Recent from the Bugle
Most Tulsa dogs see a vet when something is wrong. The dogs who do best are the ones who see a vet when nothing is.
The short answer
- Puppies: every 3 to 4 weeks until about 16 weeks old, for the vaccine series and to catch anything early.
- Adults (1 to 7 years): once a year. Bloodwork every year or two, depending on breed.
- Seniors (7+, or 5+ for giant breeds): every six months. Dogs age faster than we do, and six months for a senior dog is closer to three years for a person.
What a wellness visit actually catches
Dental disease (by far the most common thing found on exam), early weight creep, heart murmurs, lumps that are easy to remove when small, and kidney or thyroid changes that show up in bloodwork long before symptoms. Every one of those is cheaper and easier to deal with early.
The Tulsa-specific part
Oklahoma is a high-risk state for heartworm, and mosquitoes here don't take much of a winter off. Dr. Liz recommends a yearly heartworm test and year-round prevention for every dog in the metro, no exceptions. Tick-borne disease screening is worth adding if your dog hikes Turkey Mountain or spends time around the lakes.
"The exam is the cheap part. What I'm really doing is buying you time. A lump I find at the size of a pea is a ten-minute fix. The same lump six months later can be surgery."
If getting to the clinic is the hard part
Anxious dogs, multi-dog households, and busy schedules are exactly why mobile vets exist. A driveway visit means no waiting room, no car stress, and the exam happens where your dog is calmest.
Dr. Liz is the founder of Sunshine Mobile Vet, which brings wellness care to driveways across Tulsa. Have a question for her? Email admin@dogbugle.com and it may be answered in an upcoming Ask the Vet.
Ask the Vet is general education, not a substitute for an exam. If your dog seems unwell, call your veterinarian.
