When Should You Take Your Dog to the Vet?

Our responsibility as pet parents is to care for these furry little one, including things they may not enjoy, such as vet visits. Your veterinarian can assist you in keeping your pet healthy and happy. Veterinarians generally love animals and want them to thrive which is why they are in this line of business. But how would you know when it is time to take your dog to the vet?

Establishing a good working relationship with a veterinarian from the start is critical to ensure that you are meeting all of the dog’s basic veterinary needs. This includes, but is not limited to, vaccinations, deworming, flea control, heartworm testing, and other preventative measures.

Visiting and Consulting with the Veterinarian

The stage of your dog’s life will most likely dictate how frequently you need to see your veterinarian, which we will discuss below. The critical thing to remember is that your veterinarian is there to help you with your pet’s health. They have been trained to notice things and ask questions that may result in a better quality of life for your best friend. As a result, finding a veterinarian you can trust, and respect is critical.

Puppy Stage

Every puppy is unique; this is a critical time to build a rapport with your veterinarian. The first visit will allow your veterinarian to perform a comprehensive examination and rule out any congenital or other medical issues. The first examination will include screening for heart murmurs, proper dentition for age, parasite and flea control, and parasite and flea control. It is critical to begin the appropriate vaccine protocol based on the puppy’s age.

Deworming your puppy properly will keep him healthy and happy. Deworming is an important part of early puppy health care because most puppies have worms. Your veterinarian can also help you with other essential puppyhood issues like potty training, nipping, and crate training.

The first year can be overwhelming for many people with a puppy. Numerous expenses arise, and every puppy owner should be prepared for them. Skipping these puppy visits can result in much worse illness and higher vet bills.

The puppy year is a necessary time to follow your vet’s advice because this is when a dog is most reliant on its owner. It will also give your vet a sense of your dog’s demeanor and health to diagnose problems as they mature correctly. Important topics can be covered, such as when to spay or neuter the dog, what to feed, and any developmental issues.

While your puppy is still young, it may be beneficial to add supplements like Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Fish Oil/Salmon Oil to their diet. This will assist them in growing and developing stronger health throughout their lives, improving their immune system, skin and coat, nervous system, and much more. Starting when they are young ensures that they will have the best health possible when they reach adulthood.

Adulthood 

When a dog reaches adulthood, you may wonder how often you should take your dog to the vet. The answer is that it is far less important to have more than one visit to your veterinarian annually. This is because they should be healthy enough not to need it. However, this may not be true for all dogs, and if you believe your dog needs to see a vet for any reason, don’t hesitate.

The breed of your dog can significantly impact the amount of time you should expect to spend at the vet. Certain conditions are more common in Bull Dogs and other Brachycephalic or short-nosed breed dogs. Skin, ears, respiratory conditions, and other potential issues should be monitored and may necessitate a visit to the veterinarian. It is critical to consider these factors when researching dog breeds.

It will also provide an outlet to learn more about what your dog may require in terms of diet, exercise, or vitamins throughout their life.

Senior Age

Senior dogs are those who are eight years old or older. A good relationship with your veterinarian is significant at this stage in a dog’s life. Your veterinarian can assist you in navigating the new challenges that come with age. Blood work on senior dogs should be done more frequently to ensure that their baseline values are documented. Symptoms of joint disease, heart disease, and metabolic conditions often appear later in life, and your veterinarian is trained to detect these and other changes.

Medical expenses and concern for your furry friend can all combine to create a stress storm full of emotions for any pet owner. You can take some precautions to ensure the best possible care for your elderly puppy.

Depending on your dog’s breed and condition, you should take him to the vet every six months. As dog’s age, health issues become more common, so it’s a good idea to visit your vet several times a year so that your vet understands your dog.

This stage of your dog’s life may also necessitate you providing him with various items. Orthopedic beds benefit any dog’s joint health and provide proper support for good rest, making them especially beneficial to older dogs with common problems.

Another excellent way to assist a senior dog is to improve their diet; consult with your veterinarian for recommendations and whether supplements should be added. Weight problems are easily avoidable, and many owners do not take the time to properly exercise and feed their dogs, possibly due to a lack of knowledge. Before changing your dog’s diet, consult with your veterinarian. They will provide you with valuable insight into what your dog may require.

Emergency Visits

You now understand how and when to visit the veterinarian for routine checkups. Regular checkups usually include a physical exam in which your veterinarian will monitor your dog’s breathing, heart rate, and other vital signs. In addition, they will frequently check to see if your dog is up to date on their boosters.

If getting to the vet is difficult for you or your dog, check with your veterinarian to see if they offer home visits. Some will, while others may think about it if there is a need. These may be more expensive, but they may be worthwhile if you cannot get to the vet. If your veterinarian is unable to provide this service, try contacting another veterinarian’s office to see if they will.

You should go straight to the vet’s emergency room if you have a severe condition.

Among these symptoms are:

• Wounds that haven’t healed
• Bone fractures
• Insomnia, lethargy, or collapse
• Having trouble breathing; noisy breathing, increased respiratory rate
• Coughing all the time
• Vomiting or diarrhea for more than 24 hours
• Vomit or stool containing blood
• Coughing up a pink, foamy liquid or blood
• If they’ve consumed something poisonous like house cleaner, rat poison, etc.
• If they exhibit signs of severe pain
• Abdomen swollen and hard
• Jaundiced
• Inability to walk and loss of limb function

Five Signs That Mean It is Time to Take Your Pet to the Vet

While we wouldn’t want to bring our beloved pets to the vet for any unnecessary procedure. It is important to keep an eye out for the following signs to ensure that your dog is safe.

Unusual Eating Habits

It’s not unusual for your dog to skip a meal or two, especially if it’s hot outside, but anything more than this should raise a red flag that something is wrong. Two days without eating clearly indicates that your dog requires medical attention.

Some diseases cause dogs to have strange eating habits. If your dog is ordinarily well-behaved but starts raiding the pantry or garbage, you should take them to the veterinarian.

Extreme Thirst

It’s critical to understand how much water your dog consumes each day. A dog drinking a lot of water may develop kidney disease or diabetes. You’ll know if your dog is drinking too much water if you have to refill the water bowl more frequently than usual, or if they have an excess of urine, need to go outside more regularly, or have accidents in the house.

Strange Stool Consistency

The stool of a dog is a good indicator of its overall health. Small, firm, moist stools are characteristic of a healthy dog. Dry, hard stools may indicate a health problem, dietary issues, or dehydration. If your dog exhibits any of the following symptoms, take them to the vet:

• Worms discovered in the stool
• More than 24 hours of diarrhea
• Straining
• stool containing blood or mucus

Rapid Weight Loss

Even if your dog is overweight, sudden weight loss should cause you to take them to the vet. Rapid and unexpected weight loss could indicate a severe health problem. Bring your dog to your veterinarian if his weight drops by 10%. This could be as little as a one-pound weight loss in small dogs.

Eyes are Cloudy or Red

Squinting, cloudy or red eyes or excessive discharge from your dog’s eyes may indicate an infection or injury. Make an appointment for your dog right away. Eye diseases can progress quickly and result in blindness. Medication can be used to treat an infection or to relieve clinical symptoms.