How Often Does My Dog Need a Wellness Exam?

Your dog cannot tell you when something feels off. Dogs are experts at hiding pain and illness. That is why regular wellness exams matter so much. They let us catch small problems before they become big ones. But how often is often enough? The answer depends on your dog's age and health.

Puppies: every three to four weeks

Puppies grow fast, and their care schedule moves fast too. From about six weeks to 16 weeks of age, your puppy needs a visit every three to four weeks. These visits cover the full puppy vaccine series, deworming, and heartworm prevention. They also give us a chance to check growth and answer all your questions about house training, feeding, and behavior.

Puppy visits also build a health history from day one. When we know what normal looks like for your dog, we can spot changes much sooner later in life. This is also the time to talk about spay and neuter timing, which varies by breed and size.

Adult dogs: once a year

Healthy adult dogs, from about age one to age seven, should see us once a year. A yearly wellness exam is a nose-to-tail checkup. Here is what we look at during the visit:

Eyes, ears, and mouth. We check for infections, dental disease, and vision changes. Dental problems are one of the most common issues we find, and many owners have no idea anything is wrong.

Heart and lungs. We listen for murmurs and irregular rhythms that can show up years before symptoms do.

Skin and coat. Louisiana heat and humidity are hard on skin. We look for allergies, hot spots, fleas, and lumps that need a closer look.

Weight and body condition. Extra pounds shorten a dog's life. Small changes in weight are much easier to fix than big ones.

Blood work and heartworm testing. A yearly heartworm test is a must in Louisiana, since our mosquitoes stay active all year. Blood work checks the organs we cannot see from the outside. Our in-house laboratory gives us results during the same visit, so you leave with answers instead of waiting days for a call.

Senior dogs: every six months

Dogs age much faster than we do. For most dogs, senior life starts around age seven. Large breeds get there even sooner. At this stage, we recommend a wellness exam every six months. Six months in a senior dog's life is like several years in ours, so a lot can change between visits.

Senior visits usually include more complete blood work, blood pressure checks, and a closer look at joints and mobility. Catching kidney disease, thyroid problems, or arthritis early gives us many more options for treatment. Early care means more comfortable years together.

Why not just wait until something is wrong?

We understand the thought. Your dog seems fine, so why go in? The problem is that dogs hide illness by instinct. By the time symptoms show, a disease may be advanced. Wellness exams flip that around. We find problems while they are still small, cheap, and easy to treat. Skipping checkups often costs families more in the long run, both in money and in worry.

Serving Ascension Parish families since 1998

Prairieville Animal Hospital has been caring for dogs and cats in Prairieville, Dutchtown, and the surrounding communities since 1998. Our four LSU-trained veterinarians treat your pets the way we treat our own, because we know pets are part of your family.

Not sure when your dog's last exam was? That is a good sign it is time for one. Call us at (225) 677-5005 or reach out here and we will get your dog on the schedule. One visit a year is a small step that makes a big difference.