If you're a dog parent, ensuring your furry friend gets the necessary care for a happy and healthy life is of utmost importance. Our vets at Los Angeles County provide insights on the frequency of vet visits for your dog and emphasize the vitality of regular checkups in this blog.
Prevention & Early Detection
To ensure your dog has a long and healthy life, preventing serious illnesses or catching them early on when they're easier to treat is important. Regular visits to the vet allow them to monitor your dog's health, spot any early signs of disease and recommend preventive products that suit your pet best. While we understand that the cost of checkups can be a concern, taking a proactive and preventive approach to your furry friend's health can help save on the cost of more expensive treatments down the road.
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.
For healthy adult dogs, it is advisable to have an annual wellness checkup. However, it is recommended to have puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with underlying health issues examined more frequently for their benefit.
Puppies Up to 12 Months Old
For puppies under a year old, it's best to take them to the vet on a monthly basis. During their first year, your furry friend will require multiple rounds of vaccinations to protect them from common infectious diseases like hepatitis, distemper, corona, parvo, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, and rabies.
These vaccines are administered over 16 weeks and play a crucial role in maintaining your puppy's health. The exact timing of the vaccinations may differ depending on your location and your pup's overall health. Our veterinary experts recommend spaying or neutering your canine companion between 14-16 weeks old to prevent a range of illnesses and unwanted behaviors along with avoiding any unwanted puppies.
Adult Dogs Up To 7 Years of Age
For owners of healthy, active adult dogs between 1-7 years old, it is highly recommended to schedule yearly wellness exams.
During your pet's exam, the veterinarian will conduct a thorough head-to-tail examination to detect any early signs of illness or other concerns, such as joint pain, tooth decay, or parasites.
Additionally, the veterinarian will administer any necessary vaccinations, provide guidance on your dog's diet and nutritional needs, advise on suitable parasite protection, and address any behavioral or training issues you may have noticed.
Should the veterinarian identify any developing health issues, they will discuss their findings with you and provide appropriate recommendations for next steps.
Senior Dogs
Dogs are generally considered geriatric or senior when they are roughly 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.
Because lots of canine injuries and diseases are typically more common in elderly dogs we suggest bringing your senior pup to the vet every 6 months. Twice-annual wellness checkups for your senior dog will consist of all the checks and advice listed above, although there will be a few added diagnostic tests to obtain additional insights into the overall health of your puppy.
A couple of diagnostic tests we recommend for senior dogs can include urinalysis and blood tests to check for early signs of issues such as diabetes or kidney disease.
Geriatric care for dogs also consists of a more proactive approach to keeping your pup 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.