When It\'s Time To See The Vet

When It\'s Time To See The Vet Related Information:

As the owner of a dog, there is a good chance that your local veterinary surgeon will play a big part in helping to maintain the health and long life of your pet. From puppy-hood to senior, there are many times when your dog may need to take a trip to the vets. Obviously, some dogs will get to see more of the vet than others depending on their overall health and condition; however, there are some key times when all dogs will need to visit the surgery.

It is important that you take your dog or puppy to the vets as a matter of course for the following:

First Check Up
When you first acquire your dog or puppy, it is essential that he is given an initial check up in case of any underlying disease or injury. This is also the perfect opportunity to get your dog registered with a vet. The initial check up will basically be a simple all-over check to ensure that the dog is healthy and that there is no imminent treatment required.

Immunisations
It is vital that your dog is fully vaccinated as soon as he is of age. There are a wide number of dangerous and potentially fatal diseases that dogs can catch all too easily. By ensuring he gets his full set of inoculations, you can help to protect your pet against a range of dangers and hazards.

Annual Booster
As well as receiving his initial inoculations, your dog will also need to receive his boosters each year to maintain his immunity levels against these diseases. It is important that these boosters are administered in good time so that immunity is maintained throughout.

Check ups for hereditary diseases
Some dogs are predisposed to disease due their breed. If you have a breed of dog that is well known for developing a particular disease, it is best to have him checked over once or twice a year to ensure that there are no signs of this disease, or to initiate early treatment if there are signs.

Of course, the other times that your dog will need to visit the vet is due to illness or injury. However, you should also keep an eye on your dog’s behaviour and if there are any noticeable changes you should seek medical advice. A dog’s behaviour can change drastically if he is feeling unwell or stressed, and it is not always easy to determine what is wrong. This is why it is vital that you seek medical assistance so that the vet can identify any problems and advice you on the next step. Basically, if you have any doubts as to whether your dog is unwell, it is always best to err on the side of caution and get him checked out.

With your vet playing such a major part in your dog’s health and long life, you should make sure that you register your pet with a surgery that you are totally comfortable with. Don’t be afraid to ask for a tour of the surgery, enabling your dog to meet the staff and enabling you to see where your dog will be looked after should he need to be admitted as an inpatient. Once you have established which surgery you wish to select for the care of your pet, you should find out about their opening hours, emergency numbers and out of office procedures. This way you can ensure that you are always able to get medical assistance for your pet, even as an emergency.