Author: Yeo Jae-seung, Chief Director (Chief Director of 24H UN animal medical center, Director of Cardiovascular and Renal Center, Internal Medicine Director of 24H UN animal medical center) This content has been created in compliance with relevant laws including the Medical Law.
Where can I get a comprehensive health checkup for my dog near Gwangan-ri?
If you are looking for a comprehensive health checkup for your dog in the Gwangan-ri and Daeyeon-dong area, it is good to first check whether the facility has a life stage-specific program that includes both blood tests and ultrasound, and whether it operates a separate health checkup center available 365 days a year.
Generally, the core items of a comprehensive dog health checkup consist of physical examination, blood tests (serum biochemistry, blood cell count, electrolyte), abdominal ultrasound, thoracic-abdominal X-ray, and urinalysis. According to a Health Kyunghyang report, these five items form the backbone of a basic comprehensive checkup, though the detailed composition and inclusion may vary by animal hospital.
Checkup items and program composition can vary depending on your pet's age, breed, and health status, so we recommend consulting before visiting to confirm a composition tailored to your dog.
Why should dog health checkups differ by age through life stages?
Dogs' bodies change much faster than humans. Since the risk of different diseases varies by age group, even the same blood test will have different items to focus on. The table below will help you gauge the appropriate checkup direction for your dog's current age.
| Life Stage | Age Range | Recommended Checkup Interval | Main Test Items | Key Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young/Adult | 1-6 years | Once per year | Physical exam, blood tests, urinalysis, X-ray | Establishing baseline values (reference values) is important |
| Early Senior | 7-8 years | Once per year (essential) | Basic items + cardiac ultrasound, hormone test consideration | Period when aging begins in earnest |
| Senior | 10+ years | Every 6 months | All items + advanced blood tests (SDMA, cPL, CRP, etc.) | Increased disease risk, short-interval monitoring needed |
According to MyPetLife information, from ages 7-8 onwards, annual checkups are recommended as essential, and for dogs 10 years and older, six-month interval checkups are advised. In particular, small breeds like Maltese, Shih Tzu, Poodle, and Pomeranian, which have high rates of heart disease, are known to require regular cardiac ultrasound monitoring clinically very important from age 7 onwards.
Additional test items may vary depending on breed, weight, neutering status, and presence of underlying conditions, so we recommend confirming the exact composition through consultation with a veterinarian.
How does 24H UN animal medical center's health checkup center approach this differently?
It is important whether the facility goes beyond simply checking numbers and has a structure to design follow-up management plans based on checkup results. The 24H UN animal medical center in Daeyeon-dong, Busan operates a multi-departmental collaboration system with its cardiovascular and renal center and internal medicine center, allowing us to design customized care plans for your pet beyond simple numerical verification.
Checkups proceed through the following flow:
✓ Stage 1 — Pre-consultation: We confirm age, breed, symptoms, and guardian concerns to adjust the checkup composition. ✓ Stage 2 — Basic items testing: We conduct physical exam, blood tests (CBC, serum biochemistry, electrolytes), thoracic-abdominal X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, and urinalysis. ✓ Stage 3 — Adding advanced items (if necessary): As presented in the checkup system of Seoul National University College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Hospital, starting from basic items, stepwise expansion is possible with proBNP cardiac muscle kit test, heartworm kit test, early renal insufficiency markers (SDMA), pancreatitis values (cPL), inflammation markers (CRP), diabetes indicators (fructosamine), cardiac ultrasound, etc. ✓ Stage 4 — Result interpretation and explanation: As emphasized in Health Kyunghyang coverage, we explain the meaning of each value so guardians can understand. ✓ Stage 5 — Multi-departmental referral in case of abnormal findings: If cardiac or renal abnormalities are detected, referral to the relevant specialist center is provided.
Overall checkups are handled by Chief Director Yeo Jae-seung, who has completed a Ph.D. in internal medicine from Chungnam National University College of Veterinary Medicine, has 10 years of clinical experience, and is a member of the Korean Veterinary Cardiac Association, specializing in cardiovascular and internal medicine care and health checkups for companion animals.
This is a good fit for you — checkup need self-check for your dog + local area guidance
If any of the checklist items below apply to you, it's time to consider a life stage-specific comprehensive health checkup.
✓ Your dog is 7 years old or older and has never had a checkup including cardiac ultrasound ✓ You own high-risk small breeds for heart disease such as Maltese, Poodle, Shih Tzu, or Pomeranian ✓ No particular abnormal symptoms, but more than a year has passed since the last health checkup ✓ You notice changes such as drinking more water than usual, coughing, wheezing, or tiring easily ✓ You want to record health baseline values based on blood test or ultrasound results ✓ You want to detect kidney, heart, and endocrine diseases early through regular checkups
According to clinical data, diseases like heart disease, kidney disease, and endocrine abnormalities often progress quietly before guardians notice changes, as initial symptoms may not be apparent. The values confirmed when your dog appears healthy become precious reference values for comparing changes later, so checkups have meaning not just for finding disease, but also for recording the current state.
Checkup items are adjusted at the veterinarian's discretion based on individual conditions, and all results may vary by individual.
Guardians from nearby areas such as Namgu-gu animal hospitals, Daeyeon-dong animal hospitals, Suyeong-gu animal hospitals, Yongho-dong animal hospitals, and Kyungsung University area animal hospitals can also use our services conveniently.
Consult with peace of mind. We'll look into it together with you.
The 24H UN animal medical center in Daeyeon-dong, Busan operates 365 days, 24 hours, year-round non-stop service, and guardians from the Gwangan-ri, Suyeong-gu, and Namgu-gu areas can consult at any time. We'll look into your dog's health status together with you.
As summarized in Health Kyunghyang coverage, detecting diseases early through regular health checkups and slowing their progression helps minimize your companion animal's suffering while extending the time you spend together. If you follow the steps of prevention → early detection → systematic management, the quality of life for both your pet and you as a guardian can improve.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us for consultation. If abnormal findings are confirmed after the checkup, we will also guide you on additional tests or multi-departmental referral treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. At what age should I start my dog's health checkups? You can begin basic health checkups from 1 year of age onwards. From ages 1-6, annual basic checkups are important for building health baseline values, and from age 7 onwards, since aging progresses earnestly, increasing checkup intervals and items is recommended. The fact that building numerical records at a younger age provides comparison data later is also one reason for early-start checkups.
Q2. Why should blood tests and ultrasound be done together? Blood tests confirm internal body status through numbers, while ultrasound directly examines the shape and structure of organs visually. These two tests have a complementary relationship, so abnormalities may be found on ultrasound even when blood tests are normal, and vice versa. Conducting them together enables more three-dimensional understanding of health status.
Q3. Do healthy-looking dogs need checkups? Yes, when a dog appears healthy is actually the right time. Kidney, heart, and endocrine diseases often progress without noticeable symptoms in early stages. Recording the values at this current point becomes a precious reference value for comparison when changes occur later. Confirming the absence of any abnormalities can also provide reassurance to the guardian.
Q4. Do small breeds (Maltese, Poodle, etc.) need separate heart tests? Small breeds such as Maltese, Poodle, Shih Tzu, and Pomeranian are known to have increased rates of heart disease from age 7 onwards. In these cases, adding cardiac ultrasound or proBNP cardiac muscle kit test in addition to basic blood tests is recommended. The 24H UN animal medical center can examine this in detail through collaboration with our cardiovascular and renal center.
This content has been created in compliance with Article 32 of the Veterinary Medicine Act. Please consult with a professional for specific matters.