Regular veterinary exams and preventive care give your dog the best chance to live a long and healthy life. Today, our Fort Collins vets explain how often your dog should see their vet from puppyhood to old age.
Vaccinations, Parasite Prevention & Early Detection of Disease
Protecting your dog from disease or being able to detect them early can help your pup stay healthy longer.
Bringing your dog in for vet checkups routinely gives your vets the opportunity to keep an eye on your dog's health and spot early signs of disease. When caught early, most conditions are more easy and less expensive to treat. Your vet can also administer vaccines and preventive medications for parasites.
At South Mesa Veterinary Hospital, our vets understand that you are concerned about the cost of bringing your dog in for a checkup when they seem healthy, but taking a proactive, preventive approach to your dog's health care could save you the cost of expensive treatments down the road.
Not only that, but many veterinary clinics offer their clients Pet Wellness Plans to help make preventive care for their dog or cat more affordable.
Routine Examinations - Pet Checkups
Taking your dog to the vet for a routine exam is like taking your pup in for a physical. As with people, how often your pet should have a physical depends upon your dog's lifestyle, overall health, and age.
Yearly wellness checkups are recommended for adult dogs who are generally healthy, but puppies and senior dogs have different health care needs and can greatly benefit from more frequent checkups.
Puppies Up to 12 Months Old
If your pup is less than a year old then monthly visits to your vet are recommended.
During your pup's first year, they are going to need several rounds of vaccinations to help keep them protected against common infectious diseases such as distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvo, corona, rabies, and leptospirosis. These vaccines will be given to your puppy over the course of 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.
Between 6 - 12 months our vets recommend having your pooch spayed or neutered in order to prevent a host of diseases and undesirable behaviors as well as unwanted puppies.
Adult Dogs Between 1 - 7 Years of Age
If you have a healthy, active adult dog between the ages of 1 - 7 years, yearly vet checkups are recommended.
During your adult dog's checkup, your vet will perform a head-to-tail examination of your pet to look for early signs of illness or other issues, such as tooth decay, joint pain or parasites.
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 vet detects any signs of developing health issues they will discuss their findings with you and recommend next steps.
Senior Dogs Over 7 Years of Age (Or Large Breeds Over 5)
At what age dogs are considered to be senior can vary from breed to breed, but it's most commonly thought to be at age 8. Giant breeds such as Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, Mastiffs and Saint Bernards age more quickly than other breeds and will require more frequent preventive care earlier, typically around 5 years of age.
Since many diseases seen in dogs and injuries tend to be more common in older pets we recommend taking your senior dog to the vet every 6 months. Twice-yearly wellness check-ups for your senior dog will include all of the checks and advice mentioned above, but with a few added diagnostic tests to provide extra insight into your pet's overall health.
Some diagnostic tests we recommend for our senior patients include blood tests and urinalysis to check for early signs of problems such as kidney disease or diabetes.
Geriatric care for pets also includes a more proactive approach to keeping your pet comfortable as age-related issues 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.