What is Preventive Health Care (and why your Cavoodle needs it)
As Cavoodle pawrents, we spend so much time focusing on the fun stuff and we probably only think about the vet when something goes wrong. But what if we flipped that thinking completely? What if you could take action BEFORE symptoms appear to give your cavoodle a longer, healthier life?
Today we’re chatting with Jordan from Hugo Health about something every Cavoodle pawrent needs to understand - preventative health. Hugo is Australia’s most advanced pet health check so we’re diving into what it actually means (beyond just annual vaccinations) and why taking a proactive approach to your Cavoodle’s wellbeing can make a huge difference to their quality of life.
Cavoodles have their own unique health considerations and preventative care is about staying one step ahead to identify potential issues early so you can build healthy habits, and support their body before problems arise. Let’s get into the questions every Cavoodle owner should be asking.
What do you mean by preventative health?
In the veterinary world, most care is 'reactive'. Meaning we wait for a dog to show symptoms like limping, lethargy, itching, or thirst before we investigate. By then, a condition is often advanced. Preventative health is about flipping that script. It’s about looking at internal biomarkers while your dog is still acting perfectly healthy to find the 'quiet' signals of change. If we can catch a slight shift in kidney function or a rising liver marker today, we can often manage it through diet or lifestyle before it ever becomes a clinical illness. Prevention lets us intervene early, to stop issues before they start.
How does Hugo Health work?
Hugo’s program is designed to be as stress-free as possible for both you and your dog. Instead of the typical car ride and waiting room anxiety, we bring the clinic to your living room. A Hugo vet visits your home to perform a comprehensive 'nose-to-tail' physical exam, nutrition analysis, and lifestyle assessment in the environment where your dog feels most relaxed.
During the visit, we collect blood, urine, and stool samples which are analysed at our diagnostic lab for over 80 different biomarkers. Once the results are in, our veterinary team interprets the data to build a comprehensive digital health report and a personalised Longevity Plan. This is followed by a 1-on-1 telehealth consultation to walk you through the findings, ensuring you have a clear, actionable roadmap for your dog’s healthy future.
The Hugo program is designed to be repeated annually. This allows us to track subtle biological shifts over time. By identifying these early changes each year, our veterinary team can continuously modify your dog’s Longevity Plan. Adjusting nutrition, supplements, and preventative care to help you stay one step ahead of potential issues long before they ever become problems.
How is Hugo different to other tests?
Most tests are 'snapshots' taken during a crisis. Hugo is different because of its depth and continuity. While a standard blood test might look at 20 markers, we look at over 80. We go beyond the basics to include advanced indicators of gut health, nutrition, and early stage organ decline. Plus, we don’t just give you a PDF of numbers. We give you a longitudinal view of your dog’s health over time, so we can track trends specific to your dog.
Alternate 'at-home' tests people may see online are DNA swabs that tell you about your dog’s breed or genetic risk of a disease. While that’s interesting, it doesn’t tell you what is actually happening inside your dog right now. Hugo’s diagnostics aren't looking at what 'might' happen based on genetics. We are looking at the current functional health of your dog’s organs, immune system, and metabolism using advanced bloodwork and pathology.
What makes it unique?
It’s the combination of depth and convenience. We test over 80+ biomarkers, which is far more comprehensive than a standard check-up, and we do it all in your living room. But beyond the data and convenience, what is truly unique is our 'Longevity Plan’. We don't just say “your dog is healthy”, we give you actionable steps on nutrition, supplements, exercise, and lifestyle tailored specifically to your dog's internal data and unique biological profile.
What sort of issues can it find?
By looking at over 80 specific biomarkers, we are able to monitor early indicators of 100+ health conditions.
This includes everything from early-stage kidney and liver disease to metabolic issues like diabetes or thyroid imbalances. Because we also look at gut health and inflammation, we can identify hidden parasites, nutrient deficiencies, and signs of chronic internal stress before they manifest as physical symptoms. Even flagging early indicators of cancer or silent digestive imbalances.
For oodles, we keep a close eye on markers related to pancreatitis, hormonal issues, and joint health. Areas where these breeds can be particularly sensitive. We aren't just looking for what's wrong today. We're looking for the early warning signs that tell us what might go wrong tomorrow.
Why does early prevention matter for your oodles health?
Oodles are incredibly smart and masters at hiding pain. Often, by the time an oodle shows they are unwell, the window for easy intervention has closed. Early prevention matters because it gives you the gift of time. It allows us to make small, 'micro-adjustments' to their care that can add years of high-quality life to their journey. It can be the difference between a simple diet change today and an expensive, traumatic emergency surgery three years from now. We want your Cavoodle or Groodle to be just as bouncy at age 14 as they were at age 5.
How is it different to standard vet check up?
A standard annual check-up is helpful, but limited. Typically it consists of a physical exam and occasionally basic bloodwork if the dog is senior or showing signs of illness. Hugo goes much deeper. Where a standard annual check-up might look at approximately 20 markers, we analyse over 80. We include comprehensive bloodwork, urinalysis and faecal screening as standard, which provides a 360-degree view of health that isn't typically part of a routine annual check-up.
The biggest difference, however, is what happens after the data comes back. While a clinic might simply call to say 'the results are normal’, Hugo members receive a personal health report and tailored Longevity Plan based on their dogs internal health data and unique biological profile. Covering precise nutritional adjustments, supplement protocols, exercise, and lifestyle shifts designed to extend their healthiest years. We don't just tell you how your dog is today, we give you a preventative health strategy for their entire future. Revisited annually to ensure you’re always staying one step ahead.
Does it replace my normal vet?
Not at all. Your regular vet is your 'GP' and your 'Emergency Room', they are essential for acute injuries, dental work, urgent care, and physical surgeries. Hugo doesn’t handle those reactive or routine clinical needs.
Instead, we are your dog’s Longevity and Preventative Health Partner. We provide the deep-data screening and long-term preventative strategy that often sits outside the primary focus of a standard clinic. We encourage our members to share their Hugo Health Reports with their primary vet so everyone is aligned on your dog's internal health. Together, we provide a complete end-to-end support system for your pup.
Is it available Australia wide?
We are growing fast! We currently service all major metropolitan areas across Australia. For those outside our current physical reach, we’re constantly expanding our network of partner vets to ensure every Aussie oodle can eventually access the gold standard of preventative care.
Hugo was started to stop the 'I wish I’d known sooner' conversations. Our dogs give us everything, and the best way we can pay them back is by being proactive about their health. Whether your oodle is a puppy or a senior, there is never a bad time to start building their health roadmap.
If you are interested in how you can use a Preventative Health Plan for your cavoodle, use THIS link to book. It can make a huge difference to your cavoodles future health and lifeline
