Annual health checks are the best way to detect early warning signs of disease...your pet cant afford to miss them
1 year in human years equals 7 in dog years. So if you skip an annual health check, you’re actually skipping 7 years for your precious pooch. Imagine if you didn’t go to the doctor for 7 years! If you wouldn’t risk that yourself, don’t risk it for your fur babies.
This doesn’t just apply to dogs either. All pets lead shorter lives than their owners and need annual health checks to keep them in great condition as they age. All sorts of conditions can appear over their lifetime, but with annual health checks we can diagnose and treat them before they become a problem.
The benefits of annual health checks
- Prevent future issues by identifying the warning signs
- Early diagnosis of conditions and illnesses
- Ongoing behavioural and nutritional advice
- Pest and parasite control
FAQs
All of them! Whether they’ve got fur, feathers or scales, all pets should be checked at least once a year to make sure they’re in perfect health.
While the ‘annual’ in annual health check is probably a giveaway, the recommended frequency for health checks is once a year. However, that can change with age.
For cats and dogs, an annual health check is fine between the ages of 1-6. When they are puppies or kittens, you are encouraged to bring them in at 10-12 weeks and again at 16 weeks. That’s because they are growing very quickly and it’s vital that they are monitored for any abnormalities. They’ll also need vaccinations.
After 6 years, your cats and dogs should have a checkup every 6 months. As they get older the chances of complications get higher. You also want to make sure your faithful friend is comfortable in their old age.
Annual health checks for exotic pets are often more important than for cats and dogs. Cats and dogs show signs of illness, but exotic pets are far better at hiding when they are sick. Annual health checks are in depth and will assess things like bloodwork that your exotic pet can’t hide.
Exotic pets often have very specific care requirements. Their diets and environment can greatly affect their health and wellbeing, so annual health checks can also help you optimise these conditions to make sure your pet is in perfect condition.
What’s involved in an annual health check differs depending on the animal. After all, we can’t trim a snake’s nails or check a dog’s beak!
But with that said, there are some common checks we do for most animals, including:
- Nutritional and behavioural advice
- General exam
- Vaccinations
- Parasite checks
- Heart checks
- Dental care
- Blood tests
- Chemistry panel
- Urinalysis
Does your furry friend seem sick or out of sorts? This could be a sign that something is wrong
At MustCare, we don’t believe in silly questions. If you’re worried, we want to help. Get in touch and book an appointment so we can figure out what’s got your cat’s tongue.
