Having a proper communication channel with your vet is an important part of keeping track of your dog’s health.

Your dog’s vet has an abundance of information that can help improve the quality of life of your pet. In order to be able to help your pet, you should know exactly what to ask your veterinarian. See below for some of the most commonly asked questions:

IS MY DOG A HEALTHY WEIGHT? 

Depending on the breed, age, and sex of your pet, your vet can tell you a healthy weight range that is best for your specific dog. Many issues can be avoided if your dog is a healthy weight. Being underweight or overweight can have major detriments to your pet’s overall health.

By learning your dog’s weight, you can make the proper adjustments to its diet and exercise schedule. This can help it achieve the optimal weight.

WHAT FOOD WOULD YOU RECOMMEND FOR MY DOG?

Remember that your dog is unique based on age, sex, and level of activity. There are many different varieties of pet food available on the market. It is always advised to seek the recommended food suggestion from your vet in order to ensure that you are providing your dog the best care.

CONCERNING BEHAVIOR

Also, you should always ask about specific behavior that your dog may be exhibiting that could potentially be concerning. Some examples of concerning behavior would be an excessive amount of crying or whining, being overly aggressive or not active enough, loss of appetite, excessive sleep, or any other type of behavior that may stand out or seem out of the ordinary.

These strange behaviors could be the effect of a diverse set of causes that can be diagnosed by a vet. Therefore it is important to vocalize all of your concerns. This way the vet can diagnose a problem or determine if the behavior is normal.

PHYSICAL HEALTH

Additionally, an owner should ask questions about the physical health of one’s dog. One important question is, “Does my dog need any additional exams, like a blood test or a rectal exam?”. Vets can learn a plethora of information about a dog from conducting a various number of tests and exams.

By first asking this question, the owner opens up dialogue about the status of the health of the dog. This allows the vet to make a professional decision on whether the dog would do better if these exams are given.

PRICING AND BILLING

Lastly, it is important to ask about pricing and billing. I always recommend that you know your budget. This is because keeping track of expenses is crucial.

By keeping track of the pricing, the owner can notice any discrepancies that might be overlooked by the veterinarian clinic staff. Before checking out, you should always ask your vet to explain the structure of the bill.

SUMMARY

In summation, once you, as a pet owner, ask your veterinarian these questions, you will be better aware of the weight, diet, mental, and physical health of your dog. Thus, you are in a better position to take good care of it as it gets older.

If you found this article useful and plan to ask your veterinarian these questions during your next visit, let me know in the comment section!

**Hitesh is a Veterinary certified and licensed Pharmacist who has been practicing in the field of Pharmacy for the last 30 years. He founded PetMedMart with a passion for educating and helping pet owners by ensuring that they keep their furry friends healthy by providing the highest quality prescription, pet care, and pet food products at the lowest prices.