Preventive Care for Dogs
Commit to a lifetime of health.
Preventive care is an essential part of keeping your dog happy and healthy. It will give you peace of mind and increase the odds of detecting underlying health conditions before they become advanced and expensive.
How often should my dog see a veterinarian?
At Cherished Companions Animal Clinic, we make our preventive care recommendations using the guidelines established by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). From there, our veterinarians further customize their suggestions based on hereditary factors including your dog’s age, lifestyle, and medical history.
Typically, we suggest scheduling at least one annual exam during which one of our veterinarians will review your dog’s medical history, assess their behavior, make dietary recommendations, and evaluate any known health conditions they may have.
When you bring your dog in for a checkup, you can count on us to:
- Help your pet (and you!) feel as relaxed as possible. It’s important to us that your dog feels at ease—whether it’s through a warm greeting, a good back rub, fun toys, or treats.
- Tailor our annual health exam to your dog. For example, we don’t make larger dogs get up on exam tables, if possible. We prefer to let them stay on the floor where they’re more comfortable. This also makes it easier for our vets to find abnormalities because your dog isn’t as tense.
- Clearly communicate with you. We’re happy to answer your questions, listen to any concerns you may have about your pet’s health, and clearly share what we find during our exam.
How our dog annual exam visits work
Typically, our annual checkups take up to 30 minutes. (If your pet has a health issue that could use attention, your appointment may take longer). If this is your first visit to our Castle Rock veterinary clinic, we’ll ask you to share a little information when you arrive.
Please bring in your pet’s medical history, if you have it. We’re happy to request that information from your last veterinarian.
Next, you’ll meet with our veterinary technicians. In addition to sharing some love with your pet, they will:
- Check your pet’s vital signs.
- Ask you some basic health questions about your pet—similar to what a nurse would do in a doctor’s office.
- Check your pet’s dental health, looking for any signs of pet dental disease.
If your pet needs a lab test (such as a heartworm test or a geriatric blood test), we’re happy to start it before you visit with our veterinarian, if you’d like.
Next, one of our Castle Rock veterinarians will come in and do a head-to-toe medical exam of your dog or cat—from assessing your pet’s major organs to checking joints, to looking for skin masses. Our vets will:
- Answer your questions
- Discuss their observations with you
- Recommend next steps if your pet has a health issue that needs more attention
We’re here to help you fully understand what’s going on with your cherished companion!
FAQs about our health checkups for pets
Why does an annual checkup matter?
When you bring your pet in for a dog annual exam or a cat annual exam, we can make sure your pet is healthy and catch any issues early.
Ultimately, you can give your cherished companion a fuller and happier life. Not to mention, catching issues early can help you avoid more expensive and extreme treatment options. Sometimes, the smallest changes—such as switching pet foods—can make a huge difference in your pet’s quality of life and long-term health.
How often should I bring my dog or cat in for a health exam?
It depends on your dog or cat. With that said, we have some general guidelines.
If your pet is one to seven years old, we recommend a health exam each year for those first seven years of life. Keep in mind, animals age faster than people do. If you think about it in human terms, an annual exam for your dog or cat is the same as you visiting your doctor once every three to seven years!
As your pet gets older, we recommend a health exam once every six months. Older cats and dogs are more likely to have health issues that may not have highly visible signs yet, such as the beginning of arthritis, declining dental health, or the start of kidney issues. Our veterinarians are happy to discuss the ideal checkup schedule for your dog or cat during your next visit.
To schedule your dog’s annual exam, call us at (303) 688-3757 or request a dog exam appointment online.
