Are you taking your pet to the vet soon? Taking your dog to the vet can be stressful and overwhelming. The stress and chaos of it all can make it easy to forget to ask all of the important questions while you are in the office. If you have ever gone to a vet visit with your pet only to come home and have to Google the questions that you forgot to ask, then you know exactly what I am talking about.
Today, we are going to discuss five questions you should always ask your vet. Having these questions on hand and easy to access, you will hopefully not forget to ask them on your next trip. No more frustrating follow-up questions to your vet the next day or spending time online searching for the answers to your questions. And we all know that Googling for medical answers isn’t usually the best of ideas.
Questions you should ask your vet
Be sure and bookmark this page so you can easily come back to it and review these questions (or even print them out) before your next vet appointment.
Is my dog at a healthy weight?
I know that weight is often a touchy subject. That is true for pets and people alike. If you are concerned that your pet might be overweight or underweight, be sure and talk to the vet about it. Even if you haven’t given much thought to your pet’s weight, you should still ask so that you know. This is always good information to have on hand to keep your dog healthy throughout their life. Just as a guide, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation has a useful infographic to illustrate heathy weight for dogs.
Is my dog up-to-date on their vaccinations?
I know what it is like to be a busy adult. Between work, family, home, pets, and everything in between it is hard to keep track of everything. My point is that you shouldn’t feel bad if you have lost track of your dog’s vaccination records or schedules. Just make it a point to ask about them each time you go to the vet. This way you’ll know what he or she is in need of and you can be sure that they are kept up to date.
Am I feeding my dog the right food?
Are you worried about your dog’s food? Are you worried that you should be feeding them differently? Ask your vet! Dog’s needs also change throughout their lifespan, so you should be asking this at every visit in case your dog is showing signs or symptoms of a lack of something in their diet. Also, make sure that you have a vet who is supportive of your feeding choices and who is willing to work with you throughout your pet’s life. (You want a judgment-free zone otherwise you may be reluctant to be transparent with your vet.)
Many people are afraid of asking this question because they are afraid that they won’t be able to afford the high-dollar food that their vet sells. Don’t let this fear keep you from asking this question. You’ll be surprised to learn that your vet will likely recommend various foods that span price ranges. They understand budgets and don’t expect you to be able to pay the high-dollar prices of some pet foods. Chances are that you can tell them your pet food budget and they’ll be able to recommend a brand for you based on that. Also, your dog may not need specialized vet food.
If like us, you feed your dog a homemade diet, you may also want to discuss with your vet about getting extra bloodwork panels done. This will help you to assess if you are causing any potential vitamin/mineral deficiencies with your homemade food.
Can you recommend a trainer?
Is your dog displaying behavioral issues? Is there something that you want to improve in your dog’s way of acting or in personality? Sure Google can give you the names of dog trainers near year, but it can’t give you personalized recommendations. Your vet knows your dog and your vet likely has experience with the trainers they are recommending, whether that be through their business or through patient referrals.
Are my dog’s behaviors normal?
We may think that we know our pets better than anyone. That may be the case, but if their behavior is changing a bit, you may be wondering why. You may know your specific dog better than your vet does, but vets know dogs in general and they will know specific behaviors and what may be causing them. If you are experiencing any unfamiliar behaviors in your dog, be sure to ask this question so you’ll know what could be causing it. Often times a change in behavior can indicate that your dog has an underlying medical condition.
Are there other questions you should ask your vet?
Of course there are other questions to ask your vet during your dog’s next appointment. Here are a couple of other common questions you may want to ask:
- What medications and supplements should I be giving my dog?
- How do my dog’s teeth look?
- Can you recommend a good boarding place? (In case you are leaving and don’t have anyone to stay and care for the dog.)
- How can I prevent illness in my dog?
The key to keeping your dog in his/her best health is to be proactive and by opening up communications with your vet and asking these questions, it will help!
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