5 Reasons to Take Your Dog to Annual Check-ups: As a dog owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your pooch gets regular medical care. Routine wellness exams are a necessity for a long and healthy life for your dog. Most veterinarians will recommend that your dog receive an annual wellness check in addition to attention when you have a concern about their health. Here are five reasons that point to why you should schedule annual checkups.
5 Reasons to Take Your Dog to Annual Check-ups
Keep Vaccines Up to Date
One of the most important elements of a pet wellness check is to make sure that your animal is up to date on all of their vaccinations. Vaccines are engineered to protect your dog against some of the most common and contagious diseases. The vaccines that your dog receives will depend on where you live and your pet’s lifestyle.
For example, core vaccines are in the vaccination schedule for all dogs. This would include vaccines for rabies, canine parvovirus, distemper, and canine hepatitis. Lifestyle vaccines are dependent on how often your pet interacts with other animals or where you live and the risks that this geography delivers. Adult dogs will need booster shots at regular intervals to maintain protection against the diseases. Your vet is the best source of information about the recommended vaccines for your particular dog.
Prevention of Parasitic Diseases
In addition to keeping your vaccines current, regular checkups will also guard against the onset of a host of parasitic diseases. For example, if you live in an area with a prevalence of ticks and mosquitoes, you will want to protect against the parasites that these bugs carry. Your veterinarian will be able to provide recommendations for protecting your pooch from parasitic invaders.
In my experience, Practicing proper parasitic prevention will guard against a myriad of dangerous health conditions. This includes fleas, Lyme disease, heartworm, hookworms, whipworm, tapeworms, roundworms, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and more.
Scan for Glaucoma
Like humans, dogs can also suffer from glaucoma. This high pressure within the eye can develop into a painful condition that may lead to blindness in dogs. Primary glaucoma is usually inherited, making it more common in purebred dogs. Conversely, secondary glaucoma is a result of lifestyle factors or other inherent health conditions unrelated to poor genetics.
Glaucoma in dogs typically presents itself as excessive drainage from the eye, the presence of a bluish-white discoloration of the cornea, enlarged blood vessels, or a dilated pupil. Your dog may also seem to be uncomfortable, pawing at their eyes or rubbing them.
Could Save Money in the Long Run
Although you may balk at the cost of veterinary visits, it is important to remember that regular preventative care can save you money in the long run. Because a veterinarian is trained to spot the early signs of disease, the conditions are typically easier and less expensive to treat at this stage of the progression.
You may be stuck with a much heftier bill if you wait until the health condition progresses. Good quality preventive care such as vaccines and parasitic prevention treatment will likely keep you from paying more money down the road. When it comes to wellness checks, an ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure.
Educational for the Owner
Your veterinarian is an expert in all things related to your dog. This expertise makes them an invaluable ally in how you support your dog. Owner education is a vital component of regular checkups. Lean on your veterinarian to provide information about how to care for your pooch.
This educational component is particularly important if you are a first-time dog owner. Your veterinarian will also be able to provide you with the latest guidance on raising a healthy dog. Preventative trends and recommendations change over time as more research comes in, making it crucial that you stay on top of the latest guidance. Knowing how much to feed your dog at different ages, how much exercise they should be getting, and more will help you to make the best decisions for your pet as they grow older.
Conclusion
These five reasons point to the importance of regular wellness checks for your dog. You owe it to your favorite furry friend to get them the care and medical attention that they deserve.
Steven Barron is an expert in many fields like tech, education, travel, finance, games, cars, and sports. He started his career in the tech industry, where he learned a lot and got good at spotting tech trends. Steven then moved into writing. He loves technology and is great at telling stories. His articles cover topics like new gadgets, education, and finance. They are full of detail but easy to read. Steven loves to travel and is a big sports fan. This shows in his travel and sports writing, where he draws in readers with clear descriptions and smart insights.
