How Often Should My Dog Visit the Vet?

Depending on their age, the number of times your furry friend should make a visit to the veterinarian will vary. Knowing this amount is crucial to maintaining your pups current and future health. To help, here’s a guide on the recommended times Fido should be seeing their vet.

How many vet visits does a puppy need?

A puppy is classified as a dog that is under a year old. If you just got a puppy, first of all, congratulations! Your new fluff ball should be going to their vet about every 3 to 4 weeks until they’re about 16 weeks old. During this period your pup will be receiving all kinds of vaccines to keep them safe and healthy. They’ll get shots for rabies, distemper-parvo, and other harmful diseases. They may also need to get tested or receive shots for kennel cough, influenza, and Lyme disease. Most likely your veterinarian will start your puppy on medications to prevent heart-worms as well as pesky fleas and ticks. At each visit, your vet will examine your new four-legged friend to ensure they are growing at a healthy rate and not showing any signs of chronic illnesses. After about 6 months you’ll receive another check up to examine the health of your dog as well as bringing them to be spayed or neutered.

The average number of vet visits for an adult dog

An adult dog would be considered to be in the age range between 1 and 10 years old. During this time you’ll probably only need to make annual vet visits. During those check-ups, your four-legged friend will receive a full physical from head to tail. There will most likely be blood sample taken to check for heartworms, as well as other tests depending on your dog’s past medical history or anything that may notice during the exam. Fido may receive other important vaccines that correlate with their age and breed.

How much should your senior dog be going to the vet?

There are a few factors that decide if a canine should be considered a senior dog. Depending on their age and breed their average lifespan will vary. A senior dog is usually 10 or older, but some breeds are considered seniors at age 7. Their weight and health also play into this decision. Once your dog is regarded as a senior though they should be visiting the veterinarian at least two times a year, as usual, they will receive a physical, but they also might be vaccinated or any problems that correlate with their older age. It’s helpful for your vet if you bring in a stool sample that they can check for any other diseases or parasites. Blood and urine test will also be administered to check on the health of their liver and thyroid levels.

Your average vet visits are crucial in maintaining your furry friend’s health and should not be blown off or forgotten. Regular vet visits help pup live a longer and healthier life that they can spend making more memories with you!