a senior dog, consult your vet about how often to bring them in for an examination.
Wellness Plans
Many veterinarians strive to make preventive care more affordable for their clients by offering Wellness Plans.
At Advanced Care Veterinary Hospital, we offer Wellness Plans for dogs of all sizes to help make your pup's routine annual care easier on your wallet. Our Wellness Plans, bundle all the preventive services your pet needs to stay healthy including routine exams, vaccinations, parasite prevention, and more. And then we give you a monthly payment plan to help you save money and manage your budget.
Ask your vet about a Wellness Plan for your pup.
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.