Answer:
Veterinarians typically recommend at least one physical exam for puppies then annual or semi-annual check ups for adult dogs. Because dogs can't complain about physical discomforts the way children can, it is MORE important to get these annual exams done. There is an increasing awareness in the veterinary community that physical exams alone may not be enough to guard good health. It is becoming more common for veterinarians to also routinely collect blood, urine and stool samples as a part of routine exams. This labwork serves as a "window inside the body" that helps veterinarians identify problems early, catch them before damage is done and when they are easier to resolve. When labwork is normal, it provides baseline values that can be compared with labwork done when the pet is ill.

Between exams, pet owners may notice symptoms, but delay taking the dog to the doctor in hopes that the problem will correct itself. If in doubt about taking a pet in for an exam, consider two simple rules: The pet goes in if a new symptom continues longer than 48 hours, or if you can recognize a progressive worsening of signs in less than 12 hours.

A common mistake pet owners make is declining veterinary recommended diagnostic tests. Pet owners will sometimes choose to treat symptoms "to save money." Skipping a proper diagnosis makes it less likely to get a complete cure. In addition, what money is saved by skipping initial testing is lost by the increased number of visits and trial medications. It is usually necessary to come back and do the testing later anyway. By that time, symptomatic treatments have clouded the pet's condition and make a diagnosis more difficult

The bottom line is this. If you don't trust the veterinarian, change. But once you have a doctor you trust, follow their recommendations.

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