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How Often Should You Take Your Pet to the Vet?

May 19th, 2023

Newport Center Animal Hospital & Pet Suites is pleased to offer a wide range of services, including wellness exams, vaccinations, preventive care, and more. We are committed to providing our furry patients with the highest quality preventive care to ensure they live long, healthy, and active lives. You can always count on our team for the highest level of care.

How Often Should You Take Your Pet to the Vet?

Just like humans, pets require regular medical exams to stay healthy and happy. So how often should you take your pet to the vet? The frequency of veterinary visits will vary depending on your pet’s age, breed, health, and lifestyle. As a general guideline, most pets need wellness exams at least once a year. Puppies, kittens, senior pets, and those with chronic health issues may require more frequent checkups.

Aside from routine care, if you see changes in your cat or dog or notice anything that sparks concern, bring your furry friend in for an evaluation. Don’t wait for the next annual wellness check. Signs of chronic pain or disease are often subtle, so if you see your precious pet not eating as usual, drinking more than normal, or simply acting differently, give us a call. Early diagnosis and treatment of medical problems can help improve your pet’s chance of full recovery.

The Importance of Routine Vet Visits

Routine vet visits are important for your pet’s overall health and well-being. Here’s a look at some of their benefits:

● Early Detection: Regular vet visits allow us to identify potential concerns early when they are easier to treat. That prevents minor medical conditions from progressing and becoming more serious ones down the road.
● Vaccinations: Routine visits ensure your pet’s vaccinations are up-to-date. That helps protect your furry companion from life-threatening diseases and ensures they can’t transmit diseases to other animals.
● Parasite Prevention: We offer counseling on deworming, heartworm, flea, and tick prevention. We also screen for parasites to keep your pet healthy and sound.
● Expert Advice: Routine vet visits are an excellent opportunity to seek advice on how to keep your pet healthy and happy. These include tips on nutrition, exercise, behavior management, and other aspects of your pet’s care.

What Happens During a Wellness Exam?

We typically start by weighing your fur-ever friend to determine whether there are any changes and to ensure they maintain a healthy weight. We will take their health history, ask about current concerns, and review needed labs, parasite prevention, and vaccinations. We will also check your pet’s vital signs, including their temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure to get a sense of their overall health.

Our skilled veterinarians will perform a thorough head-to-tail physical exam, including an evaluation of the mouth, teeth, gums, eyes, ears, lymph nodes, lungs, heart, abdomen, and musculoskeletal system. We may recommend lab work to screen for health concerns, such as anemia, diabetes, liver disease, or kidney problems. We will also discuss the best way to prevent parasites, including fleas, ticks, and heartworm.

After evaluating your furry companion’s health, we will share our findings and make any needed recommendations, such as dental care, nutritional counseling, or pain management. Our goal is to prevent disease and help your furry companion thrive.

Preventive Pet Care Near Me in Newport Beach, CA

At Newport Center Animal Hospital & Pet Suites, we understand that your pet is a family member. Our veterinarians and team are proponents of prevention and early detection to ensure our furry patients live healthy, active lives. We invite you to contact our office at 949-644-5460 to schedule your appointment or request one online today!