Taking your furry friend to a pet doctor may not cross your mind often, especially if they have been in good health; however, routine check ups for pets are just as important as check ups for us! These visits can help keep your pet healthy and happy!
Why Are Pet Clinic Visits Important?
While you may think that there is no reason to schedule an appointment with a pet doctor when your family pet is healthy, these visits can help determine how they are developing, and if there are any signs that could indicate future problems. Staying up-to-date and in the know about these potential indicators, can help you take steps to mitigate, or prevent, issues years down the road. Veterinary clinics can also administer needed vaccinations that can help prevent against heart worms and other debilitating diseases that can severely impact your pets health! Even if your pet seems healthy now, pet doctors can help keep them that way for as long as possible!
What is Covered in a Check Up?
A basic physical exam, consisting of a check from nose to tail, can be expected. The doctor will also take a look at your pets mouth to make sure their teeth are clean. While it may seem silly to brush your pets teeth, it has been estimated that 70% of cats and 80% of dogs show signs of developing a dental disease by the age of 3. If left untreated this can lead to lost teeth, pain, and abscesses. Be sure to listen if your vet tells you to begin cleanings, some of which can even be done with the use of specialized chew treats.
Your vet will also check your pets skin and coat during a routine visit, this can help detect internal problems, as a duller coat sheen can signify something wrong. In older dogs this exam can also help detect signs of arthritis or additional joint problems. Getting a better understanding of these issues can help you take steps to keep your pet comfortable. Your vet may give you additional dietary or supplemental suggestions to aid in better health as well.
The Importance of Vaccines
As mentioned above, animal care clinics are responsible for administering needed vaccinations. These are very important to keeping your beloved fluffy friends healthy for as long as possible, by protecting them from fatal diseases. They can also help keep your whole family protected against illnesses that can be transmitted from animals to humans, such as lyme disease. If you are unsure when vaccines are needed here is a handy chart to help you visualize the time table.
Keeping our pets in the family for as long as we can is important to each one of us as pet owners. In the United States alone nearly every household has at least one pet! This accounts for over 75 million dogs; in addition to 38,900,000 households that own cats. With so many animals in our homes, it is up to us to make sure they all receive the love and care that they deserve. Our pets are members of our family, and regular check ups can help keep them with us for years and years to come.