Busan Senior Dog Health Checkup, Where Should You Get It Done? — Daeyeon-dong 24H UN animal medical center Health Checkup Center Guide
Author: Dr. Yeo Jae-seung, Chief Director (Chief Director of 24H UN animal medical center, Director of Pet Heart and Kidney Center, Internal Medicine Director of 24H UN animal medical center)
This content was created in compliance with relevant laws including the Medical Service Act.
📋 Three Key Takeaways from This Article
— Senior dogs aged 7 and older can develop heart disease, kidney disease, and tumors even without symptoms, making regular checkups essential for early detection.
— The 24H UN animal medical center in Daeyeon-dong, Busan independently operates a health checkup center and can immediately coordinate specialist consultations with the heart and kidney center, internal medicine center, and other specialized departments when abnormal findings occur.
— Checkup items and package composition are personalized according to your dog's age and health status, and appointments are available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
Where Can You Get a Senior Dog Health Checkup in Busan?
This is the first question guardians often ask when exploring senior dog health checkups for the first time. You might think you can simply go to a nearby animal hospital, but in the case of senior dogs, the actual difference comes from what medical care system the abnormal findings are connected to after the checkup.
The 24H UN animal medical center located in Daeyeon-dong, Busan operates the health checkup center as an independent department and provides customized periodic health checkup programs by life stage 365 days a year, without holidays. If abnormal findings in the heart, kidneys, endocrine system, or other areas are discovered during the checkup process, the system is set up so that immediate specialist consultation coordination occurs with the heart and kidney center, internal medicine center, and other relevant specialized departments. The practical advantage is that rather than hearing "the results are ready, please look into other hospitals" after the checkup, you can continue from checkup to treatment all in one place.
Checkup items and package composition are determined after veterinary consultation based on your dog's age, presence or absence of underlying diseases, and health status. Specific medical fees can be confirmed through in-person inquiries or non-covered medical fee guidance.
Quick Q&A
Q. Is it really necessary to go to an animal hospital with a separate health checkup center?
A. For senior dogs, follow-up care based on checkup results is important. If you choose a facility with a system capable of specialist department coordination such as heart and kidney centers, you can quickly proceed with additional tests and treatment when abnormal findings are discovered.
Why Health Checkups Are Essential for Senior Dogs and Major Test Items
Why Are Regular Checkups Important for Senior Dogs?
One characteristic of senior dogs is that major diseases such as heart disease, kidney disease, tumors, and endocrine diseases (such as hypothyroidism) often progress in the early stages without obvious symptoms. According to clinical data, heart disease can affect the function of major organs such as kidneys, liver, and lungs through circulatory disorders, and the heart and kidneys have a reciprocal relationship of influence. Changes may be starting internally even when guardians feel their dog is "eating and playing well."
Based on relevant clinical data, senior dogs aged 7 and older are recommended to have health checkups once a year, and those aged 10 and older once every 6 months. Checkups received when symptoms are absent enable much earlier intervention than treatment received after illness.
Major Senior Dog Health Checkup Items
| Test Classification | Detailed Items | Major Abnormalities That Can Be Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Examination | Weight, heart rate, auscultation, oral status, etc. | Overall condition, pain response |
| Blood Test (CBC, Serum Chemistry) | Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, liver and kidney values, etc. | Anemia, inflammation, liver and kidney function abnormalities |
| Urinalysis | Urine specific gravity, proteinuria, urine sediment, etc. | Early signs of kidney function decline |
| X-ray | Chest and abdominal radiographs | Heart size, lung status, abdominal abnormalities |
| Abdominal Ultrasound | Liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder, pancreas, etc. | Tumors, stones, organ structure changes |
| Cardiac Ultrasound | Heart size, valves, myocardial function, etc. | Cardiac hypertrophy, valve regurgitation, heart failure |
| Thyroid and Endocrine Testing | T4, SDMA, etc. | Hypothyroidism, refined kidney function assessment |
According to clinical data, senior dog checkups after age 7 tend to include liver and kidney function indicators and thyroid function assessment as recommended items, and some refined kidney function indicators such as SDMA are also used. However, the specific composition varies depending on the dog's breed, weight, and presence or absence of underlying disease, so it is individualized according to the veterinarian's judgment.
The 24H UN animal medical center's Approach to Senior Dog Health Checkups
What is important in senior dog health checkups is not simply confirming numbers, but how you connect those results to actual care.
The 24H UN animal medical center Health Checkup Center, based on Chief Director Dr. Yeo Jae-seung's 10 years of clinical experience, provides a multidimensional view of your senior dog's health status through specialist department consultations with the heart and kidney center and internal medicine center. Dr. Yeo Jae-seung, who holds qualifications as a Ph.D. candidate in Internal Medicine at Chungnam National University College of Veterinary Medicine and as a regular member of the Korean Veterinary Cardiology Association, interprets checkup results while also considering long-term management of chronic diseases such as heart and kidney disease.
The checkup flow after arrival is as follows.
— Consultation Registration: Gathering preliminary information from guardians (age, underlying diseases, usual symptoms, medications)
— Basic Physical Examination: Confirming overall condition including weight, auscultation, oral status, and pain response
— Test Item Selection: After consultation with veterinarian, customized item composition based on age and health status
— Detailed Testing: Blood, urine, and imaging tests (ultrasound, X-ray, cardiac ultrasound, etc.)
— Result Interpretation and Guidance: Direct explanation by veterinarian, immediate specialist department coordination if abnormal findings are discovered
— Follow-up Care Coordination: Direct connection to relevant specialized departments such as heart and kidney center or internal medicine center
Thanks to the 365-day, 24-hour operation system, immediate response is possible even if an emergency occurs during the checkup, and appointments are available anytime, even at night or on weekends.
This Is a Good Fit For You — Self-Check + Precautions
✅ We Recommend Health Checkups for These Guardians
— My dog has turned 7 years old or older, but I haven't had a regular checkup yet
— Recently, I've noticed my dog coughing frequently or seeming short of breath
— My dog seems to be drinking more water than before, or urination has changed
— Appetite has decreased without reason or weight is declining
— Activity level has noticeably decreased, but it's hard to tell if it's just due to age or disease
— My dog has had previous diagnosis related to heart or kidney disease and needs regular monitoring
— Without underlying disease and appearing healthy, but now in senior years, I'd like to establish a baseline
⚠️ Things to Know Before the Checkup
Health checkups are not a tool to completely rule out disease, but rather a screening test for early detection. According to the Seoul National University College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Hospital health checkup guidance, if the pet's condition is unstable or shows severe aggression on the day of the checkup, some test items may be limited. In this case, consultation with the veterinarian may be necessary to adjust the test sequence or items.
Additionally, clinical data indicates that 8-12 hours of fasting before blood tests, preparation of a list of currently used medications, and bringing a memo of usual symptoms can help with more accurate checkup procedures.
Guardians residing in nearby areas including Namgu, Daeyeon-dong, Suyeong-gu, Yongho-dong, and Munhyeon-dong in Busan can also visit for consultation without burden. We also introduce the checkup system of the 24H UN animal medical center to those searching for animal hospitals in Namgu Busan, Daeyeon-dong animal hospitals, Suyeong-gu animal hospitals, Yongho-dong animal hospitals, and Munhyeon-dong animal hospitals.
Please Feel Free to Consult With Us. We Will Examine Your Pet's Condition Together.
Start a senior dog health checkup consultation at the 24H UN animal medical center in Daeyeon-dong, Busan. Our specialist medical staff will examine your dog's condition together with you.
The key to senior dog health checkups is getting them 'before illness occurs.' Related clinical data also emphasizes that early detection makes the treatment process much smoother. Regular checkups starting now can make the time you spend with your dog healthier and more comfortable.
Before visiting, if you briefly memo the following items, the consultation will proceed more smoothly.
— Your dog's current age, weight, and presence or absence of underlying diseases
— Recent noticeable symptom changes (coughing, appetite, water intake, activity level, etc.)
— List of medications or supplements currently being taken
— Confirmation of 8-12 hour fasting if blood tests are included
The 24H UN animal medical center operates 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, so guardians can visit or request consultation at any time without being constrained by time. If you have concerns about your pet, please feel free to knock on our door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. At what age should senior dogs start getting health checkups?
Generally, dogs aged 7 and older are classified as senior dogs, and regular checkups once a year are recommended starting at this point. If your dog is 10 years or older, it is advisable to increase the frequency to once every 6 months. However, since the senior age standard can vary by breed or body type, we recommend consulting with a veterinarian to determine the appropriate checkup interval for your dog.
Q2. Is fasting before a health checkup absolutely necessary?
For checkups that include blood tests or abdominal ultrasounds, fasting 8-12 hours before is often necessary for accurate results. However, this may vary depending on the composition of checkup items, so please confirm with the veterinarian in advance when making a reservation or visiting. Water is often allowed in small amounts, but this also requires prior confirmation.
Q3. What test items are included in senior dog health checkups?
Basic items typically include physical examination, blood tests (CBC and serum chemistry), urinalysis, chest and abdominal X-rays, abdominal ultrasound, and cardiac ultrasound. Depending on needs, thyroid hormone tests or refined indicators such as SDMA may be added. Specific items vary depending on your dog's age, health status, and breed, and customized composition is done through veterinary consultation.
Q4. What happens if abnormalities are found in the heart or kidneys?
The 24H UN animal medical center has the health checkup center and heart and kidney center and internal medicine center connected as a consultation system. If abnormal findings are discovered during the checkup, they can be immediately coordinated with relevant specialized medical staff for additional detailed testing and treatment planning. Rather than hearing "please look into other places" after the checkup, treatment can continue all in one place.
⚠️ This content complies with Article 56 of the Medical Service Act, and results may vary depending on individual conditions.