5 Things Your Vet Can’t Tell You About Your Dog

Building a good relationship with your vet is essential for every dog owner, as your vet and you should work in partnership to ensure your dog’s health, future needs, and overall care are well managed. Annual health checks and booster vaccinations are key, and your vet maintains your dog’s medical records. These records track critical details such as weight trends, health progression, diet adjustments, ageing, and behavioural notes.

While your vet provides invaluable information based on professional experience and clinical care skills, it’s important to remember they’re human and don’t possess omniscient knowledge or a crystal ball. There are some questions that no vet can answer with complete certainty, no matter their expertise.

Here, we explore five topics your vet might not be able to answer definitively — and why. Read on to deepen your understanding and strengthen your partnership with your vet.

Your Dog’s Breed Makeup: Why It’s Often a Mystery

If you own a mixed-breed dog, you might be curious about their exact breed composition and naturally wonder if your vet can provide that answer. While vets gain experience with many breeds, they’re not specialists in identifying every dog breed’s subtle features, especially in mixed dogs.

Though vets can often make informed guesses based on physical traits, coat texture, and behaviour, these are not definitive. To accurately identify the breeds within your dog’s lineage, a DNA test conducted by a reputable laboratory is required. This scientific approach delivers the detailed breed breakdown owners often seek.

How Long Will Your Dog Live?

This common question can be tough for vets to answer precisely. Your vet can evaluate your dog’s age, current health, weight, and breed tendencies to provide an estimated range, but it’s always an educated guess. Many factors affect longevity, including genetics, lifestyle, diet, environment, and unexpected accidents.

Because of this uncertainty, vets usually avoid making firm predictions about lifespan. Instead, they focus on promoting healthy habits to maximise your dog’s quality of life and longevity through proper nutrition, regular exercise, and preventive healthcare.

Will Your Dog Always Be Healthy?

Vets offer invaluable advice to maintain your dog’s health, from recommending balanced diets and ideal weights to exercise routines and breed-specific health considerations. However, they cannot guarantee that your dog will never develop illnesses, even with regular screening and testing.

Some conditions are unpredictable or manifest suddenly, and despite the best care, health can be a bit of a lottery for dogs and people alike. Being proactive and attentive to behavioural and physical changes helps detect problems early, ensuring timely veterinary care when needed.

Why Is Your Dog Behaving a Certain Way?

If your dog displays unusual or concerning behaviour, the first step is usually a check-up with your vet to rule out any underlying physical health issues. Your vet can diagnose and treat medical causes which often resolve behavioural symptoms.

However, when behaviours stem from psychological, environmental, or social causes without an apparent medical basis, vets may refer you to experienced canine behaviourists or trainers. Behavioural conditions can be complex, requiring specialist knowledge and training techniques beyond general veterinary practice.

How Old Is Your Dog? The Difficulty in Estimating Age

For dogs adopted as adults or rescued with unknown histories, determining their exact age can be tricky. Your vet uses indicators like dental wear, coat condition, muscle tone, and general physical health to make an informed estimate.

While these clues offer a reasonable age range, they are not exact. Factors such as previous care, environment, and genetics can affect ageing signs, making precise ageing impossible without clear records. Understanding this can help owners hold realistic expectations and provide appropriate care.

Remember, an open and honest conversation with your vet is the best approach to address these uncertainties while focusing on your dog’s health and happiness. Your observations and knowledge of your dog’s personality and habits are an essential complement to professional vet care.

For those interested in finding puppies or specific breeds, always seek a reputable breeder or trusted rescue centre to ensure responsible ownership and breed welfare.

By understanding what your vet can—and cannot—tell you, you can form a stronger partnership and provide your dog with the best possible care throughout their life.