How Often Should Dogs and Cats Visit the Vet?

Most healthy adult dogs and cats should see a veterinarian at least once a year, but that recommendation shifts depending on your pet’s age, breed, and health history. Puppies and kittens need more frequent visits during their first several months of life, and senior pets benefit from twice-yearly checkups as health changes can develop more quickly in older animals. At Pawtown Veterinary Care in Bend, Oregon, we offer comprehensive exams for dogs and cats at every life stage, building a picture of your pet’s health over time that helps us catch problems early.

The reason routine visits matter is not just about vaccines or annual bloodwork. Regular exams give our veterinarians a baseline for your specific pet, so that when something changes, we have something meaningful to compare it against. A slight weight loss, a subtle shift in gait, or a change in bloodwork values that might seem minor in isolation can be significant when measured against a pet’s individual history.

Visit Frequency by Life Stage

Puppies and kittens require the most frequent visits in their first year, typically every three to four weeks until their initial vaccination series is complete, usually around 16 weeks of age. These early visits also allow us to monitor growth and development, discuss nutrition, and address any concerns about behavior or socialization as they arise.

Adult dogs and cats between roughly one and seven years of age generally do well with annual visits if they are healthy. That said, some breeds are predisposed to conditions that warrant closer monitoring, and large and giant breed dogs face higher risks of joint disease and cardiac issues as they age. Senior pets, typically those seven years and older, should be seen at least twice per year. The American Animal Hospital Association supports twice-annual exams for senior dogs and cats as a standard of care, because health conditions including kidney disease, hyperthyroidism in cats, arthritis, and cognitive changes can develop and progress within a matter of months in older animals.

What Happens at a Wellness Visit

A comprehensive exam at Pawtown covers far more than a quick listen to the heart. Drs. Erin Miller and Lauren Stayer evaluate your pet’s weight and body condition, eyes, ears, teeth, skin, coat, lymph nodes, joints, and abdomen. They also review your pet’s lifestyle, diet, and any behavioral changes you have noticed at home. Depending on your pet’s age and history, a wellness visit may include any of the following.

• Bloodwork and urinalysis to evaluate organ function
• Fecal testing for intestinal parasites
• Heartworm screening
• Vaccine review and updates based on current lifestyle and risk
• Parasite prevention planning through our flea and tick care program

For pets in Central Oregon, where outdoor activity is a regular part of life, these screenings are especially relevant. Trail exposure, water sources, and wildlife contact all create opportunities for parasite and disease exposure that routine screening can catch before symptoms appear.

When to Schedule an Extra Visit

Annual or bi-annual visits are a starting point, not a ceiling. Any time your pet shows changes in appetite, energy, water intake, bathroom habits, or behavior, that is a reason to call us rather than wait for the next scheduled appointment. Our same-day appointments make it easy to get your pet seen quickly when something comes up between scheduled visits.

Early attention to changes you notice at home is often what makes the difference between a simple fix and a more complex problem. Dogs and cats are skilled at masking discomfort, which is why consistent veterinary contact matters even when your pet appears perfectly healthy.

Routine Vet Care at Pawtown Veterinary Care

At Pawtown Veterinary Care, Drs. Erin Miller and Lauren Stayer have built their practice around building real relationships with Bend-area pets and their families. They take the time to answer questions, explain findings in plain language, and create a care plan that fits your pet’s individual needs, because they know that a healthy pet is a central part of your life in Central Oregon.

If your pet is due for a wellness visit or you are not sure when they were last seen, request an appointment today and let our team take it from there.