As a responsible pet owner, you want your buddy to be in top shape. Therefore, the lynchpin of your care plan should be an annual exam.

If you think yearly check-ups are just about shots, think again. The goal of annual exams to prevent a problem before it arises. Likewise, if your veterinarian finds something abnormal, it’s often easier and less costly to treat it now versus later.

Preventive medicine for pets is a lot like it is for people. Veterinarians — and physicians — are trained to detect abnormalities that aren’t obvious to us. The big difference is that animals can’t tell the doctor where it hurts. That’s all the more reason for frequent examinations.

So before you skip your pet’s annual exam, remember that it’s akin to skipping your own annual exam for almost five years. A lot can happen during that time.