If you have ever wondered how often it is necessary to take your pet to the veterinarian, this post may be interesting. The routine visits to the vet are fundamental and depend on age, health status and characteristics of your pet. Without a doubt, it is a habit that the owner of an animal should contemplate as well as the bath, or the cleaning of ears, because it is a way of not waiting for the diseases to appear but to prevent them.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE DOG OR CAT TO THE VET?
The checks of your pet should be made periodically and not wait for the animal to get sick. The age in the life of dogs and cats is a factor that influences.
Puppies
For dogs or cats up to 6 months of age it is necessary to take them several times to the veterinary clinic until they have fulfilled their vaccination plan that includes worming and identification with a microchip. In addition, it is also interesting that you talk to your veterinarian about the most suitable feeding or puppy feeding according to their breed, as well as recommendations about socialization and behavior.
Development
The timing of the beginning of this stage, similar to adolescence, depends to a large extent on whether your dog is large or small. It generally includes animals that are between 6 months and 18 months of age. The development of large breeds is usually slower than that of small breeds. It is during these months when you should start to value the sterilization of the dog or cat and the prevention of vector diseases such as leishmania and filaria through vaccines. At this age, the animal’s education plays an important role, so during the consultation with your veterinarian you can assess the behavior that is taking.
Adult
The animal enters the adult stage according to its race as well. Adult dogs or cats should go to the veterinarian at least twice a year for revaccinations and general examination provided that they are in an optimal state of health.
Senior
Our care and attention to our dog or cat since puppy determines to a great extent how they get to age. From the age of 8-9 our pet goes to a stage in which the checks should be more frequent, at least 3 times a year, because it is during aging when diseases are usually diagnosed that if observed in time, they can help the animal enjoy a good quality of life during its last years.
WHAT DOES A ROUTINE VISIT TO THE VETERINARIAN INCLUDE?
The link between the animal and its owner with the veterinarian works if there is confidence and security. The general exploration begins with the collection of data or anamnesis with the collaboration of the owner of the animal that will facilitate the diagnosis. For this it is important the collaboration and communication of the owner reporting symptoms, change in mood or behavior, etc.
The clinical examination of the animal must be complete and include weight control, heart examination by auscultation, lungs, hair, legs, mouth, teeth, eyes, genital examination, abdomen, palpation of nodes, joints, skin … If the veterinarian he considers it necessary, he will carry out more concrete studies by means of blood, urine, X-rays, ultrasounds …
As we have commented previously, the race of the animal is a very important factor to determine pathologies that appear more frequently in some than in others, as it is the case of the hip dysplasia, because they are diseases with an important genetic component.