Preventive care means not waiting for something to go wrong. It means knowing what normal looks like for your pet, catching problems before they become emergencies, and giving them the best chance of a long, comfortable life. The UAE brings its own needs, from the heat to parasites that never take a season off, so this guide is written for pet parents in Dubai.
Health checks: the visit where nothing is wrong
Regular health checks are the heart of preventive care. Each one is a full physical examination, nose to tail: weight and Body Condition Score (whether they are the right weight for their frame), heart and lungs, teeth, eyes, ears, skin, coat, tummy and joints, and a conversation about how they have been at home. Your vet should also look for the risks that come with their breed at their age.
Puppies and kittens need four health checks in their first six months, then most adult dogs and cats need one twice a year. Animals are very good at hiding pain, and most problems start quietly, so a visit where nothing is wrong is not a wasted one.
Older pets need them more often
Dogs move to three health checks a year from seven and four from ten, usually with a kidney blood and urine panel and a closer look at the heart. Cats stay at twice a year from seven, with a yearly blood and urine test, blood pressure measurement and heart scan, then three a year from eleven and four from fifteen. These tests pick up kidney, thyroid and heart problems early, while they are still a conversation rather than a procedure.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations protect your pet against serious, often fatal diseases. Core vaccines for dogs cover Distemper, Hepatitis (Adenovirus), Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis and Rabies. For cats, they cover Feline Panleukopenia, Feline Calicivirus, Feline Herpes Virus and Rabies, and indoor cats need them too. Dubai law requires every dog and cat to be microchipped, vaccinated and registered with Dubai Municipality, with boosters every year. Your vet may suggest lifestyle vaccines too, such as Kennel Cough or Feline Leukaemia. Our puppy and kitten vaccination guides set out the first course.
Parasite prevention, all year round
In the UAE, parasites do not take a season off. Ticks carry ehrlichiosis and babesiosis, both of which can be fatal if untreated. Fleas are around all year. Keep flea, tick and worm cover going all year round, not just in summer. Most treatments are monthly, and your vet will recommend the right one. Our parasite prevention guide covers the details.
Dental care
Teeth are one of the most overlooked parts of a pet's health. By the age of three, over 80 per cent of dogs and 70 per cent of cats have some gum disease. Left untreated, it means pain, infection and lost teeth, and it has been linked to damage in the heart, liver and kidneys. Your vet looks at their teeth at every health check, and a full dental evaluation under anaesthetic is usually due by two to three years old. At home, daily brushing with a pet toothpaste is the most useful thing you can do.
Nutrition
Pet food in the UAE varies hugely in quality. Look for a named animal protein, such as chicken or salmon, as the first ingredient, and avoid foods built on fillers such as corn, wheat or soy. Ask your vet about the right diet for your pet's breed, age and health. Our guide to what to feed goes further.
Between health checks
You know your pet best, so small changes matter: drinking more, eating less, a change in weight, a new lump. Tell your vet rather than waiting for the next routine visit. Vomiting or diarrhoea in a puppy, kitten, older pet or one who is already unwell needs a vet within a few hours, and straight away if there is blood, a swollen belly, they cannot keep water down or they seem flat. Difficulty breathing, collapse or a seizure is always an emergency: our emergency page shows what to do right now.
For everything else, keep the routine going. strong>The best health check is the boring one./strong>
