How often do people bring their pet to the vet?

Yeah, you'd be surprised at how many idiots don't do that, and then can't figure out why their six month old puppy died.

I don't take mine in when they are a little bit sick. It's normal for a dog to puke every now and then, get the runs, etc. and that's the end of it, so I don't run them to the vet every time, but if it continues, then yes.

While I don't have kids, my parents didn't take us to the doctor all that often. They were firm believers in letting a child's immune system develop on it's own. I'm glad they did, because my brothers and I hardly ever got sick. A cold might last a couple days. I know people who went to the doctor for everything, and they stayed sick. However, with me, I had ear trouble(holes in both eardrums), so I had to go in for checkups for my ears, but that was it.

Edit: I would like to add that sometimes it's because people spent their entire pay checks paying bills and such, and won't have money for another week or so for an emergency vet. They often times don't know about carecredit(saved my butt a couple times), forgot that they can get payday loans, etc. I try not to be hard on people who are having a hard time financially. They may have had the dog a few years, and then got laid off. It's so easy to say,"If you can't afford the dog, then rehome it". It's usually people who've never faced hard times hollering that. I will never say that to someone. I know what hard times are like, so I try to give advice to make ways they can afford it.

Something else to remember is doctors don't require payment up front, in full, like vets do. Not usually. Especially if you have insurance, medicaid, medicare, etc.

For my rats/hamsters, I usually do it if they're sick, or if there's something I'm not really concerned with, but curious about, and would prefer to ask a vet. For example, one of my rats has an umbellical hernia. It's not life threatening, really doesn't even need surgery. But I wasn't sure what it was at first, and while my rat acted fine, took him to the vet. I was planning on bugging the vet about how the neuter operation works in rats (Know the basics, wanted to know about their office experience, anesthesia, etc.) and I would much rather talk to the vet in person on those things then over the phone. Anyway, for me, I pester my vet a lot, but it's not really a annual or bi-annual. Frankly, somehow I doubt I'd get past 6 months without visiting the vet, but mostly just because I'm a worrywart.

As a vet tech I can tell you there are hundreds of thousands of people just like you and I am glad for each one. There are a few reasons why some people don't take their pets to the vet.

1. They are uneducated. My dad used to be like this. He had a bad experience with a vet once. He was charged a huge sum of money and the dog died with no explanation of what happened. They even sent the dog home and told him that the dog was okay. It died later that night. Until I started going to college and working in vet hospitals he didn't really think that vets could do anything for animals. He thought they were all scams. He is older and just didn't understand. Now, my parents dogs and cats are in the vet all the time.

2. They really don't have the money. To many people get pets, and then can't really afford them. They think about food and water when they are getting a pet, but they don't think about medicine. What if the animal is injured or sick? They really don't have the money and don't know how to get the help that their pet needs.

3. They just don't care. I have seen people come into the clinic and ask to have an animal put to sleep for something stupid. They think of the animal as an object. When a cup gets dropped and broken in my house I throw it away and get a new one. I have no emotional attachment to my cups, but there are people who think of animals the same way. They will just go get another one.

4. There are people who don't think animals can feel pain. They don't think of it as a big deal because their animals can't scream and complain. Same reason so many people don't get medical attention for tiny children (babies and toddlers). It's so sad. Of course animals can feel pain. What do you think limping is? Limping is an animal saying hey I am hurting I need some help.

5. And then there are people who will never put an animal above themselves. At a veterinary hospital I worked at we had a lady come in with a cat that had been hit by a car. It was a savable cat. It needed some work but it was all fixable. No need to put the animal down. But the owner decided to have the animal put to sleep due to money. But then while she was in the clinic waiting for the cat to be put in a box so she could take it home to bury, she pulled out her cell phone (top on the market at that time) and called to make an appointment to have her nails and hair done. Who does that? I would have sold my phone and skipped hair and nails to save my cat.

i take mine 3 times a year, but one is strickly for worms, and the others are for shots/check-ups. the way you do it is just fine, 2 exams a year is more than what most pet owners do, so your doing great! And when they get sick. the only other thing to really worry about is worms and if that occurs or you just want to be sure they don't have any and save your money, just buy dewormer for the dog, just make sure it will kill the 4 major worms hookworm, whip worm, tapeworm, and roundworms. And im sure you have your pet on heartworm preventatives that's a common one and very expensive one to treat, and sometimes if not caught in time, it can kill the dog. hope this helps

Most people I know never take their dogs to the vet unless they get sick or have an accident. To drop $400 every 6 months to have some tell me I'm doing a good job is not something I need to do. If the dogs have an accident or get sick, that's the exception. I get heartworm testing and rabies shots at the low cost thing they have near the dog park every so often, and that's it. Most people on this board asking what to do that their dog just swallowed an entire ear of corn, are irresponsible anyway, they would go to the vet even if they had to. Feed them good and treat them good and they will love you back. Their dogs, not children. They are there for you, your not here for them.

We have taken our puppy in a lot, but just becase he is a puppy (initial check-in after prucahse, shots, etc). After next month to get him neutered and weighed for 6 months of flea/tick/heartworm meds he will be on a once a year check-up schedule. (We have one month of Revolution meds right now, but he is 1 lb. below the next level of perscription, so the vets didn't want us to waste month buying 6 months of something he might outgrow, since he is 5 months old and still growing).

Our puppy was just at the vet Sunday for an emergency check-up because he crashed into the wall and hurt his leg. He wouldn't put weight on it, so we thought it might be broken. We loaded him in to the car and off to the vet's we went! He was fine (just a sprain), but better safe than sorry!

Our cat also goes once a year, unless he is sick, but that has only happened twice when he was a kitten.

Normal, healthy dog should have a regular check up annually. Older dogs semi-annually.

Sick dog needs to see a vet - no idea why people don't get it. Any severe symptoms, such as lot of vomiting and diarrhea, convulsions, looking dizzy, bleeding from places ... these things need an emergency vet.

Obviously it depends how often someone takes their dog to the vet.

I aquired a new puppy a month ago. He was in to the vet within 24 hours of me getting him, he has been in twice more, since he had a raging bladder infection when I got him. He will be in again for his last shots and recheck of the bladder infection this week.

Tomorrow one of my dogs is having surgery, she was in two weeks ago for the diagnosis.

So this last month, I feel like I have been living at the vets.

I also feel like I am making serious contributions to their childrens college fund!

No its NOT weird to care about your pet, you are very good pet owner.

I take my guide dog to the vet for 6 monthly check-up and she gets yearly shot. I get 6 strips of frontlines from vet to home i could apply it me self its easy, but I do take my dog to check weight before gets de-worm tablet. Even if she gets sick i take her to vet immediately

I keep my guide dog in good condition, I walk her every day, and do health check eyes,teeth gum, legs paws and skin before start to groom(brush hair) every day

We take our cat once a year but if she was sick I would take her in. She is always healthy so in our case once a year is fine.