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Regular dog health checkups catch problems early and keep your pup healthy for years to come. At DogingtonPost, we know that many dog owners feel unsure about what happens during these visits.
This guide walks you through each part of a vet appointment, from physical exams to blood work. You’ll also learn how to prepare your dog and what questions to ask your veterinarian.
What Happens During a Standard Vet Checkup
Your vet’s hands-on examination reveals health insights that matter. When your dog arrives, the vet measures temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate as baseline vital signs. A normal dog temperature sits between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and heart rate varies by breed size, ranging from 60 to 100 beats per minute in larger dogs up to 100 to 140 in small breeds. These numbers matter because deviations signal infections, heart problems, or other issues that need attention. The vet listens to the heart and lungs using a stethoscope to catch abnormalities like murmurs or fluid buildup that you won’t notice at home. The head-to-tail physical exam follows, where the vet checks eyes for cloudiness or discharge, ears for infection or mites, skin and coat for dryness or lumps, and joints for early arthritis. The vet palpates the abdomen to feel for masses or organ enlargement and checks lymph nodes for swelling. This thorough approach catches problems before they become serious.
Dental Health Gets Priority
Dental disease affects most adult dogs, yet most owners skip home care entirely. Your vet examines teeth and gums for tartar buildup and gum disease, which can lead to kidney and heart problems if left untreated. Many vets recommend professional cleaning when tartar accumulates, and at-home dental care between visits makes a real difference. Daily tooth brushing with a pet-specific toothbrush and toothpaste works best, though many owners find this challenging. If brushing feels impossible, dental chews or water additives offer a backup, though they’re less effective than brushing. Your vet can recommend specific products and help you establish a routine that actually works for your household. Oral pain often goes unnoticed by owners, so the vet’s exam catches issues you might miss.
Weight and Body Condition Tracking
Your vet tracks weight at every visit because unexplained changes signal underlying problems. Weight loss can indicate cancer, kidney disease, or dental pain that prevents eating, while weight gain accelerates joint problems and diabetes risk. The vet assigns a body condition score on a scale of 1 to 9, with 5 being ideal. A dog at score 7 or higher carries excess weight that shortens lifespan and reduces quality of life. The vet measures this through palpation, feeling ribs and spine to determine if they’re easily felt or hidden under fat. This objective assessment guides diet and exercise recommendations tailored to your dog’s age, breed, and health status. Tracking these numbers over years helps your vet spot trends and adjust care before problems escalate. These baseline measurements set the stage for the blood work and screenings that come next.
Common Tests and Screenings at Vet Visits
Blood Work Reveals Hidden Health Problems
Your vet orders blood work and urinalysis because these tests catch silent killers before symptoms appear. A complete blood count measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to assess immune function and detect anemia or infection. The chemistry panel checks kidney and liver function, electrolytes, proteins, and glucose levels to reveal metabolic problems your dog shows no signs of yet. Abnormal results in either test indicate infections, organ dysfunction, or conditions like diabetes that need immediate treatment. Urinalysis complements blood work by detecting kidney issues, urinary tract infections, and diabetes that blood tests alone might miss.
Parasite Screening Starts Early and Continues
For puppies, a fecal exam screens for intestinal parasites like roundworms at every wellness visit until 16 weeks old, then annually for adults. Many puppies carry parasites without obvious symptoms, yet these worms rob them of nutrients and can spread to humans. Your vet will ask you to bring a fresh stool sample, which makes the exam faster and more accurate than relying on visual inspection alone. Annual heartworm testing happens every 12 months even if your dog takes heartworm prevention, because breakthrough infections do occur and catching them early prevents serious heart damage. The American Heartworm Society recommends this annual test as non-negotiable for all dogs over seven months old.
Parasite Prevention Requires a Tailored Approach
Many modern parasite prevention products cover multiple threats in a single monthly or quarterly dose, protecting against fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites, and heartworms simultaneously. Your vet will recommend specific products based on your dog’s weight, age, and any health conditions that might affect tolerance. This customized approach saves money by eliminating unnecessary treatments while maximizing protection against the parasites your dog actually faces.
Vaccination Status Needs Regular Review
Vaccination status requires review at every visit because core vaccines like rabies, distemper, and parvovirus need boosters every three years, though some vets use titer testing to confirm immunity before revaccinating. Non-core vaccines like Bordetella for kennel cough or Lyme disease depend on your dog’s exposure risk and lifestyle. Your vet will explain which vaccines your dog actually needs rather than giving unnecessary shots, which saves money and reduces potential side effects. Staying current on vaccines prevents diseases that spread rapidly in boarding facilities and dog parks, protecting your dog and others in your community. With testing and prevention plans in place, the next step involves preparing your dog for the appointment itself.
How to Prepare for Your Dog’s Vet Visit
Showing up to a vet appointment unprepared wastes time and money. Bring your dog’s complete medical history, including vaccination records, previous test results, and any medications or supplements your dog takes. If your dog has seen other vets, request those records in advance so your current vet has the full picture. Write down any changes you’ve noticed in the past few weeks-appetite shifts, energy levels, bathroom frequency, or behavioral changes. Many owners forget these details during the appointment, so a written list prevents blanking when the vet asks questions. If your dog has limped, scratched, or acted differently, document when these issues started and how often they occur. The vet uses this baseline information to connect dots that might otherwise stay hidden.
Gather Essential Documents and Information
Bring a fresh stool sample in a sealed container if your dog hasn’t had a parasite screening recently, which speeds up fecal exam diagnostics. Call ahead and ask for a cost estimate so you know whether blood work, vaccines, or other tests will fit your budget. Some clinics charge 40 to 90 dollars for an office visit, with blood work running 50 to 200 dollars and urinalysis adding 20 to 60 dollars.
Knowing these numbers prevents sticker shock and lets you plan financially before the appointment.
Manage Your Dog’s Anxiety Before the Visit
Anxious dogs often resist exams and blood draws, making the visit harder on everyone. Start with short, positive trips to the vet clinic before the actual appointment so your dog associates the building with good things rather than fear. Walk in, let the staff offer treats, and leave without any medical procedures. Repeat this a few times if your dog shows real anxiety. On appointment day, exercise your dog beforehand so excess nervous energy dissipates, making your dog calmer during the exam. Avoid a large meal right before the visit since stress can upset the stomach. Bring high-value treats your dog loves so the vet and staff can reward calm behavior throughout the appointment. Ask your vet about anti-anxiety medication if your dog panics during visits, since some vets can prescribe a mild sedative given before arrival.
Ask Questions That Matter Most
Come prepared with specific questions written down so you don’t forget what matters most to you. Ask about dental care recommendations for your dog’s age and breed, whether your dog needs any non-core vaccines based on lifestyle, and what parasite prevention makes sense for your region. Discuss diet and exercise routines to confirm they match your dog’s current health status and weight. Ask about the cost of preventive care versus emergency care so you understand why routine checkups save money long-term. Clarify the clinic’s after-hours emergency protocol and whether they have a preferred emergency facility in your area. These details matter because emergencies happen at midnight on weekends, and knowing your options prevents panic.
Final Thoughts
Regular dog health checkups form the foundation of responsible pet ownership. The physical exams, blood work, and parasite screenings you’ve learned about aren’t optional extras-they’re the difference between catching kidney disease at stage one versus stage four, between treating a urinary tract infection with antibiotics versus dealing with sepsis. Your vet’s hands-on assessment catches problems your eyes miss, from early arthritis to heart murmurs that show no symptoms yet.
Preventative care costs far less than emergency care. A wellness visit runs 40 to 90 dollars, while treating a ruptured bladder or advanced cancer can exceed thousands. Annual blood work at 50 to 200 dollars catches metabolic problems before they become critical, and heartworm prevention costs pennies compared to treating heartworm disease, which damages the heart permanently.
Schedule your dog’s appointment today and ask for a cost estimate so you can budget accordingly. We at DogingtonPost believe every dog deserves this level of care, and your commitment to regular dog health checkups shows your dog that their wellbeing matters.
