Guide
The veterinary visit: care before it hurts
Once a year is the floor, not the ceiling.
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Every dog and cat should have an exam at least yearly.
Book this year’s visit.
guide AAHA frequency · AAHA/AVMA 2011
Where: Ask at your clinic. Directory.
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Five vital assessments: temperature, pulse, respiration, pain and nutrition. The mouth is in.
Ask them to look at weight, mouth and pain, not only vaccines.
guide AAHA · AVMA dentistry
Where: Ask at your clinic. Directory.
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Cat stages: kitten, young adult, mature, senior.
Ask for a cat-friendly approach.
guide AAHA/AAFP · AAFP/ISFM 2022
Where: Ask at your clinic. Directory.
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Year-round parasite control. We do not copy another country’s vaccine calendar.
Ask for a local plan, not a web one.
guide AAHA/AVMA
Where: Ask at your clinic. Directory.
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AEMV: visit at purchase, then yearly, with the mouth.
If you have a rabbit, ask for the mouth.
guide AEMV
Where: WildVet, La Reina. Or ask at your clinic.
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Birds, reptiles and fish: find someone who actually sees them. In fish, evaluation starts with the water.
Do not take a parrot to a dog-only room.
guide AAV · ARAV · AEMV · reviewed fact · Merck aquatic
Where: WildVet, La Reina (birds and exotics). Fish: water kit at a shop; clinic if they gasp.
Write down what it eats. WSAVA publishes a short diet history form. guide · WSAVA toolkit
An animal that stops eating — especially a rabbit or guinea pig — is a same-day visit.