Pets are an integral part of our lives; they love us unconditionally and are loyal for life. Therefore, their health and well-being comes before anything else. However, many pet parents are not aware of how often they should take their pets to the veterinarian. A yearly medical check-up is imperative, but so is giving vaccines and paying a vet visit to check for any medical issues in the pet.
Often you can’t diagnose the health issue as it may not show distinctive symptoms, so it is vital to get the pet checked with a veterinarian. Therefore, in this blog, you will get all the essential information regarding vet visits and how often you should do it.
When it comes to taking the pet to a vet, there is no fixed frequency. It varies from dog to dog, and the major factor is the age of your dog. So, below we have categorized the information according to the age of the pet.
Dogs up to One Year of Age
When it comes to newborn puppies and dogs less who is less than one year of age, vet visits are more frequent. The initial step is to give all the required vaccines to your dog or cat. Most pets are to be vaccinated every 3 weeks or so until they are the age of 16 weeks. This time is very crucial so you need to take extra care of them. These vaccines protect them from various diseases such as rabies, kennel cough, Lyme disease, influenza, and more.
Thereafter, you can also start administering flea and tick preventative treatments from an early age. Preventatives such as Advocate for Dogs can be given as early as when the dog is 7 weeks old.
From The Age of One To Seven Years
Once your dog starts growing, the vet visits become less frequent. After the first year, only yearly checkup is required. In this, the vet thoroughly examines the pet, collects the blood samples, and does required tests for ruling out any health issue. Booster shots for rabies and distemper-parvo will be given for complete protection from such diseases.
Furthermore, the vet will also take a stool sample to see if there’s any worm infection in the gut. Such infections can have a bad impact on your doggo’s life so it’s better to pay a visit to the vet upon observing any symptoms of discomfort and irritation in your dog. Treatment such as Drontal for Dogs is very helpful in treating four kinds of intestinal worms in dogs – roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and whipworms. Moreover, don’t forget to administer Heartgard Plus to your buddy to protect him from such fatal heartworm infection.
From The Age Of Seven To Ten Years
Now, this is again the age where pets require extra looking after. As they start to age, they become vulnerable to infections and degenerative diseases. As a result of wear and tear, the muscles and joints also become weak, so it’s imperative to pay a visit to the vet at least twice a year.
The veterinarian will perform a routine check as well as see if any health issue has developed. In addition, your pet’s organs will also be examined to see if his liver, kidney, and other organs are working properly or not.
Sudden change in eating habits, low mobility, and disinterest in daily routine could be signs of arthritis and kidney problems. Joint health issues can be easily prevented by administering joint health supplements such as Joint Guard for Dogs.
During an Emergency
While regular vet visits are necessary, it’s also important to look out for signs that indicate any medical emergency. There could be times when your furry baby might get some infection that affects his immunity, so upon observing any sudden changes in his health, ensure you pay an immediate visit to your vet. Below are the symptoms to keep an eye on –
- Increase or decrease in appetite
- Change in weight
- Lameness
- Disinterest in walking or playing
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Seeming depressed
The above signs indicate that something is wrong with your pet’s health thus you need to visit the vet as soon as you can. We know how much you love your pet, thus we have provided this information so that you can always keep a check on your doggo’s overall health.
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