In addition to his annual exam, my dog is at the vet at least once a quarter for allergy shots and other ailments. But, as I weighed the costs and benefits, I wondered how often most dogs need to see the vet. Puppies and older dogs need extra careJust like young and old humans, puppies and senior dogs need more frequent check-ins. The good news is monitoring blood work and urine analysis twice a year can help your vet keep your older dog healthy. If you're on the fence about whether your dog needs an exam, you can call your vet for their opinion.

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