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We all know vet care is important. But it's not solely about reacting to any accidents or illnesses your dog has; it's about being proactive, too.
That's where routine vet care comes in - it allows your vet to take a good look at your dog, spot issues early and lets you ask questions. It can cover everything from mild health issues to chronic behavioural problems.
Routine pet health checkups can help reduce long-term issues, and catching illnesses early can mean lower costs and a much better prognosis for your pet.
Below, we discuss the importance of routine vet care for dogs.
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Why routine vet care is essential for dogs
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Early detection of health issues
A big advantage of a pet health checkup is how it can identify common health problems, like arthritis, dental disease, heart issues and obesity, early.
In conditions like these, early detection plays a big role in the severity of the disease and the complexity of treatment.
For example, a routine blood test can pick up numerous issues early, from dietary deficiencies to autoimmune disorders.
Vaccinations and preventative care
Routine pet care also covers preventative treatment, like your dog's vaccination schedule.
We've covered why vaccinations are important in our pet vaccine guide. But there are also things like deworming, flea treatment and tick prevention, which all help solve problems before they happen.
It's why preventative pet care is so important - it proactively solves serious health issues.
Maintaining a healthy weight and diet
A vet will often check your dog's weight and body condition score. It's a crucial part of routine checkups, and it'll help you and your vet assess if your dog is over or underweight.
It can sometimes be a little difficult to tell if your dog is struggling with obesity. But a vet can confirm it, and you'll also have a chance to discuss potential food allergies, intolerances and routines to keep your dog in the best shape.
Dental health and routine checkups
There's a direct link between a dog's oral health and their overall health. Bad dental hygiene and issues can indicate various health problems, from kidney disease to infection.
A vet can look for dental issues like:
Damage and fractures
Discolouration and misalignment
Excessive drooling
Gingivitis
Gum disease
Loose teeth
Plaque build-up
Sources of pain or discomfort
Swollen, bleeding gums
Regular dental check-ups, professional cleanings and at-home dental care can all help prevent gum disease and general health issues.
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What to expect at a routine vet visit
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Comprehensive physical examination
Your vet will likely start with a basic physical examination. It'll be things like:
Checking ears
Heart and lung assessments
Joint tests
Looking at your dog's skin
Testing vision
These all check your dog's major functions are working properly.
Lab tests and diagnostics
Next, a vet will likely perform some diagnostics and lab tests. Your dog may be anxious at this stage, but it's usually a quick process.
Common tests include:
Blood work
Parasite screening
Urine analysis
A vet may order x-rays and other scans if they think something needs more investigation.
Behaviour and lifestyle discussion
Your vet will also look at your pet's behaviour, particularly if you've highlighted it as a concern.
They'll assess things like anxiety symptoms, behaviour changes and training problems.
They can give advice and exercise routines that suit your dog's age, breed and problems, or they may recommend a behaviourist.
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How much does routine vet care cost?
It really depends on the practice and scope of the pet health check-up. A few things influence the cost of a routine vet visit, like:
Location
Pre-existing health conditions
Your dog's age
Average costs of routine vet visits
A few things influence the cost of a routine vet visit, like location. It varies.
Thankfully, we've studied the average cost of UK vet visits here, as well as the average costs for UK vaccinations.
How pet insurance can help
We know things get busy. You can have your dog's routine check-up in the back of your mind for a while, and before you know it, months have passed.
But it's really worth prioritising. It's one of the best ways to maintain your dog's health, and it could save you money, too.
Pet insurance doesn't cover routine check-ups or visits. But it can help cover the costs of unexpected health issues and accidents that a routine check-up finds.
At ManyPets, we offer up to £20,000 vet fee cover on our Complete Care dog insurance plan, 24/7 video vet calls and a host of ManyPets Perks.
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