Vet Visits For Your Dog Are Critical

If ain’t broke don’t fix it, right? This is often the case with most things. But with preventative care for your beloved dog it is oftentimes better than dealing with a critical health issue that was ignored. There are things that your dog could be experiencing quietly that go unnoticed. With regular checkups, your vet can look for subtle signs and symptoms. If caught early enough the fix is usually easier than trying to do damage repair.

Heartworms and Gingivitis Are Regular Canine Health Issues

One example is heartworms. This disease is spread by infected mosquitoes and there is no way to know which mosquitoes are infected therefore prevention is key. Regular checkups, blood tests and preventative medication are critical to your dog’s health in avoiding this deadly disease. These prevention methods are by far a better option than subjecting your dog to injection treatments if they have heartworms.

Another example is gingivitis. Gingivitis is a disease that occurs when bacteria accumulates along the gum line. This is currently one of the most common diseases in dogs. Stage 1 gingivitis in your dog can be much more easily treated than allowing this disease to progress to Stage 2, 3 or 4. The progression of this disease leads to bone loss in the jaw and teeth which then will affect their diet and lead to deteriorating health. Regular checkups can help your vet to determine the early stages of the onset of gingivitis or any other kind of periodontal disease which can then be addressed immediately.

There are many other ailments that dogs need to have regularly checked including bone and joint issues which can affect mobility and exercise, skin issues that are caused by allergies and many other things that your vet knows to look for. Remember one minute today can save you a lot of heartache tomorrow.

Here is a great checklist when taking your dog to the vet.  And here’s a great checklist for all you cat parents.