Annual vet checkup: what happens and why it matters

How often should your pet see the vet?

Your pet should see the vet at least once a year as an adult, more often as a baby or a senior. Merck's owner guides break it down by life stage, though your vet may suggest something different for your pet, especially if there's a health condition in the mix.

Adult dogs and cats should have a full checkup at least once a year, and seniors twice a year or more.

Why an annual vet checkup matters for a healthy pet

An annual vet checkup matters for a healthy pet because it's about wellness, not just shots. Merck's professional manual says vet exams used to centre on vaccines and parasites, and the focus has since widened to overall medical, nutritional and behavioural health. It describes the yearly exam as health surveillance and wellness planning, covering:

• Vaccines that fit your pet's age and lifestyle
• Parasite control, including the yearly fecal test and, for dogs, the yearly heartworm test Merck recommends
• Nutrition advice and a body condition check
• Behavioural wellness
• Reproductive counselling, such as spaying or neutering

It matters even more as pets age. Merck notes older pets are more likely to get sick, so finding things early counts, and your vet may suggest blood tests or x-rays to look for early signs of illness.

What happens during the visit

Every clinic has its own rhythm, but a yearly visit usually starts with questions. The vet or technician will ask about appetite, thirst, energy, toilet habits, behaviour and anything new. This is where your notes earn their keep.

Then your pet gets weighed, and the vet may score body condition on a 9-point scale; the WSAVA considers 4 to 5 ideal. Next comes the physical exam, nose to tail, with a closer look at anything you mentioned. If tests are needed, that might mean a stool sample, a heartworm test for dogs, or blood work for an older pet. Any vaccines and parasite prevention that are due get done. And you should leave with a plan: food, dental care, behaviour, and when to come back.

In Ontario, Regulation 1093 says the vet's record of the visit has to include your pet's current weight, history, the assessment including exam findings and test results, the advice given and any treatment. You can ask for a copy.

What to bring to make it count

Bring anything that helps the vet see what you see at home. That usually means:

• A short list of changes you have noticed: eating, drinking, peeing, weight, energy, coughing, lumps, limping
• Photos or short videos of anything odd that comes and goes
• The names of food, treats, supplements and medicines, with doses
• Vaccine records if this is a new clinic
• A fresh stool sample, if the clinic asks for one
• Your questions, written down

Not sure what counts as worth mentioning? Merck's lists of signs that deserve a vet visit are a good prompt. For cats they include not eating, vomiting (frequent hairballs included), diarrhea, more thirst and urination, coughing, sneezing with discharge, itchy ears, hair loss and limping. For dogs they add being less active and urinating more or less than usual.

Questions to ask at the checkup

The questions to ask at the checkup are the ones you'll wonder about on the drive home. Write them down before you go:

• Is my pet at a healthy weight? How much should I be feeding?
• Which vaccines are due now, and which can wait?
• What parasite prevention does my pet need where we live?
• How are the teeth? Should I be brushing, or is a cleaning needed?
• Is there anything I should watch for at this age?
• When should we come back?

If feeding comes up, our guide on how much to feed a dog explains the body condition score your vet uses.

Staying on schedule all year

Staying on schedule is the hard part, and cost is often why visits get pushed. If that's you, ask for an estimate when you book, and ask which items are due now and which can safely wait. In Ontario, the College of Veterinarians of Ontario's informed client consent standard expects vets to give you an estimated cost of proposed tests and treatment, so you can decide with the full picture.

The other reason is plain forgetting. Book the next date before you leave the clinic. The free PetGrid app can send reminders for vaccines and anything else your pet needs, and keeps your pet's records together for whichever vet you see. No regular vet yet? The app's map shows vet clinics near you.

Questions people ask

Read the pet owner questions and answers

The short version

An annual vet checkup is the easiest way to catch problems early. Once a year for adult dogs and cats, twice a year or more for seniors, and right away when something seems off. Bring your notes, ask your questions, and don't leave without the next date booked.

The free PetGrid app keeps that plan, your pet's records and the reminders in one place.