January 3, 2012
Posted in Pet Health

Everyone knows that going in for an annual check up at the doctor can be uncomfortable and many are guilty of putting off the visit for a few months or even another whole year. Although you may believe it's a waste of time to go to the doctor's especially if you feel great, skipping your dog's annual physical out of fear or lack of time can be detrimental to its health. Most pet owners are not dog whisperers, so only a professional veterinarian can truly tell you what is up with your pooch.

If you avoid bringing your dog in for its physical exam, you may be causing your dog to suffer in pain from a condition you can't tell it has. Such issues like cancer will only get worse without treatment, so it's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your pet's health.

Health issues like arthritis can creep up on a dog and you may not notice that your dog has developed a slight limp or walks a bit slower because you see it everyday. However, when you take it in for a check up, the vet can feel around on its joints and figure out how the dog is doing. He or she may recommend you start it on joint enhancing supplements like Glyco Flex III or Dasuquin. If the vet thinks that the joint issues are more advanced, pet meds like Deramaxx may be of more help.

Dogs are known to try and mask their pain and because of this, you may not even know that your pooch is suffering. However, a vet is highly trained to recognize the subtle changes in a dog. According to the news source, part of a physical exam includes a vet feeling around the body of a dog. He or she is able to check the size of a dog's organs to check for abnormal size or shapes. A vet can also look for tumors, or even tell if a dog is suffering from a heart murmur or eye and ear problems.

Aside from picking up on serious conditions, a vet may also notice subtle issues like a dog needing its ears cleaned with a solution like Epi Octic Ear Cleaner, or that it may have developed an eye disorder that needs certain medications. The vet may prescribe petmeds for eyes like Neo Poly Dex Ophth Susp to help clear up any bacteria or infections, before they become more serious.

It's crucial that owners take the time to attend their pets yearly exams to ensure they age successfully and have access to the help they need to continue to thrive.
 

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