As unpleasant as it might be, a yearly medical exam is a vital part of your relationship with your pet. Not taking your pet to the veterinarian for annual visits leads to problems ranging from a failure to provide adequate preventative care to the neglect of young and senior animals to increased medical expenses and lapsed prescriptions.
1- Sabotage Preventative Health Care Goals
You have certainly heard or read the expression “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Annual exams for your pet enable you to be proactive in early disease detection.
Medical professionals pick up on infections and organ dysfunctions from subtle changes on a physical exam, like enlarged lymph nodes, excessive abdominal fluid, and heart murmurs. In addition to catching warning signs, your veterinarian can regularly advise you on nutrition, supplements, and techniques to stave off illness. They can also recommend and keep your pet up to date with regular vaccinations and new medical protocols.
2- Neglect Elder Canine Care
Dogs, ferrets, cats, and other pets approach old age far more quickly than humans. Skipping an annual visit can be the equivalent of you missing five to twelve yearly doctor exams. Not only can a lot of change happen with your pet in a year, but senior animals require additional care. This might involve bloodwork, radiographs, and other tests to assess health. Elder pets can experience rapid deterioration in weight, organ function, and overall condition, warranting more frequent exams. Giant dogs and certain cat species age even more dramatically than usual and benefit from biannual exams.
3- Increased Long-Term Medical Expenses
Animals cannot speak your language, potentially leaving you oblivious to underlying problems. Furthermore, pets, especially cats, frequently hide their illness or have high tolerances for pain.
An annual exam helps your vet detect significant variations in your pet’s medical history, such as increased drinking, decreased appetite, or lethargy, that you may have overlooked as subtle or routine. By nipping an ailment in its earliest stages, you can defray the expenses of a serious issue. For example, you might avoid major surgery on your cat’s teeth by performing dental cleaning when their gingivitis is mild.
4- Failure to Track Puppy or Kitten Milestones
Puppies and kittens still need annual physicals after their last vaccines. Exams help you track growth and address obesity and susceptibility to bone and muscle problems. As your pet reaches adulthood, consistent vet visits help you stay ahead of dental issues, arthritis, and skin challenges.
5- Missed Prescriptions or Renewals
Veterinarians require an examination before they write a prescription for your pet. Federal law dictates this. Furthermore, vets usually require a pet exam within a year of its last prescription before they renew a medication. Skipping an annual exam for your dog or cat can put you in a bind if you urgently need pain medicine or insulin for your pet after hours. You may incur unnecessary expenses if you must visit an emergency center to obtain a routine prescription.
6- Higher Risk of Parasites
Your pet can pick up parasites from various places. Although external parasites are often obvious, a low flea or tick burden might only be detected with an exam. You can easily miss intestinal worms, heartworms, and liver flukes, which your vet will detect with standard testing during an annual visit. Regular medical care prevents heavy parasite loads. Animals often suffer silently when they have worms, some of which can have long-term catastrophic effects.