Whether you’ve just got a new dog, adopted one from a friend who can’t care for them anymore or you’ve simply moved to a new area, there’s nothing more important for you to do as a responsible and caring pet owner than to register your dog at a vet.
Today we’re taking a look at why this is so important.
Legality
As a pet owner, you have a legal obligation under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act to ensure you provide adequate welfare for your dog. While there are aspects of what constitute adequate welfare that may be flexible or debatable, depending on the specific needs of the animal, access to healthcare is not one of them.
As long as your dog is fit and healthy, you have no obligation to take them to the vet after you’ve had them registered, vaccinated and microchipped, but it’s always best for you (and for your dog) to know where to get help when you need it.
Common Health Problems
When you have dogs diarrhea and vomiting, as well as other common health problems, can be an all-too regular part of your life. While often your dog will recover quickly by itself, it’s well worth knowing you have a vet on hand for those times when the symptoms are more concerning.
While a dog throwing up isn’t pleasant, it’s rarely serious. On the other hand, a dog retching but not throwing up, this could be a symptom of bloat – a serious issue that can lead to death! If you’re worried about your dog, then it’s worth having your vet’s number already at hand for an emergency appointment. If you’re trying to find a vet’s number when you’re worried about your dog, it could already be too late.
Injuries
It’s an unfortunate fact of life that dogs can get injured in the course of play and exploration, and most upsettingly in fights. Unlike with some common health conditions, you can’t wait for an injury like a cut, bite or break to clear up by itself. The risk to your pet is too great – of infection, of more serious damage you can’t see, of blood loss or of a break not healing correctly. If you notice your dog is injured or in pain, you should make an emergency vet’s appointment right away.
Aging
As your dog ages, it gets more vulnerable – to injuries, to the illnesses that can affect any dogs, but also to a range of new healthy issues that are much more common in senior dogs, that range from cataracts to cancer.
To make sure your dog has the best possible quality of life in old age, a vet can spot the warning signs and ensure any health conditions that come up are treated or managed in the best possible way for both of you.
