So you bring your dog to the vet for their annual checkup, right? I poke around for maybe 20 minutes, tell you everything looks good, and you walk out thinking "what did I just pay $75 for?" If you've ever wondered what actually happens during wellness checks for dogs, you're not alone—and I'm here to pull back the curtain.
Trust me, I get that question a lot.
But last Tuesday, I caught kidney disease in a three-year-old Golden who was acting completely normal. Her owner had zero clue anything was wrong. Thursday, I found a weird heart rhythm in a puppy during what should've been a boring vaccine appointment. And don't even get me started on the number of lumps I find that owners never noticed.
This stuff happens every single week in my clinic.
Let me show you what's actually going on during those appointments and why wellness checks for dogs matter way more than you probably think.
Pet wellness exams are one of the most important things you can do for your furry friend, yet so many owners don't realize what's actually happening during those appointments.
What Actually Happens During Wellness Checks for Dogs?
Your dog can't exactly tap you on the shoulder and say "hey, my hip's been hurting" or "I've been feeling super thirsty lately." They're basically programmed to hide pain—throwback to their wolf ancestors who knew that showing weakness got you eaten.
So I'm their translator. Their detective. Their early warning system.
I'm not just glancing your dog over and calling it a day. I'm doing this whole systematic investigation, head to tail, looking for tiny changes that happen so gradually you'd never catch them at home. That barely-there heart murmur. The gums that are just slightly paler than they should be. The tiniest bit of stiffness when I bend that back leg.
These little whispers? When we catch them early, we can actually fix them. Or at least manage them before they turn into screams.
But My Dog Seems Totally Fine…
Yeah, and that's exactly what scares me.
Most serious diseases are completely silent in the beginning. Like, zero symptoms. Nothing. By the time your dog is limping or won't eat or just seems "off," we're usually dealing with something that's been brewing for months.
I've had too many "but he seemed fine yesterday" conversations in my career. Those gut-punch moments where an owner is blindsided because their dog went from "normal" to "emergency" overnight. Except it didn't happen overnight—we just didn't catch the warning signs.
Regular wellness checks flip that script. We catch the whispers before they become emergencies.
How Often Should You Actually Bring Your Dog In?
One vet checkup annually is fine for healthy adults.
Puppies (The High-Maintenance Phase)
Every 3-4 weeks during that first year. I know it feels like you practically live at my clinic.
But we're cramming in vaccines, watching their growth like hawks, catching any weird developmental stuff, and basically making sure you survive the puppy phase without losing your mind. Plus, early socialization visits help your pup not hate the vet for life.
Adult Dogs (Ages 1-7, The Sweet Spot)
Once a year is fine. These are usually my favorite appointments because I get to say "yep, everything's perfect!"
But even these "boring" visits matter because I'm learning what's normal for YOUR specific dog. What's their baseline heart rate? What do their joints normally feel like? How much do they usually weigh?
I need to know what's normal so I can spot what's weird later.
Senior Dogs (When I Really Earn My Paycheck)
Twice a year minimum, starting around age 7. Earlier for big dogs—like, my Great Dane patients are considered seniors at 6, while my Chihuahuas are still going strong at 10.
Here's the thing: dogs age roughly seven years for every one of ours. So six months between checkups for your senior dog is like you not seeing a doctor for 3-4 years. That's a long time when things can change fast.
The 7 Things I'm Checking (And Why)
Alright, let's get into the nitty-gritty of what happens during wellness checks for dogs. Here's where my hands and eyes go during every single exam.
1. Face First—Eyes, Ears, Nose
I always start with your dog's face because it's so expressive.
Eyes: Checking if pupils react to light properly. Looking for cloudiness (cataracts, usually). Watching for redness or goopy discharge. Making sure nothing looks painful. That "allergy eye goop" you've been ignoring? Could be a blocked tear duct. Could be early glaucoma. We should probably talk about it.
Ears: Especially fun with my floppy-eared patients. Cocker Spaniels, I'm looking at you. I stick my otoscope in there checking for redness, smelling for that distinctive infected-ear smell (once you know it, you can't unknow it), looking for waxy buildup or those nightmare-fuel ear mites. Ear infections hurt like hell, and they're so easy to treat if we catch them early.
Nose: Should be moist. A little clear snot? Usually fine. Thick, green, smells weird? We need to figure out why.
2. The Mouth (Where I Always Find Problems)
Oh man, this is where I see stuff that genuinely shocks owners.
I open your dog's mouth and immediately check teeth, gums, tongue, roof of the mouth. Looking for that brown crusty tartar, red or bleeding gums, broken teeth, wobbly teeth, weird lumps.
Here's the stat that blows everyone's mind: 80% of dogs have dental disease by age three. THREE. And it's not just about bad breath—though trust me, I've smelled some things.
The bacteria from infected gums travels through their bloodstream and attacks their heart, liver, kidneys. I've seen dogs with actual heart damage from bad teeth. It kills me because it's so preventable.
3. Heart and Lungs (Stethoscope Time)
My stethoscope is basically my superpower.
I'm listening to heart rate and rhythm. Checking for murmurs—that whooshing sound that means blood isn't flowing quite right. Listening for skipped beats or weird rhythms.
Not every murmur is a crisis. Some are totally innocent. Some mean we need an echocardiogram next week. Some mean we're starting heart meds today. But they all need attention.
For lungs, I want clear, smooth breathing sounds. Crackles mean fluid where there shouldn't be fluid. Wheezes mean airways are tight. Muffled sounds mean something's taking up space in there.
Fun fact: count your dog's breaths when they're sleeping sometime. Should be 15-30 per minute. If it's way more than that? Call me.
4. Belly Rubs (But Medical)
This is where my hands become diagnostic tools.
I'm gently pressing around the abdomen, feeling liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder, intestines. Checking sizes. Feeling for anything that's bigger than it should be, harder than it should be, or straight-up shouldn't be there at all.
Enlarged spleen? Could be infection or cancer. Big bladder? Maybe they can't pee properly—that's an emergency. Tense, painful belly? Could be constipation, could be bloat, could be a bunch of other things, most of which are time-sensitive.
How your dog reacts tells me everything. If they pull away or tense up when I press somewhere? That's pain talking.
5. Skin Check (Every Single Inch)
I run my hands ALL over your dog. Like, everywhere. Feeling for lumps, bumps, hot spots, ticks, fleas, bald patches, anything weird.
Healthy skin is smooth, not flaky. Healthy coat is shiny and full. Dry flaky skin usually means allergies or maybe thyroid stuff. Every single lump gets evaluated—some are fatty tumors that we just watch, some are mast cell tumors that need to come off yesterday.
Also checking for fleas and ticks because prevention beats treatment every time.
And here's the thing about skin problems: they're almost never JUST skin problems. Usually there's something internal going on—allergies, hormones, nutrition, whatever.
6. How They Move (The Joint Check)
I'm watching how your dog walks into my exam room before they even get on the table. Gait okay? Favoring a leg? Moving stiff?
Then I bend and flex every major joint. Hips, knees, elbows, shoulders. Feeling for pain, limited range of motion, swelling, that crunchy grinding feeling that means arthritis.
Dogs hide joint pain SO well. They just gradually slow down and everyone assumes "oh, they're getting older." But pain isn't a normal part of aging!
Catch arthritis early and we can manage it—weight control, joint supplements, appropriate exercise, pain meds that actually give them their life back.
7. The Weight Thing
I'm not weighing your dog just to update my records.
I'm doing a body condition score, which means I'm literally feeling their ribs, spine, hip bones. You should be able to feel ribs easily but not see them poking out. Should be a waist when you look from above, a tuck when you look from the side.
Obesity is hands-down the most common problem I see. And it's not just cosmetic—we're talking diabetes, joint disease, heart problems, breathing issues, shorter lifespan. Like, YEARS shorter.
Five pounds overweight on a 30-pound dog? That's significant. That's like 30 extra pounds on you.
Flip side: unexplained weight loss is a huge red flag. Cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, thyroid issues.
The Other Stuff We Cover
Vaccines: What's due, what can wait, what your dog actually needs based on where they live and what they do.
Parasite stuff: Fleas, ticks, heartworms, intestinal parasites—all gross, all preventable.
Food talk: Is your dog eating the right stuff for their age and activity?
Behavior: Any changes? Sleeping more? Eating less? Peeing in weird places? Behavior changes usually mean something's up health-wise.
Lab work: For seniors or dogs with risk factors, blood tests and urine tests catch stuff before you'd ever notice symptoms.
Red Flags That Make Me Go "Hmm…"
Heart stuff: Murmurs, weird rhythms, weak pulse, pale gums, coughing, can't exercise like they used to.
Cancer signs: Growing lumps, unexplained weight loss, won't eat, trouble swallowing, limping that won't quit, breathing problems, wounds that won't heal.
Metabolic weirdness: Drinking tons of water, peeing constantly, weight changes, tired all the time, vomiting, diarrhea. Could be diabetes, kidney issues, liver problems, thyroid stuff.
Dental disaster: Tartar everywhere, bleeding gums, loose or broken teeth, breath that could drop an elephant, won't eat hard food.
Joint issues: Limping, stiff after rest, can't get up easily, won't do stairs, won't jump anymore, painful when I touch certain spots.
How to Make Your Visit Worth It
o get the most value from wellness checks for dogs, here's what to do before you come:
Write down your concerns. Seriously, write them down—you'll forget half of them otherwise. Bring your list of medications and supplements. Grab a fresh poop sample if it's time for that. Bring vaccine records if you're new to my clinic.
During:
Ask me questions. I mean it—there are zero dumb questions in my exam room. Tell me everything, even if it seems minor or embarrassing. Take notes because you'll remember maybe 20% of what I say otherwise. Ask for copies of lab results.
After:
Schedule follow-ups before you leave. Fill prescriptions right away. Actually do the lifestyle changes we talked about (yeah, I know). Call me if anything changes or you're worried about something.
Let's Talk About Money (Because Real Talk)
Basic wellness exams usually run $50-$100. Senior visits with bloodwork? More like $200-$400 depending on what we're testing. Vaccines add another $15-$30 each. Parasite prevention depends on your dog's size but figure $50-$200 per year.
I wish everything was free. My student loans wish that too.
But here's the math that matters: investing in regular wellness checks for dogs costs way less than Treating advanced dental disease can run thousands. Managing end-stage kidney disease is heartbreaking and expensive. Treating a disease your dog caught because they weren't vaccinated? Let's not go there.
Different Ages, Different Needs
The approach to wellness checks for dogs varies by life stage Puppies: Growth monitoring, vaccines, behavior stuff, socialization, keeping you sane. Also when to spay/neuter.
Adults: Maintaining health, updating vaccines, catching early problems, adjusting as needed. Honestly these are my favorite visits because everyone's usually happy.
Seniors: This is when things get real. Screening for age stuff, managing pain, checking cognitive function, having hard conversations about quality of life. More frequent visits help us keep them comfortable.
Questions I Get All The Time
"But he seems totally fine…"
Perfect. That's exactly when I want to see him. Waiting until something seems wrong means we're already playing catch-up.
"She hates coming here…"
Let's fix that. We've got anxiety meds, calming techniques, fear-free handling. I take this seriously—vet visits shouldn't be traumatic.
"Money's really tight right now…"
I get it. Many clinics have wellness plans or payment options. And skipping preventive care now pretty much always costs more later when something becomes an emergency. Let's figure out what works.
"How long will this take?"
Plan for 30-45 minutes. That gives us time to be thorough and actually talk without rushing.
Here's The Thing
Wellness checks for dogs aren't a checkbox.. They're not a formality. They're literally your best shot at giving your dog the longest, healthiest, happiest life possible.
Those "everything's perfect!" appointments? We're establishing what normal looks like for YOUR dog. The ones where I find something? Those appointments save lives.
Don't wait until something seems wrong.
From nose to tail, I've got your pup. Let's keep them thriving.
