7 Reasons why You Should Never Skip Your Dog’s Annual Vet Visit
THEY CAN’T TELL YOU THEY’RE HURTING, SO YOU NEED TO STAY ALERT
Your dog depends on you for a lot of things: food, water, walks, and affection, to name a few. But perhaps most importantly, they rely on you for healthcare and that includes regular vet visits.
“One year in a dog’s life can be equivalent to five to seven years of a human’s life,” Heather Berst
But if your dog seems otherwise healthy, it can be easy to think that a check-up isn’t necessary.
Never skip your dog’s annual appointment. Don’t have one booked? Schedule it ASAP to ensure your pup lives its happiest, healthiest, and longest life.
Tips for a happy life with your dog
1 Your dog needs to stay up-to-date on vaccines.
Vaccines are equally as important for dogs as they are for humans
Your pup should get the DHLPP vaccination against distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus annually and is given in one shot.Rabies and Kennel Cough vaccinations should also be given annually.
2 Your dog needs a stool screening
A stool screening looks for any parasites, abnormal bacteria, or cells, including blood cells, in the faecal sample.
Dogs can carry hidden infestations with intestinal parasites, including hookworms, roundworms, coccidia, and giardia. Some of these parasites are infectious to people, so you will want to ensure your dog is worm-free on a regular basis. Additionally , if there are any problems with the intestines, then a faecal screening can pick up problems early before they become bigger problems.
3 Your dog needs its heart checked.
An annual listen with the trusty stethoscope can help your pup stay in top health. Your veterinarian will listen to your dog’s heart and can hear things like heart murmurs or irregular heartbeats. These can be fairly common as dogs age, and getting them on medication can help keep them healthy for longer.
Prevention is key!
4 Your dog needs a urine check.
This is a test that may not occur at every annual wellness screening but should happen regularly. For older dogs, it’s suggested each year. This test will screen for infection and the possibility of bladder stones. It will also test for glucose in the urine, which can signal that the dog has diabetes mellitus, and the urinalysis will give an indication of the dog’s kidney function.
5 Your dog needs a blood test.
Many vets will do blood work annually on dogs over the age of six. These tests will screen the red and white blood cells, looking for anaemia, infections, blood cancers, and other illnesses. Additionally, organ function tests will evaluate the functioning of the dog’s thyroid, liver, kidneys, and pancreas, as well as blood sugar, proteins, cholesterol, and electrolytes.
6 Your dog can be assessed for discomfort.
In particular, for osteoarthritis, the early signs of which can be subtle but can still cause your dog pain.
Some signs are stiffness, lameness, limping or difficulty getting up.Lethargy, reluctant to run or jump.
7 Your dog needs its teeth assessed.
Since there’s no such thing as a doggie dentist, this task falls under your veterinarian’s domain. Dogs can live longer and feel better with good dental health. Your veterinarian will check for gingivitis, plaque, and tarter and may advise that your pup has a dental clean.
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