Many healthy adult pets benefit from at least yearly examinations, while puppies, kittens, seniors, and pets with ongoing conditions often need more frequent care. Timing should reflect the individual pet rather than age alone.
Written or medically reviewed by Dr. Susset Diaz Castillo, DVM, PhD. Last reviewed: 2026-08-28.
Quick Summary: Many healthy adult pets benefit from at least yearly examinations, while puppies, kittens, seniors, and pets with ongoing conditions often need more frequent care. Timing should reflect the individual pet rather than age alone.
A wellness visit establishes a current history, weight and body-condition trend, and physical examination before a problem becomes obvious at home. The veterinarian may assess the mouth, eyes, ears, heart, lungs, abdomen, skin, joints, neurologic function, hydration, and behavior. It is also a time to review nutrition, dental care, medications, parasite control, vaccines, reproductive status, mobility, and household or travel changes.
A physical examination cannot detect every early disease. Depending on age, breed, history, and findings, the veterinarian may discuss bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal or infectious-disease testing, blood pressure, imaging, or dental assessment.
Healthy adults commonly have an examination at least once a year. Puppies and kittens need a sequence of visits for growth, vaccination, parasite assessment, nutrition, and behavior. Seniors may benefit from checks every six months or another interval because health can change more quickly. Pets with diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, long-term medication, recent treatment, or changing symptoms may need a condition-specific schedule.
Calendar age is only one factor. Large changes in weight, appetite, thirst, urination, activity, breathing, sleep, behavior, stool, vomiting, or mobility justify contacting a veterinarian rather than waiting for the next routine appointment.
Bring prior records, vaccine certificates, medication and supplement names with doses, diet details, parasite-product packaging, and a list of changes. Photos or videos can document coughing, gait changes, episodes, or home behavior when safe. Ask in advance whether stool or urine samples are wanted.
Routine scheduling is inappropriate for breathing difficulty, collapse, repeated seizures, uncontrolled bleeding, severe pain, inability to urinate, repeated unproductive retching, suspected poisoning, or rapidly worsening illness. Go to the nearest emergency hospital or call it for immediate instructions.
VestaSoul — My Vet At Home® is an appointment-based, non-emergency mobile veterinary practice serving select areas of Miami-Dade County and select areas of Broward County. When available and clinically appropriate, an in-home examination and selected diagnostics may be provided during an All-Included Visit. A standard All-Included Visit is $695 per pet and includes a $250 Medical Credit toward eligible laboratory testing performed during that visit. Same-day availability is not guaranteed, and pets needing emergency care, hospitalization, advanced imaging, surgery, or continuous monitoring require an appropriate facility.
This guide provides general education and cannot diagnose an individual pet or replace an examination by a veterinarian who has reviewed that pet's history.
No. It is a common minimum for healthy adults, but seniors, pets on long-term medication, and pets with ongoing or changing conditions may need more frequent assessment.
Pets may hide subtle changes. An exam creates weight and physical baselines, reviews prevention, and may identify concerns that warrant monitoring or testing.
No. Contact a veterinarian when a new or worsening change appears. Urgent signs should be evaluated promptly, and emergencies require an emergency facility.
Dr. Susset Diaz Castillo, DVM, PhD is the veterinarian behind VestaSoul — My Vet At Home®. VestaSoul — My Vet At Home® is a mobile veterinary house-call practice serving select areas of Miami-Dade County and select areas of Broward County. Learn more at Meet the Vet.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for an in-person examination, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If your pet is showing severe or rapidly worsening symptoms — such as collapse, difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, seizures, suspected poisoning, or an inability to urinate — go to the nearest emergency animal hospital immediately. VestaSoul — My Vet At Home® is an appointment-based, non-emergency practice and does not provide emergency or after-hours care.
VestaSoul — My Vet At Home® is a mobile veterinary house-call practice serving select areas of Miami-Dade County and select areas of Broward County.