Current:Home > MyHow often should I take my dog to the vet? Advice from an expert-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
How often should I take my dog to the vet? Advice from an expert
View Date:2024-12-23 23:45:59
An integral part of being a pet owner is ensuring your furry friend is in good health. Just like humans, dogs should make trips to the doctor, and a visit to the veterinarian can be the right remedy for a sick pup.
According to Dr. Jerry Klein, the chief veterinary officer at the American Kennel Club, these checkups should come sooner rather than later. "You should go to a vet, ideally, when your dog is not sick to prevent them from becoming ill," he says.
So how often should you take your dog to the vet? Here's some guidance from an expert.
How often should I take my dog to the vet?
Similar to other aspects of pet care, how often you should bring your dog to the veterinarian varies. Age, breed and underlying conditions can all contribute to the frequency of doctor's visits, Klein says.
If you have a puppy, you should bring them to the vet as soon as possible, he adds. Puppies should be examined within the first few weeks to check for health issues and begin receiving vaccines.
Visits should become a yearly occurrence as your dog gets older, Klein says.
"General wellness exams coincide with vaccines and oftentimes, veterinarians also perform heartworm checks and fecal examinations," he adds.
When a dog reaches old age, Klein recommends bringing them in every six months, particularly if they have underlying conditions.
It is important to note that dog breeds mature at different rates. So, if you have a "giant breed," like the St. Bernard and Dobermann, you should bring them to the veterinarian more frequently after they've reached 7 to 8 years old, Klein says. For smaller breeds, visits should increase once they've hit 8 to 9 years old, he adds.
What can you give a dog for pain?Expert explains safe pain meds.
What vaccines do dogs need?
Regular vaccines help protect your dog from getting serious and deadly diseases. These vaccines are split into categories: core and non-core, or "lifestyle," vaccines, Klein explains.
Core vaccines combat diseases that are "deemed to be endemic in a pet population, that are of enough concern that they feel that all puppies and dogs should be currently vaccinated to prevent not just them from getting it, but then from passing or spreading it to other dogs," he says.
The "core vaccines" for dogs are:
- Distemper
- Parvovirus
- Adenovirus, also known as canine hepatitis
- Parainfluenza virus
- Rabies
The rabies vaccine is mandatory for all dogs, Klein adds. "It's not a choice," he says. "The rabies (vaccine) by law must be given."
Other vaccines are considered "lifestyle" vaccines and are administered at a pet owner's discretion. These will depend on your community and might be required if you board your dog in kennels or take them to doggy daycares or grooming facilities, Klein says.
What does the vet check during a physical examination?
Your dog's checkup is not too different from yours.
The vet will check how much your pet weighs, how they stand and walk and the condition of their coat, skin, ears and eyes, Klein says. They also will look at your dog's teeth and gums for tartar buildup, as well as checking the heart, lungs and lymph nodes for any irregularities, he adds.
Vets will also examine the rectal area and anal sacks, Klein says. They may also ask for feces samples from your dog to check for intestinal parasites.
How to clean a dog's ears:A simple guide to using solution to keep your pet healthy.
What is the best age to spay or neuter a dog?
Recent studies, including one by the University of California, Davis, found that some dogs who were neutered or spayed before 1 year old had a higher risk of developing health issues, such as ligament tears or joint disorders and even certain types of cancer.
However, it is key to remember that dog breeds sexually mature at their own pace. "A chihuahua or toy breed may sexually mature as early as nine to 10 months of age, whereas a Great Dane or an Irish Wolfhound may not be sexually mature until perhaps 18 to 20 months of age," Klein explains.
As a result, there is no one-size-fits-all answer for when to spay or neuter your dog. It is important to consult with your veterinarian and breeder for input on your individual dog, Klein says.
Klein recommends not spaying or neutering your dog before six months.
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "How often should you walk your dog?" to "Why do dogs eat poop?" to "Why do dogs sleep so much?" – we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer.
veryGood! (3742)
Related
- John Krasinski Revealed as People's Sexiest Man Alive 2024
- Catholic priest in small Nebraska community dies after being attacked in church
- Turkey’s Erdogan accuses the West of ‘barbarism’ and Islamophobia in the war in Gaza
- Teen gunman sentenced to life for Oxford High School massacre in Michigan
- NASCAR Cup Series Championship race 2024: Start time, TV, live stream, odds, lineup
- CDC warns travelers to Mexico's Baja California of exposure to deadly Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- Brazil’s Lula takes heat on oil plans at UN climate talks, a turnaround after hero status last year
- France says one of its warships was targeted by drones from direction of Yemen. Both were shot down
- Research reveals China has built prototype nuclear reactor to power aircraft carrier
- Catholic priest in small Nebraska community dies after being attacked in church
Ranking
- ‘COP Fatigue’: Experts Warn That Size and Spectacle of Global Climate Summit Is Hindering Progress
- A pilot is killed in a small plane crash near Eloy Municipal Airport; he was the only person aboard
- Expert witnesses for Trump's defense billed almost $900,000 each for testifying on his behalf at fraud trial
- Thousands of revelers descend on NYC for annual Santa-themed bar crawl SantaCon
- 12 college students charged with hate crimes after assault in Maryland
- 'Murder in Boston' is what a docuseries should look like
- New York increases security at Jewish sites after shots fired outside Albany synagogue
- Police in Lubbock, Texas, fatally shoot a man who officer say charged them with knives
Recommendation
-
Disruptions to Amtrak service continue after fire near tracks in New York City
-
Anthony Davis leads Lakers to NBA In-Season Tournament title, 123-109 over Pacers
-
3 Alabama officers fired in connection to fatal shooting of Black man at his home
-
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy heads to Argentina in bid to win support from developing nations
-
How to protect your Social Security number from the Dark Web
-
Anthony Davis leads Lakers to NBA In-Season Tournament title, 123-109 over Pacers
-
Shohei Ohtani signs with Dodgers on $700 million contract, obliterating MLB record
-
Eagles security guard DiSandro banned from sideline for Sunday Night Football vs. Cowboys