How often should you take your dog to the vet clinic?

Veterinarian care is important for all dogs, and it isn’t something that pet parents should put on the back burner. However, not all dog owners know exactly how often they should take their dogs into their local vet clinic. To help ensure that your dog is able to get the best care possible, here is what you need to know.

Puppies

If you have just brought home a puppy, it’s important that you take them into your local vet clinic to ensure that they have all of the necessary vaccinations if they already don’t. Depending on the exact age of your puppy and where you adopt them from, their vaccination status can vary, and it’s important to know whether or not they have had all their shots before you bring them home.

Along with vaccinations, many puppies are spayed or neutered at around four months old. If your puppy hasn’t had this done yet, you should speak to your vet and set up an appointment as soon as possible. Additionally, regular visits during these first months and up to one year of age can be important to ensure that your puppy is developing correctly without any health issues or problems.

Adult Dogs

After your dog reaches one year of age, you will usually only need to take them into your local vet clinic once every year for a general check-up, provided they aren’t exhibiting any problems or difficulties. During these appointments, booster shots can also be given as needed to ensure that all vaccines are up-to-date. However, if you notice anything unusual about your dog’s behavior, it’s important not to wait for your yearly appointment and instead get them seen as soon as possible so that significant problems can be ruled out.

Senior Dogs

Just as health problems can get worse as people get older, so too can this happen with dogs. Most vets suggest twice-yearly visits for older dogs to examine their progress and ensure that they aren’t struggling with any significant health problems. Along with a physical exam and additional booster shots, vets may also recommend other health tests, such as urine or blood tests, to make sure that your dog’s organs are in good health. It’s important that you mention any behavior changes during these visits so that your aging pup can get the best care possible.

Regular vet care is the best way to ensure that your dog can live a long, happy, and healthy life. If your dog hasn’t been to see their vet this year, take a moment to schedule an appointment just to make sure that they are in the best condition possible.