Most people search for veterinary care when they’re trying to answer a simple, pressing question: does my pet really need the vet again, or can this wait? The stakes are usually quiet but real—small changes in weight, teeth, skin, or behaviour can be the first sign of a problem that’s easier (and often cheaper) to manage early.
Veterinary care covers more than vaccines and emergencies. It’s the steady, methodical work of prevention, early detection, and practical advice—so your dog or cat can stay well through each life stage.1, 2
Understanding veterinary care
Veterinary care is the professional health service provided by registered veterinarians and their teams. It includes routine check-ups, vaccination planning, parasite control, dentistry, diagnosis and treatment of illness or injury, pain management, and guidance on feeding, weight, and behaviour.
In a good consult, the vet isn’t only looking at the problem you’ve booked in for. They’re also building a baseline—what “normal” looks like for your pet—so changes stand out sooner.
How often should pets see a vet?
There isn’t one schedule that fits every animal, but most dogs and cats benefit from regular check-ups even when they seem fine. Frequency depends on age, health history, and risk (for example, dental disease, arthritis, skin allergies, or living in a tick-prone area).
- Puppies and kittens: several visits in the first months for examinations, parasite control, and a course of vaccinations (often spaced a few weeks apart).3
- Healthy adults: at least yearly, and commonly every six months—especially if you want closer monitoring of teeth, weight, skin, and early age-related change.1, 4
- Seniors or pets with chronic conditions: typically every six months (or more often if your vet recommends it) to adjust care before small problems gather momentum.2
If something changes suddenly—appetite, drinking, toileting, breathing, mobility, new lumps, vomiting or diarrhoea—book an extra visit rather than waiting for the next routine check.
What vets look for during a routine check-up
A routine examination is a quiet head-to-tail survey. Your vet is scanning for patterns: things that don’t match your pet’s age, breed, or usual baseline.
Common checks include:
- weight and body condition (not just the number on the scales)
- heart and lungs
- skin, coat, and signs of external parasites
- ears and eyes
- mouth, teeth, and gums
- abdomen and lymph nodes (for pain, swelling, or unusual masses)
- mobility and gait
- hydration and general comfort
These visits also create a safe space to bring up the “small” concerns that are easy to ignore at home—mild bad breath, a subtle limp, a new fussy habit with food, or a quiet change in temperament.
Preventive care: vaccinations and parasite control
Preventive care is the part that works best when it’s boring. Vaccination plans are usually tailored to your pet’s age, location, and lifestyle, balancing protection against disease with avoiding unnecessary products.5
Parasite prevention is also individual. Your vet may recommend year-round protection or a seasonal approach depending on where you live and what your pet does (beach walks, bushland, day care, hunting, contact with other animals).
A note on flea and tick products
Use only treatments labelled for your pet’s species and weight range. Some dog-only spot-on products (especially those containing permethrin) can severely poison cats through direct application or close contact after a dog has been treated.6, 7
For tick management, prevention is only one layer. In tick season, daily searching and prompt removal of ticks is still recommended, even if your pet is on a tick product.8
Dental health: easy to miss, hard to ignore later
Dental disease often develops quietly. A pet can keep eating while the gums are inflamed or teeth are unstable, and the first sign you notice may be bad breath, dropping food, pawing at the mouth, or a sudden reluctance to chew.
Regular vet checks matter here because dentistry needs proper assessment. A thorough dental examination and cleaning is typically done under general anaesthetic, so the entire mouth can be inspected and treated safely.9
Nutrition and weight management
Extra weight is common in companion animals, and it tends to arrive slowly—so slowly that it can look like “normal” unless you’re checking body condition regularly. In surveys, veterinary professionals estimate a large proportion of dogs are overweight or living with obesity, and many owners aren’t sure what their pet’s ideal weight should be.10
During check-ups, vets can:
- score body condition and muscle condition (not just weigh your pet)
- help choose an appropriate diet and daily amount
- set up a realistic plan for weight loss or weight maintenance
- monitor progress and adjust before frustration sets in
Behaviour changes and stress: part of health, not an afterthought
Behaviour can be a health signal. Pain, skin irritation, dental disease, hormonal changes, gastrointestinal problems, and age-related cognitive change can all show up first as restlessness, withdrawal, reactivity, altered sleep, or house-soiling.
Regular visits help because they create a timeline. Subtle shifts are easier to recognise when your vet has seen your pet well, not only when something has gone wrong.
Helping cats cope with vet visits
Cats often find vet visits stressful, especially when novelty and handling stack up across the day. Small changes—carrier training, calm transport, covering the carrier, and a gentler clinic set-up—can reduce distress and make examinations more accurate.9
A simple way to get more out of each appointment
- Write down changes (even if they seem minor): appetite, thirst, stools, sleep, breath, skin, mobility.
- Bring your products list: parasite treatments, supplements, human medications in the home.
- Ask what to watch next: the one or two signs that would mean “come back sooner”.
References
- RSPCA Pet Insurance Australia — What to expect when you take your dog to the vet (health checks)
- RSPCA Pet Insurance Australia — How often does my cat need to visit the vet?
- RSPCA Pet Insurance Australia — How often should my dog visit the vet?
- Animal Welfare League (Australia) — Your pet’s lifelong check-up schedule
- World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) — Vaccination Guidelines (including 2024 guidelines)
- RSPCA Knowledgebase — Common household dangers for pets (permethrin toxicity to cats)
- Cat Protection Society of NSW — Factsheet: Permethrin poisoning
- Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) — Ectoparasiticides for dogs and cats: specific labelling requirements (tick season advice)
- RSPCA Knowledgebase — How should I take care of my cat or dog’s teeth?
- PDSA — PAW Report 2023: Dogs (veterinary professional estimates of overweight/obesity)
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom