Busan Dog Comprehensive Health Checkup: How to Choose a Hospital Carefully?
Author: Representative Director Yeo Jae-seung (Representative 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 written in compliance with medical law and related regulations.
In Busan, Look for a Dog Comprehensive Health Checkup Hospital Like This
To receive a thorough dog comprehensive health checkup in Busan, it's good to check three things first. Customized programs by life cycle, specialized department checkups such as heart and kidney, and 24-hour post-care response system after checkups.
According to related clinical data, dogs do not tend to show outward signs of illness, so symptoms often appear only after a disease has progressed to a certain point. The wider the range of items included beyond basic physical examinations, blood tests, X-rays, and urinalysis—such as abdominal ultrasound, cardiac ultrasound, and serum chemistry tests—the higher the possibility of early detection, and the sooner treatment can be initiated.
However, if aggression is severe or an underlying condition is already progressing, a specialist consultation appointment may be prioritized over a general health checkup, so it is recommended to receive a prior consultation with a veterinarian before visiting.
Dog Comprehensive Health Checkup: What Items Should Be Included for a "Thorough" Checkup?
A thorough comprehensive health checkup starts with the basic 4-item program, but it can only be called a "precision checkup" when additional items are configured to match age and breed.
Seoul National University College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Hospital guides that based on a basic program consisting of physical examination, blood tests, and imaging tests for all age groups, specialized programs such as cardiac ultrasound, digestive system examination, and orthopedic examination can be selectively added. Here is a table summarizing age-specific recommended intervals and item composition.
| Category | Checkup Items | Recommended Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Basic 4 Types | Physical examination (heart auscultation, patellar examination, ophthalmology, skin, etc.), CBC blood test, thoracic and abdominal X-ray, urinalysis | All ages, once yearly |
| Additional Options | Serum chemistry test, abdominal ultrasound, electrolyte and hormone test, SDMA (kidney function), heartworm test | Recommended for age 3 and above |
| Precision Items | Cardiac ultrasound, fecal test, digestive PCR, orthopedic examination | Once yearly or more for age 6 and above |
According to related clinical data, dogs under 6 years old often do not need more than a simple annual routine checkup, but from age 6 and above, transition to annual precision checkups or more frequently is recommended.
Additionally, large dogs tend to age faster than small dogs, so it is desirable to start checkups earlier. Since small dogs have relatively higher risk of valve disease and large dogs have higher risk of cardiomyopathy, item design considering breed-specific vulnerable diseases is important.
Why 24H UN animal medical center's Health Checkup Center Specializes
The difference between general animal hospital health checkups and specialty center-focused checkups becomes apparent "after the checkup." The difference is large depending on whether abnormal findings can be immediately linked to a specialist department or not.
At 24H UN animal medical center Health Checkup Center, based on the operation of specialized centers by department, we immediately link you to the heart, kidney, internal medicine, and other relevant centers according to checkup results. Eight specialized centers—the Heart and Kidney Center, Internal Medicine Center, Dental Center, Stem Cell Center, Surgical Center, Cat Center, and Dog Center—are connected through a collaborative care system, so if abnormalities are found in health checkup results, specialist department care can follow on the same day.
In a Busan Ilbo report (2020), it was reported that heart disease is the 2nd leading cause of death in dogs and appropriate treatment within the golden period is important, and the UN animal medical center (Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan) was introduced as having a system capable of responding quickly to emergency situations.
Because it operates 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, continuous response is possible in nighttime and emergency situations even after abnormal findings are confirmed following checkups. According to related clinical data, early detection when healthy is much more advantageous in terms of treatment effectiveness than diagnosis after symptoms appear, and there is a higher possibility of minimizing the drug intake period.
Representative Director Yeo Jae-seung, a specialist in pet cardiology and nephrology with 10 years of clinical experience, along with specialized medical staff by department handle checkups, so we connect not just to simple numerical confirmation but also to long-term management plans.
This Suits These People — Check If Your Dog Needs a Checkup Now
Based on three criteria—age, breed, and daily changes—check whether a checkup is needed now. If any of the following items apply, it is good not to delay the checkup time.
— Age-Based Criteria
- Older than 1 year of age and has never had a health checkup
- 6 years old or older and it is time to transition from basic checkups to precision checkups
- A senior dog over 7 years old at an age when heart and kidney function decline can begin
According to related clinical data, pets over 7 years old can experience gradual changes in heart function even without any initial symptoms, and early diagnosis is known to play a decisive role in prognosis.
— Breed-Based Criteria
- Small breeds such as Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu, Cocker Spaniel, Poodle → valve disease risk
- Large breeds such as Doberman, Boxer, Irish Wolfhound → cardiomyopathy risk
Related clinical data reports that regular cardiac ultrasound examinations are recommended for the above breeds even without symptoms.
— Daily Change Criteria
- Appetite or activity level has noticeably decreased
- The dog appears short of breath or breathing pattern seems different
- Weight or water intake changes occurred within the last 2-3 weeks
Guardians residing near Daeyeon-dong, Yongho-dong, Munhyeon-dong, and Gyeongsung University in Busan Nam-gu, as well as those throughout Busan who need 24-hour checkup coordination can visit. If you are looking around Busan Nam-gu animal hospital, Daeyeon-dong animal hospital, Yongho-dong animal hospital, Munhyeon-dong animal hospital, Gyeongsung University animal hospital, 24H UN animal medical center can be a nearby option.
However, if there is already a confirmed disease, a specialist center consultation appointment is recommended before a health checkup.
Feel Free to Get a Consultation. We Will Review Together.
At 24H UN animal medical center, we will review health checkup items suitable for your child's age and breed together. Feel free to get a consultation.
If you feel overwhelmed about what to do first before starting a checkup, it is sufficient to start with a consultation to check your child's current condition. The more detailed daily information—such as your dog's appetite, activity level, and breathing changes—you provide, the more it helps us compose checkup items that are perfectly suited to that child.
Early detection can reduce both treatment costs and suffering for pets. The key is checking "before getting sick" rather than "after getting sick."
24H UN animal medical center operates 365 days a year without holidays, so you can get consultations without time constraints, and if abnormal findings are discovered after checkup, it is immediately connected with the nighttime and emergency system. So that we can be together with our child for a long time, we will review together with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. At what age should my dog start health checkups?
It is generally recommended to start annual basic checkups from age 1 year and above. From age 6 and above, it is good to transition to annual precision checkups or more frequently. Large dogs tend to age faster, so you may want to consider starting checkups a bit earlier. If you tell us your child's age and breed, we will guide you on an appropriate starting point.
Q2. Do I really need to have a cardiac ultrasound in addition to basic items during a comprehensive health checkup?
Small dog breeds such as Maltese, Poodle, Shih Tzu, and Cocker Spaniel have relatively higher valve disease risk, so regular cardiac ultrasound examinations are recommended even without symptoms. Cardiac ultrasound is a non-invasive examination with minimal burden on the body, which allows direct visualization of heart size and function and is useful for detecting early changes that are difficult to identify through auscultation alone.
Q3. What happens if abnormalities are found in the health checkup results?
24H UN animal medical center operates eight specialized centers through a collaborative care system, so if abnormal findings are confirmed in checkup results, immediate coordination with the heart, kidney, internal medicine, and other relevant centers is possible on the same day. When additional precision tests or specialist consultation are needed, we help you proceed without a separate visit.
Q4. How should I prepare my dog on the day of checkup?
If blood tests and abdominal ultrasound are included, fasting for a certain period before the checkup may be necessary. Noting your child's recent appetite changes, water intake, activity level, and bowel movements before visiting greatly helps with customized checkup composition. If your child is sensitive to unfamiliar environments, bringing along an everyday blanket or toy can help reduce stress.
This content was written in compliance with Article 56 of the Medical Law and Article 23 of the Enforcement Decree, and results may vary depending on individual conditions.