2012 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines
At-a-glance summary
- Life stage divisions offer a framework for individualized care.
- Consider age, size and breed when defining a dog’s life stage.
- Conduct a physical exam and obtain a complete patient history, using the protocol, algorithm, and checklists in this toolkit.
- Evaluate the need for parasite control and vaccination.
- Create individual recommendations based on the dog’s breed and circumstances.
- Routine tests are particularly important for mature, senior, and geriatric patients.
- Discuss normal behavior and socialization, problem behaviors, and lifestyle.
- Perform a nutritional assessment.
- Perform a dental/oral exam.
- Test for and provide preventive care for geographically relevant zoonotic diseases.
- Discuss reproduction and breeding.
- Conduct breed-specific disease screening and evaluations.
- Review related AAHA Guidelines for detailed information about nutritional assessment, vaccinations, dental care, senior care, and more.
Implementation Toolkit
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Implementation Toolkit
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