How Often Should an Average Pet Receive a Physical Examination?

As a pet parent, it's your responsibility to provide proper care for your animals. You must upply a safe and suitable habitat, sanitary conditions, fresh food and water, physical and mental stimulation, attention and affection. This also includes veterinary checkups and treatment. Regular physical examinations by a veterinarian are essential to tracking your pet's health and catching concerns early to get the best possible prognosis. See your vet right away if you ever notice causes for worry in your pet.

  1. Cats and Dogs

    • Generally healthy cats and dogs should go to the vet's office at least once per year for a physical examination and checkup. Young puppies and kittens often need to go more often -- perhaps every three months or so -- for vaccinations, growth tracking and other early life care. At your cat or dog's annual well-check, the vet covers a lot of ground. He performs a thorough exam, paying particular attention to your pet's ears, eyes, mouth, abdomen, heart, lungs, skin and coat. Annual vaccination boosters are given when due, too.

    Special Care for Cats and Dogs

    • Certain conditions should bump your cat or dog up to veterinary well-checks every six months. Senior pets need to go in twice per year to monitor their conditions and help catch illnesses and degeneration as early as possible. Cats and dogs with chronic health problems should also see the vet at least bi-annually. For example, pets on hormone therapies typically need to have blood work done more than once per year; pets with organ dysfunction usually need to be checked more often, too. Your vet will recommend a schedule for checkups. Also, depending on your pet's risk factors, you may need to go in for parasite inspections or vaccinations more than once per year.

    Small Pets and Reptiles

    • People keep numerous small animals as pets, especially rodents. Mice, rats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, ferrets, rabbits and chinchillas are some of the more common choices. Then there are reptiles, including all sorts of lizards, turtles and snakes. Few vets are experts in all the various small animals and lizards out there, so shop around for one with experience treating the type of animal you have. Bring your new pet to the vet's office within a few days of bringing her home for an initial physical exam. After that, annual checkups are standard.

    Birds

    • It's advisable to seek out an avian veterinarian if you have a pet bird. Bring her in to the vet's office for a thorough checkup within three days of acquisition. Birds are fragile animals in some respects -- especially in their sensitivity to temperature and many germs transmitted by humans. They also tend to have more subtle signs and symptoms of illness than cats and dogs, so it's essential to bring your pet bird in for an exam at least once per year.