2023-07-04 03:33:01
Every year, any dog owner should consult the veterinarian in order to proceed to the health check of his little companion. Two visits per year are even recommended for an elderly or fragile doggie. This specific consultation is important, because it makes it possible to check that the dog is in good health and to detect any anomalies. It is therefore a useful preventive act to preserve the well-being of the doggie. But what does the veterinarian check during a health check? Let’s find out in this file!
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Dog health check: what is the use? When to do it?
Adopting a dog or any other pet is a decision that must be carefully thought out. Indeed, to adopt is to commit to taking care of this little companion not only until fatigue, but all his life. A master thus guarantees the well-being of his dog and his health, which is why he must imperatively ensure that he is offered the veterinary care he needs. However, consulting when necessary is one thing, but it is also important to make sure that the doggie’s health check is carried out every year in order to check that everything is in good order and to prevent a possible health problem.
Indeed, the annual visit is a consultation which allows to carry out a real assessment of the state of health of the doggie. The practitioner examines it from every angle and can thus detect any anomaly or disorder, which allows it to be quickly provided with the care it needs and to prevent serious risks or an aggravation of the patient’s state of health. the animal.
For young dogs, the exam is often short and straightforward. It allows in particular to administer to the animal its reminders of annual vaccines. For older doggies, on the other hand, this assessment is all the more important as it is essential to detect the signs of aging and quickly take measures to improve the dog’s comfort. It can also sometimes be recommended to carry out two annual examinations for senior dogs.
In any case, you should know that the health check is not without interest. It is a preventive act that greatly contributes to the well-being of the animal and to the maintenance of its good health. In addition, by promoting the early detection of disorders, the master can save money since his little companion is taken care of earlier. It is thus better cared for, with a generally shorter treatment and in a more effective, and therefore less expensive, context.
Health check of the dog: what are the points checked by the veterinarian?
In order to prevent risks and detect any anomaly, the veterinarian carries out a complete examination of the animal. Here are the different points it checks.
eye control
The dog’s eyes should be carefully checked due to their great fragility. The veterinarian performs an eye exam to ensure that the doggie’s eyes are working well, that they do not show any particular disorder or sign and that the dog has good vision.
In the event of redness or suspicious discharge, he can prescribe an appropriate ocular solution or a specific treatment in order to relieve the animal. If the situation requires it, further examination can be performed.
ear control
The veterinarian examines the dog’s ears, the auditory canal, the pavilion as well as the periphery of each in search of any anomaly. He thus ensures the proper functioning of this essential organ and he can possibly clean the ears if necessary.
dental control
The veterinarian opens the dog’s mouth and checks that the animal does not suffer from oral problems, in particular cavities or a broken tooth. He also checks the possible presence of dental plaque in order to consider scaling, if the situation requires it.
skin control
The practitioner meticulously examines the doggie’s skin and coat to detect any parasites or skin problems. Indeed, this skin examination is an opportunity to check whether the animal suffers from eczema, dermatitis or any form of skin allergy.
By palpating the animal, the veterinarian can also note the possible presence of subcutaneous masses. If this is the case, additional examinations will be necessary in order to know if they are benign or malignant tumors.
Finally, if the health professional notices the presence of parasites, such as fleas, ticks or others, he can carry out an antiparasitic treatment. A preventive solution can also be applied on this occasion, in the form of a tablet or a spot-on pipette.
Palpation of the abdomen
By palpating the dog’s abdomen, the veterinarian can make sure that the organs are functioning well and that they are normal in size. The dog’s belly should be soft. This gesture, not very comfortable for the animal, but generally painless, also makes it possible to detect an abnormal mass which could announce the presence of a tumour. If this is the case, additional examinations will be necessary.
cardiopulmonary examination
The veterinarian auscultates the dog to check his heart and lungs. It can thus detect a heart rhythm disorder or an anomaly in breathing.
joint examination
In the aging animal or in a weakened young subject, the examination of the joints is essential. It verifies that the hip and knee joints are healthy through palpation. The practitioner can thus detect any signs of dysplasia or osteoarthritis.
Examination of the testicles
In the non-neutered male dog, palpation of the testicles is important in order to check their correct placement and the possible presence of tumours, because testicular cancer remains frequent in whole doggies.
The weighing
Each year, the animal is weighed on the occasion of its health check-up in order to check that its ideal weight is maintained. The veterinarian thus checks that the weight of the doggie is in accordance with the standard taking into account its breed, age and sex.
In the event of overweight or obesity or, conversely, in the event of thinness, the practitioner can suggest the implementation of a suitable diet and accompany the master of the dog in its development and in the application of the phase – essential – of the transition.
Taking the temperature
The veterinarian also checks the dog’s body temperature, rectally. The normal temperature of a healthy dog is between 38°C and 38.5°C. In the event of an anomaly, the practitioner may recommend other examinations in order to understand the origin. Most often, he performs a blood test and/or a urinalysis.
Reminder of vaccines
From the age of 8 weeks, the puppy can receive its first injections or primary vaccinations. Generally, this process takes place in three phases, with an injection at 8 weeks, an injection at 12 weeks and an injection at 16 weeks. Another booster is needed at one year of age, then every year. The annual health check is therefore a good opportunity to carry out a reminder of vaccinations.
You should know that not all vaccines are mandatory for dogs. Only the rabies vaccine is regulated by law and it is made compulsory for traveling abroad with your animal. Any category 1 or category 2 dog (categories of dogs considered dangerous) must also be vaccinated.
There are then five recommended vaccines, which are as follows:
the vaccine against distemper, a viral infection that can be fatal; Rubarth’s hepatitis vaccine, a potentially deadly contagious virus; the vaccine against parvovirus, a highly contagious viral infection that can be fatal in young dogs or weakened dogs; the vaccine against leptospirosis, a serious and potentially fatal bacterial infection; the vaccine against influenza, a highly contagious but rarely fatal respiratory disease.
It is also possible to vaccinate the dog against other diseases, depending on its lifestyle and environment, which are:
leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease that requires an annual booster; piroplasmosis, a parasitic disease transmitted by ticks, with an annual booster; kennel cough, a very contagious respiratory infection for which the vaccine is often required to have your dog kept in canine boarding or to enroll him in canine education courses, with a reminder every year.
How much does a dog health check cost?
The cost of the consultation for carrying out the dog’s annual health check-up varies greatly from one animal to another and from one practitioner to another. It depends on many factors such as the age of the dog, his state of health and the possible need for additional care or according to the vaccinations to be carried out, etc. In addition, the rate applied also depends on the prices charged by the veterinarian or the veterinary clinic.
However, on average, a simple visit costs around 40 euros, with variations observed between 35 euros and 60 euros depending on the veterinary clinics. Please note, however, that this is the price applied for the consultation only. In the event of additional examination, treatment, antiparasitic treatment or vaccination, additional costs will be payable.
Be aware, however, that by taking out health insurance for your little companion, you can reduce the amount of the benefit.
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