The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has developed the Canine Lifestage Guidelines to help veterinarians and dog owners keep dogs healthy and happy. All medical professionals are increasing their reliance on scientifically grounded clinical guidelines like these to improve patient health, quality of care, and quality of life.
Veterinarians recognize the usefulness of these guidelines in elevating the standard of care they provide for their canine patients.
How will these guidelines benefit my dog?
Preventive care and early intervention in diseases provide well-established and well-accepted benefits in human medicine and human dentistry. Now that dogs are living longer, they are developing some of the same age-related illnesses and issues that humans develop, such as osteoarthritis, diabetes, kidney disease, and cancer.
Your veterinary healthcare team plays an essential role in maintaining your dog’s health and wellness. Part of their goal is to help you understand the importance of preventing diseases or at least catching them early, when they are more manageable. The guidelines provide a coherent and straightforward plan that promotes prevention and early intervention, which can ultimately help dogs live longer and healthier lives.
How are these guidelines different from what I find on the internet?
The Canine Lifestage Guidelines reflect the best available scientific and clinical information for enhancing your dog’s health and quality of life at various life stages. This information is often challenging for pet owners to find on their own. In addition, the guidelines translate evidence-based medicine into everyday, actionable best practices, empowering veterinary healthcare teams and dog owners to work together in the dog’s best interest.
What preventive healthcare guidelines apply to my dog?
The guidelines recommend that all dogs receive a complete veterinary examination at least once a year, although many dogs should be seen more frequently, depending on their individual needs and health concerns. The visit should include a review of the dog's recent history, lifestyle, life stage, activities of daily living, general behavior, and diet. The physical examination should include a dental assessment, pain assessment, and body condition scoring.
Will every visit with my veterinarian be the same for my dog?
Each visit will be different for several reasons. Medical knowledge and understanding of disease prevalence and processes is constantly expanding. The Canine Lifestage Guidelines are designed to be modified and updated as newer information about keeping dogs healthy becomes available.
In addition, veterinarians already understand that, as dogs age, their needs change, and their risk for various diseases increases. Puppies have different preventive health care needs than young adults, and senior dogs have their own unique needs.
Year to year, the details of a dog’s veterinary visits will change, but the underlying emphasis will remain the same: maximizing our canine companions’ health, wellness, and quality of life.
