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Wellness visits: How often do animals need to go to the vet?

When you get a pet, it’s your responsibility to care for the animal throughout its entire life. And a big part of caring for a pet is taking them to the animal hospital or vet clinic for health care. But when should you take your pet to the vet? This article is going to discuss when pets of different ages need to visit a veterinarian.

Up to One Year of Age

When you bring home a kitten or a puppy, they’re generally going to be around four months old. If they’re younger than that, you should bring them to the vet every three to four weeks for all of their vaccinations and a general checkup. Vaccinations and tests for common diseases are essential for all baby animals. Also around the four-month mark is the time when most kittens and puppies are spayed or neutered. Additionally, depending on if the animal was a stray or not, they may start flea medication. During the first year of a kitten or puppy’s life, it’s important to take them to the vet regularly to ensure they’re growing properly and healthy.

Adult Years

After a cat or dog has reached one year of age, they generally just have to visit the animal hospital or veterinary clinic once a year. During this annual vet visit, animals will have a complete physical to check for any signs of concern. Additionally, updated booster shots will be given during annual visits as needed. But it is important to note that animals can absolutely visit a local veterinarian more than once a year if something is wrong. If your pet is showing signs of pain or illness, it’s important to take them to the animal hospital. This will allow the vet to address the concern right away rather than waiting until their annual visit.

Senior Years

Just like people, animals tend to need more health care as they get older. This is why vets suggest that senior animals should have checkups twice a year rather than just annually. Along with a typical physical and any necessary vaccines, senior pets may need further health tests during their visit. These tests may include tests to check on previous problems or blood and urine tests to ensure their internal organ health is where it should be. During senior pet visits, it’s important for owners to mention any changes in their pet’s health or behavior so they can be given the best care possible.

Visiting the vet regularly can help your pet stay as healthy as possible. So keep this information in mind and ensure your furry friend is getting to the vet as needed.

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