The standard schedule for a Bichon
One full wellness visit a year is right for a healthy adult Bichon Frise. Puppyhood brings the usual sequence of early appointments for vaccinations, parasite prevention, and checking that adult teeth come through cleanly in a small, crowded mouth. Bichons are long-lived for their size, so the senior step-up to twice-yearly visits generally comes later than in big breeds — around nine or ten — when bloodwork and closer monitoring start to matter more than the calendar alone.
Skin first, because the coat hides it
Allergic, itchy skin is the Bichon's signature health theme. The dense white coat that makes the breed look immaculate also conceals early redness, flaking, and the beginnings of a hot spot, so at the annual exam the coat is parted and the skin of the belly, armpits, groin, feet, and ears genuinely inspected, not just admired. The vet will ask what sets his itching off — seasons, foods, new grooming products — and whether the scratching is waking him at night, because that pattern helps separate an environmental allergy from something else. Tear staining and eye irritation get a look too, since Bichon eyes water readily and chronic dampness feeds skin trouble on the face.
Teeth and kneecaps, the other two regulars
Small jaws with a full set of teeth mean crowding, tartar build-up, and gum disease arriving earlier than owners expect, so the mouth is examined properly at each visit and a cleaning discussed on findings, not on a fixed timetable. Kneecaps are felt for looseness — a luxating patella is common in the breed — and the vet will ask whether you have ever seen him skip for a few steps on a back leg and then carry on as if nothing happened, which is the classic home sign. Weight matters here as well: extra ounces on a small frame load those kneecaps, and a cuddly silhouette makes a Bichon easy to overfeed.
When to go in between annual visits
Book sooner for scratching that breaks the skin, a spreading sore, or chewing at the feet until they are stained and sore; skin infections in this breed escalate under the coat where you cannot judge them. Straining to urinate, blood in the urine, or frequent small puddles deserve a prompt appointment, as bladder stones occur in Bichons and are far easier to deal with early. A skipped-step lameness that becomes frequent, an eye that is red or held half-closed, or a puppy who is off food and quiet should all be seen rather than waited out.
Keeping small details from getting lost
Bichon care is a game of small observations — which weeks he itches, what the groomer noticed, when the last flare settled — and those details are gold at the annual visit if they are written down. Keep his dental findings, allergy notes, and weights together in the Pet Passport on KinsLe, so each visit builds on the last instead of starting from memory.