When to Bring the Dog to the Vet

The old saying that dogs are "man's best friend" certainly holds true, and that's never more apparent than when your dog needs medical help. But there's a fine line between taking care of your dog when it needs help and worrying too much about its health. Where exactly is that line? In this article, we'll be tackling that exact question.

When You're Worrying Too Much

Some people only have their dog for a roommate, so it's understandable when they get worried about the health of their daily companion. One potential problem with this kind of arrangement is that a dog owner can become too involved in his or her dog's medical life, taking them in for check-ups when they're not really needed and wasting money.

But how do you know that you're this kind of owner? For starters, remember to take your dog in for a physical every six months or so - this might be more often if your dog has special medical needs and your veterinarian requests to see the dog between checkups. But if your dog is healthy, this is a good rule of thumb, and you shouldn't worry about your dog unless it's displaying some medical symptoms that are outside the norm.

It's a good idea to talk to your vet and get their opinion on how often they should see your dog. It helps to have a good, honest veterinarian who will give a straight answer rather than try to have you paying for checkups every month!

When You're Worrying Too Little

When your dog is young, there won't be many health issues that you'll need to worry about. But when your dog gets old and starts displaying signs of that aging, there's also a chance of developing the "he/she's fine" attitude, in which you ignore medical symptoms by chalking them up to the natural process of aging. Yes, dogs do age, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't investigate what's going on with your aging dog.

It might help to have a few phone numbers on hand so that you can call a few veterinarians when something does come up - this way you don't necessarily have to visit them, but you can get some advice about whether or not the dog should come in. And if you're distrustful of veterinarians, having a second and third opinion can always help you understand what's going on.

Photo Credits: otakuchick

This post involves:

check ups, checkups, dog owner, health issues, medical help, medical life, medical symptoms, vet, veterinarian

... and focuses on:

Canines, Health and Medical

Posted by Dog Training Pet on August 14, 2010 in Canines, Health and Medical. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.