The wellness exam you give your pet once a year is called a “checkup.” When your dog is healthy, these checks happen once or twice a year. Routine exams are important for your pet’s health because they focus on preventing disease and finding it early. When you take your healthy dog to the vet regularly, the vet can monitor his health and look for early signs of disease.
What does a pet check-up cover?
The following things are part of a regular dog check up.
Vaccinations
Your vet should give you a schedule for vaccinating your puppy or remind you when your dog’s next shot is due. The timing will depend on which vaccinations are needed, such as for distemper, leptospirosis, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and Bordetella (kennel cough). As part of the “Pet Passport” program, a dog must have rabies shot to travel.
Parasite treatment.
Controlling ticks, fleas, and worms is another case where preventing them is better than getting rid of them. Remember that fleas or their larvae can stay in your home and yard all year, and ticks can carry diseases. Your vet can tell you how to keep fleas and ticks away and avoid getting tapeworm and, if necessary, lungworm.
Treatment and prevention of bad behavior.
During your dog’s annual checkup, be sure to mention any strange or withdrawn behavior, like a lot of barking, biting, or chewing on your shoes when you’re not looking. Most of the time, these are easy to handle if caught early. Your vet might be able to give you some tips or put you in touch with a trained behaviorist. Your vet may know of local puppy training classes if your dog is a puppy.
Neutering
When you think about how to take care of your dog, neutering is one of the most important veterinary surgical procedures. If you get an adult dog, he or she has already been fixed. Still, let’s say you have a puppy or an older dog that hasn’t been neutered. Then, your vet can tell you about the benefits of neutering and how to take care of your dog afterward to keep it healthy and happy.
Dental treatment.
If you read more, you will learn that your vet will also examine your dog’s teeth to determine if and when they need to be cleaned. Older dogs need to have their teeth cared for even more because dental disease can cause pain and problems with their organs. This dental checkup is also a great time to talk to your vet about how you clean your pet’s teeth at home. Another case where preventing a problem is better than fixing it.
Weight and physical condition.
Too many dogs are overweight, so take advantage of the chance to weigh your dog on the vet’s scales as often as possible and check on your furry friend’s body condition at home. There are methods to help a dog that is too heavy. Talk to your vet about a diet and exercise plan, or check if your vet’s office has a program to help pets lose weight. If your dog has lost weight since the last time they were weighed, it could be a sign that they are sick.
In Conclusion
After the exam and your pet get its annual shots, your veterinarian will talk to you about what they found. If your vet sees any signs of illness or injury, they will talk to you about more detailed diagnostics or treatment options. Let’s say your dog or cat gets a clean bill of health from the vet. In that case, your vet may give you advice or suggestions about your pet’s diet, exercise, dental health, or how to keep parasites away.
