Share on :
Veterinary care is essential to a dog’s health and wellbeing. In addition, it is important for an owner to get his questions answered by an expert. A pup’s veterinary treatment should start from the moment he/she is born. However, the frequency of treatments and checkups will depend on the dog.
A checkup or wellness exam is a regular visit where a vet will analyze the dog’s health, ask certain questions about his appetite, breed, and exercise needs. The dog’s gait and movement are closely examined, and the teeth are checked for dental health.
As mentioned before, the frequency of your dog’s visits to the veterinarian will depend based on their breed, age, health history and lifestyle.
Puppies
Right from when they are born to around 4 months of age, your vet should check your puppy every month. This will keep them current on their vaccinations. Make sure to always transport puppies in a crate from PawCastle.com because they can be full of energy while they are young. You should also discuss any concerns that you may have about your puppy’s physical development and dietary problems. The vet will also carry out a series of blood tests to chart out any potential puppy problems, such as distemper or parvovirus.
Adult Dogs
Even though dogs do not fully mature once they reach an age of 2 or 3, but depending on the breed, dogs can typically be fine by visiting the vet once or twice when they are about six months old. A healthy dog will require a wellness visit to get certain vaccinations, have their teeth checked, get their tick and flea/worm prevention prescription filled out, and have their poop examined. A health check is critical for breeds that are prone to genetic conditions.
Senior Dogs
Smaller breeds reach their geriatric age when they are eight, whereas larger breeds can be considered seniors at age six. Your vet will be able to detect any physical changes that your dog may be going through and will discuss any dietary changes that you need to make for your dog with you.
If you have a senior dog, keep in mind that older dogs are more prone to health conditions, such as arthritis, cancer, and a range of other conditions. Routine health exams may be able to detect a host of health troubles at an earlier stage, preventing them from worsening, making treatment easier and providing your senior canine a chance at better quality of life.
Annual Exams
Every healthy dog should visit the veterinarian at least once every year. If your dog is older, make that two visits per year. This will give your vet the chance to properly examine your dog and determine its health level. In these annual visits, your vet will complete a physical exam, take your dog’s temperature and check his heartbeat, among other things. Your dog may also go through other tests, such as heartworm tests, prior to being prescribed preventative medication.
Emergency and Illness
Prior to choosing a vet, make sure to inquire about their emergency services. Some vet offices offer on-site care all-day round, seven days a week. On the other hand, some vets contract out after-hours emergency assistance to another animal hospital, local vet. Unfortunately, there may come a time when your pet canine is sick and requires quick medical attention between your regular visits.
Always call the pet clinic or your vet before you bring your dog for a checkup, even in case of an emergency. Save your emergency vet’s and regular vet’s phone numbers and keep them on speed dial for quick access.
