Yearly Appointment/Check-up?
- Thread starter MisssAshby
- Start date
Where I work, for dogs under 7 an annual exam is an exam, and then the rabies and distemper/parvo vaccines every 3 years. Bordatella once or twice a year depending on the dog. Heartworm test every year, fecal float twice a year. For dogs 7 and older we recommend what we call a senior profile, which is baseline kidney/liver enzymes (total of 12 separate tests...BUN, ALKP, ALT, Creatinine, total protein, Phosphorus, cholesterol, glucose...I can't remember them all right now), ERD (urine test for proteinuria (sp?)), CBC, and electrolytes. Most people don't actually do the senior profile, but we offer it and recommend it, and it has caught some stuff early on many patients.
where i work, exam, fecal, and vaccines as appropriate for the individual (we do distemper/rabies q 3 years, bordetella and lyme annually or twice yearly depending on the dog/lifestyle). because we live in a low risk area, we do not require annual heartworm tests for dogs kept on heartworm preventative year round.
I don't do an annual exam persay unless my dogs are having some kind of problem. Like Jose` right now is having problems with his knees, so when I take him in to see if we have to do surgery, we'll have things done. When they have their teeth cleaned every year or so, they get blood work done. (liver enzymes etc) They're not likely to have worms, as they're older dogs. Something usually winds up so that they end up having to have an exam. But I don't do vaccines on my senior dogs. But I don't take them in every year on the dot just because.
Haven't found a vet I like. Been to 3 in 5 years and feel they all took my dog's health care in a half-ass fashion.
Exams have generally involved looking my dogs over, barely touching them at all three practices.. and pointing out lifetime long flaws I'm aware of and they should be too as it was never my first time in the door such as Cider's droopy lower eyelids..
They pushed every other heart worm testing if you feel you are diligent in giving meds and I'm okay with that heartworm isn't too prevalent here.. Never been offered or told I should have a fecal done..
If I've wanted bloodwork done because something seemed off I've had to push it at a different appointment.
And since the AAHA 2006 protocols have come out most appointments involve them telling me I'm an uneducated moron who doesn't understand vaccine protocols and that they don't care what I think.. and me telling them Smudge is fine intact and to quit telling me he has to be neutered years ago..
So now I don't do a yearly exam. We go in for issues. I don't deprive my kids of vet care, but I've gotten nothing useful out of a so called yearly exam only endless belittling and headaches. Last tiem I asked about it the last vet practice I used wouldn't simply do rabies and titer or do just rabies and leave me alone..
So I hit a rabies clinic few weeks ago first time ever. Meant there was no nasty, no fighting, no belittling, no fighting with me that my food choices are evil, and my kids got the vaccine they really need to have less hassle.
I keep asking agility folk for vet recommendations I have one that seems like a possible prospect.. apparently pro raw, pro titers and minimal vaccs and will treat holistically as well as traditionally upon the needs of the client.. I'm jaded though and until we have an issue I'm waiting to go visit her.
Exams have generally involved looking my dogs over, barely touching them at all three practices.. and pointing out lifetime long flaws I'm aware of and they should be too as it was never my first time in the door such as Cider's droopy lower eyelids..
They pushed every other heart worm testing if you feel you are diligent in giving meds and I'm okay with that heartworm isn't too prevalent here.. Never been offered or told I should have a fecal done..
If I've wanted bloodwork done because something seemed off I've had to push it at a different appointment.
And since the AAHA 2006 protocols have come out most appointments involve them telling me I'm an uneducated moron who doesn't understand vaccine protocols and that they don't care what I think.. and me telling them Smudge is fine intact and to quit telling me he has to be neutered years ago..
So now I don't do a yearly exam. We go in for issues. I don't deprive my kids of vet care, but I've gotten nothing useful out of a so called yearly exam only endless belittling and headaches. Last tiem I asked about it the last vet practice I used wouldn't simply do rabies and titer or do just rabies and leave me alone..
So I hit a rabies clinic few weeks ago first time ever. Meant there was no nasty, no fighting, no belittling, no fighting with me that my food choices are evil, and my kids got the vaccine they really need to have less hassle.
I keep asking agility folk for vet recommendations I have one that seems like a possible prospect.. apparently pro raw, pro titers and minimal vaccs and will treat holistically as well as traditionally upon the needs of the client.. I'm jaded though and until we have an issue I'm waiting to go visit her.
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2006
- Messages
- 2,550
- Likes
- 0
- Points
- 36
Argon's last yearly involved a heartworm check, titer, and thorough physical exam as well as behavioral troubleshooting. It would have involved a fecal, except he apparently didn't have anything to give, and Mommy forgot to scoop his poopies later and bring them in (actually, Mommy just remembered it as she was typing).
An exceptionally giving dog, he not only gave them blood from two different draws, he through in the bonus of squirting his anal glands for the vet tech.
An exceptionally giving dog, he not only gave them blood from two different draws, he through in the bonus of squirting his anal glands for the vet tech.
Buzz got a Silver this spring. He usually gets a Bronze.
CBC (complete blood count)
GHP (general health profile)
Urinalysis
Thyroid
Electrocardiogram
Bailey got a Bronze this spring. This was the first year she's had annual bloodwork done.
CBC
GHP
Urinalysis
We started doing yearly blood work when the dogs each reached nine years old I think.
We used to just do a heartworm antigen test, but after Bailey's misdiagnosed anaplasmosis, we run a 4DX. I'm seriously contemplating moving the 4DX to the fall and just an antigen test again in the spring.
We do rabies about every 3 years (I push it out as long as possible, and I doubt Buzz will be vaccinated for anything again) and DHPP the same. Bordetella when they are going to be boarded. No Lyme or Lepto.
I only wish we only went in yearly! Between surgeries and routine bloodwork for meds we're there pretty darn often. It's a good thing I love my vet!
CBC (complete blood count)
GHP (general health profile)
Urinalysis
Thyroid
Electrocardiogram
Bailey got a Bronze this spring. This was the first year she's had annual bloodwork done.
CBC
GHP
Urinalysis
We started doing yearly blood work when the dogs each reached nine years old I think.
We used to just do a heartworm antigen test, but after Bailey's misdiagnosed anaplasmosis, we run a 4DX. I'm seriously contemplating moving the 4DX to the fall and just an antigen test again in the spring.
We do rabies about every 3 years (I push it out as long as possible, and I doubt Buzz will be vaccinated for anything again) and DHPP the same. Bordetella when they are going to be boarded. No Lyme or Lepto.
I only wish we only went in yearly! Between surgeries and routine bloodwork for meds we're there pretty darn often. It's a good thing I love my vet!
Yup, although as of yet, not a glimmer of a problem. Never had my vet recommend it either. She's still relatively young, remarkably fit, and has never shown any signs of being anything but exceptionally healthy. Bless her, she is my easy pet! Tristan more than makes up for her.
At some point I'd like the get her elbow x-rayed just for my own peace of mind, but I'm also not willing to put her under for just that since it hasn't caused an issue since the first few weeks I had her. If she ever had to go under for something else, I'd have it done.
At some point I'd like the get her elbow x-rayed just for my own peace of mind, but I'm also not willing to put her under for just that since it hasn't caused an issue since the first few weeks I had her. If she ever had to go under for something else, I'd have it done.
For Auggie I like to get him in yearly to have a good physical exam to make sure his joints and his eyes are still looking and feeling good. Heartworm tests are done annually, they'll do a fecal float if I ask but I usually forget to bring in a poop sample so they don't.
This year we have to do rabies and this is our first year doing a titer. I don't know if they'll be annual or every two years from this point on.
This year we have to do rabies and this is our first year doing a titer. I don't know if they'll be annual or every two years from this point on.
Bailey is at the vet's office a lot. 
I did make appointments specifically for his shots (DHP, rabies and bordatella) (he goes to daycare). He had a fecal and a HW test. And a physical exam.
Bailey had bloodwork done last spring when we were trying to get him diagnosed. When we went to the vet last week, he didn't think that B needed annual bloodwork because he's still so young (17 mos.), even with his IBD. I'm on the fence since we know that Bailey has an autoimmune disease, for which he's been on medication that *can* have side effects (the vet isn't particularly worried about that potentiality), so I will probably ask the vet about it again when we have our next appointment (bordatella in the spring). I may go ahead and get it just to make myself feel better, lol.
B goes to do different vets -- an allopathic and a homeopathic. I've recently decided to be more conservative and go with the "regular" vet for annual exams and vaccinations, and heartworm and other similar recommendations. I'll stick with the homeopath for Bailey's remedies and diet advice (as needed). We'll vaccinate less regularly or not at all when he gets older, but I've decided to go with annual vaccinations for a while (and have to anyway while he's in daycare). I won't do titers if I decide not to vaccinate in the future.
I think annual exams are important. My (indoor) cats have always gone in and I have declined vaccinations I felt were unnecessary (pretty much everything, unless someone is staying overnight and the vet's office requires it).
I did make appointments specifically for his shots (DHP, rabies and bordatella) (he goes to daycare). He had a fecal and a HW test. And a physical exam.Bailey had bloodwork done last spring when we were trying to get him diagnosed. When we went to the vet last week, he didn't think that B needed annual bloodwork because he's still so young (17 mos.), even with his IBD. I'm on the fence since we know that Bailey has an autoimmune disease, for which he's been on medication that *can* have side effects (the vet isn't particularly worried about that potentiality), so I will probably ask the vet about it again when we have our next appointment (bordatella in the spring). I may go ahead and get it just to make myself feel better, lol.
B goes to do different vets -- an allopathic and a homeopathic. I've recently decided to be more conservative and go with the "regular" vet for annual exams and vaccinations, and heartworm and other similar recommendations. I'll stick with the homeopath for Bailey's remedies and diet advice (as needed). We'll vaccinate less regularly or not at all when he gets older, but I've decided to go with annual vaccinations for a while (and have to anyway while he's in daycare). I won't do titers if I decide not to vaccinate in the future.
I think annual exams are important. My (indoor) cats have always gone in and I have declined vaccinations I felt were unnecessary (pretty much everything, unless someone is staying overnight and the vet's office requires it).
