How Often Should You Take Your Dog to the Vet? A Complete Guide for Australian Pet Owners

Introduction

Regular veterinary care is one of the most important parts of keeping your dog healthy, happy, and living a long life. But many owners aren’t sure how often their dog actually needs to see a vet especially when life gets busy, the dog seems healthy, or the pet becomes anxious about clinic visits.

The right vet schedule depends on your dog’s age, lifestyle, breed, and any existing medical conditions. In this guide, we break down the recommended visit frequency for puppies, adult dogs, and seniors, and explain why routine check-ups matter even when your dog seems perfectly fine.

If convenience or transport is a challenge, Pawssum Mobile Vets make regular check-ups easy by visiting your home across Australia.

Why Regular Vet Visits Matter

Dogs are excellent at hiding pain and illness. Many conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, dental issues, or kidney problems aren’t obvious until they’re advanced.

Routine vet visits help to:

• Catch problems early (often before symptoms appear)
• Reduce long-term treatment costs
• Ensure vaccinations and parasite control stay up to date
• Monitor weight, mobility, eyes, ears, teeth, skin, and internal health
• Keep senior dogs comfortable and mobile
• Detect silent illnesses like heart murmurs or liver/kidney changes

Even if your dog looks completely healthy, internal changes can be happening quietly.

How Often Should Your Dog See a Vet? (By Age)

1. Puppy Vet Visit Schedule (0–12 months)

Puppies grow fast, and their immune systems are still developing. Frequent exams ensure they’re healthy, properly vaccinated, and growing normally.

Recommended schedule:

Why puppies need frequent visits

• Vaccination boosters must be spaced properly
• Growth checks identify early hip, bone, or developmental issues
• Behaviour support prevents problems later
• Early parasite control keeps pups safe

If your puppy is anxious or not fully vaccinated, a home visit is often safer and easier.

2. Adult Dog Vet Visit Schedule (1–7 years)

Healthy adult dogs need at least one vet check per year, even if they show no symptoms.

At each annual visit vets check:

• Weight & body condition
• Heart & lungs
• Skin & coat
• Teeth & gums
• Eyes & ears
• Mobility, joints & muscles
• Heartworm, flea, tick & worm prevention
• Behaviour changes
• Nutrition & diet

Why adult dogs need yearly check-ups

Many conditions develop slowly, including:

• Allergies
• Ear infections
• Dental disease
• Early arthritis
• Thyroid disorders
• Organ function changes

Early detection avoids costly emergencies later.

3. Senior Dog Vet Visit Schedule (7+ years)

Senior dogs should see a vet every 6 months twice as often as adult dogs.

Aging dogs experience rapid changes, often developing:

• Arthritis
• Heart disease
• Kidney or liver issues
• Vision & hearing loss
• Dementia-like cognitive decline
• Tumours or lumps

Senior vet visits include:

• Comprehensive physical exam
• Mobility & pain assessment
• Blood & urine testing
• Organ function monitoring
• Medication adjustments
• Quality-of-life evaluation

More frequent visits ensure comfort and early intervention.

If mobility is a challenge for your older dog, a mobile vet is ideal:

(Also provides palliative & end-of-life support)

Life Stage Summary Table

Health Conditions That Require More Frequent Visits

Regardless of age, some dogs need more frequent vet care:

Dogs with the following conditions should see a vet every 3-6 months:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Kidney or liver disease
• Chronic skin issues
• Allergies
• Arthritis
• Behavioural issues
• Eye disease (especially brachycephalic breeds)

Some breeds like Cavoodles, Pugs, Bulldogs, German Shepherds, Retrievers, and Border Collies may require closer monitoring.

When a Vet Visit Is Urgent

Call a vet immediately or use a mobile emergency vet if your dog shows:

• Difficulty breathing
• Sudden collapse
• Extreme lethargy
• Seizures
• Pale gums
• Suspected poisoning
• Continuous vomiting/diarrhoea
• Major wounds
• Heatstroke symptoms

Mobile emergency care:

Should You Use a Mobile Vet?

For many owners, mobile vets are more convenient and less stressful for dogs.

Benefits of mobile vet visits:

• No travel or waiting rooms
• Perfect for anxious dogs
• Ideal for seniors or mobility issues
• Multiple pets seen at once
• Comfort of being at home
• Safer for puppies not fully vaccinated

Pawssum vets provide:

• Routine health checks
• Vaccinations
• Skin/ear/eye care
• Pain management
• Senior care
• In-home diagnostics & blood tests
• Emergency care (7 days a week)
• End-of-life support

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip vet visits if my dog seems healthy?

No! dogs hide pain and illness instinctively. Annual (or senior twice-yearly) check-ups catch silent issues early.

Do indoor dogs need vet visits as often as outdoor dogs?

Yes. Indoor dogs still require vaccinations, dental care, and full physical exams.

Is a mobile vet as good as a clinic vet?

Absolutely. Pawssum vets are fully licensed and experienced they simply come to your home instead of you travelling.

Can my dog get vaccinations at home?

Yes. Pawssum provides full vaccination schedules at home.

Conclusion

Regular vet visits are essential at every life stage. Puppies need frequent checks, adults need annual exams, and seniors benefit from twice-yearly visits. Early detection and preventative care help your dog stay healthy for longer and mobile vets make it easier than ever.

For stress-free vet care at home, Pawssum is available 7 days a week across Australia.
https://www.pawssum.com.au