Reasons Your Pet May Require Frequent Veterinary Check-Ups

Taking your pet for regular check-ups at your local animal hospital is one of the best ways to take a proactive approach to the animal's health. You can expect that your veterinarian will tell you how often they wish to see the pet. For many animals, annual check-ups are the norm. There may be a time, however, that the vet decides that seeing the pet more frequently will be in their best interest. For example, the vet may ask that you schedule check-up appointments twice a year instead of once a year. Here are some reasons that your pet may require more frequent check-ups.

Advanced Age

As your pet gets older, they can often begin to encounter a variety of health issues that weren't present in their younger years. These issues can range from minor to serious; in the case of the latter category, your veterinarian won't want to go too long without monitoring the pet's health. It shouldn't come as a surprise that the vet wishes to see your pet for more frequent check-ups as they get older. For example, if you have a dog that is starting to exhibit signs of arthritis in its legs, the vet will want to monitor this condition more than just once a year.

Breed Type

There's a chance that your veterinarian may wish to see your pet for frequent check-ups simply because of its breed type. Some breeds encounter more health issues than others, even at younger ages. For example, certain breeds of dogs, such as bulldogs, can often experience a wide range of respiratory complications, in part due to the flat shape of the breed's face. Frequent animal hospital visits give the vet a better chance of catching something in the early stages rather than allowing something to develop over a prolonged period of time.

Health History

Your pet's health history may also prompt your veterinarian to suggest that more frequent check-ups would be in the animal's best interest. If the pet has faced one or more health issues in the past, the vet will use frequent check-ups to ensure that the problems have not returned. For example, if you have a dog that previously had cancer, the vet may want to screen the animal more than once a year to ensure that if the cancer has returned, it can be caught early.

Contact your local animal clinic to determine how often you should schedule check-ups for your pet. For more information, reach out to local veterinary services.