- Dogs and cats are not just pets, they are members of our families. Just like in our human families, it is important to keep your furry-companion healthy and free of parasites. It is fairly common for our dogs and cats to come into contact and become infected with internal or external parasites at some point during their life-time. Parasites can affect our pets in multiple ways, ranging from skin irritation to causing life-threatening conditions if left untreated. Some parasites are even transmittable from our pets to us!
Most physicians, dentists, and veterinarians agree that annual checkups are vital in keeping patients healthy. After all, early detection and treatment of diseases can mean the different between comfort and pain - of even life and death. Preventative medicine is a new perspective to veterinary medicine, so many pet owners only bring their pets in when there are concerns to the pets general health or for their vaccinations.
Here are the top 10 things to know about wellness care:
- Get your pet a veterinary checkup at least once a year. It’s the key to helping them live as long as possible. Don’t assume an indoor cat doesn’t need an annual exam, or that a seemingly healthy pet can sit a year out—animals can be very good at hiding pain and disease. For senior patients we recommend bi-yearly exams. Old age is not a disease, however many diseases tend to occur later in a pets life.
- Start a dialogue with your veterinarian. Use the annual exam as a chance to discuss your pet’s wellbeing. Talk about their lifestyle—hunter or couch potato? How much time is spent indoors versus outdoors? Do they interact with other pets or wildlife? Your veterinarian will also tailor a preventive care plan based on your pet’s life stage--there’s a big difference in how to care for a puppy or kitten versus an adult versus a senior.
- Bring up any behavior issues. Some people save questions about behavior for trainers (or, unfortunately, “Dr. Google”), but your veterinarian can help determine if there is an underlying medical cause. They can also offer solutions you might not have considered for common issues like inappropriate urination, aggression, or separation anxiety.
- Test annually for dangerous diseases. Every dog and cat should have an annual test for heartworm and internal parasites, and cats should be tested at least once for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV), which can shorten their lifespans and be transmitted to other cats. Parasite infections can cause vomiting and diarrhea—and may be transmittable to humans. In older pets, your veterinarian may recommend monitoring organ function and overall health with blood and urine testing, blood pressure monitoring, and radiographs (X-rays).
- Watch their weight. Pet obesity is reaching epidemic proportions—an estimated one out of every two pets is overweight or obese. Being a fat cat or plump pup can have disastrous health effects, such as increasing the risk of diabetes, heart and respiratory disease, cancer, and arthritis. A slight adjustment to your pet’s diet or exercise regimen can make a huge difference, so ask your veterinarian for your pet’s target weight.
- Keep those whites pearly. By the time they turn three years old, 70–80% of dogs and cats have signs of dental disease. Left untreated, dental problems can cause pain, infection, and inflammation and take years off your pet’s life. So smile when your veterinarian checks your dog or cat’s teeth and gums—it’s a vital part of their life.
- Battle the bloodsuckers. Every dog and cat should receive year-round parasite control to prevent against heartworms, intestinal parasites, fleas, and when appropriate, ticks. Even if your pet spends most of his time indoors, he can still pick up diseases from these sneaky pests that can fly, crawl, or hitchhike on you to get inside your house. These bugs spread serious (even fatal, in the case of heartworms) diseases that are easily preventable with monthly medications. There is more information about heartworm disease below!
- Tailor vaccination protocols to your pet. While some vaccines, like Rabies, are required by law because of the risk to humans, others may be necessary for your pet’s lifestyle. In some scenarios, a titer to previous vaccines can be measured to help decide if a booster vaccination is necessary. Your veterinarian will know what’s best for your pet.
- Check the chip. Every dog and cat should be microchipped—even indoor cats and fenced-in dogs can escape and become lost. Make sure your contact information is current with the microchip manufacturer, and ask your veterinarian during your pet’s annual exam to “check the chip” by scanning it to make sure it is still reading properly.
- Discuss when to spay or neuter. Spaying and neutering provides several health and behavior benefits. If it hasn’t already been done, talk to your veterinarian about the best time to perform this procedure. It could save your pet’s life by decreasing the risk of life-threatening diseases like pyometra (a uterine infection) and mammary, uterine, and testicular cancer. Plus, it will prevent unwanted litters of puppies and kittens from entering animal shelters.
- What to ask your veterinarian about your pet’s preventive care:
- How is my pet’s weight? What should my pet’s ideal weight be?
- Is there anything special I should do to help my pet in his current life stage?
- How do my pet’s teeth and gums look?
- I’ve noticed some unusual behavior in my pet. What can I do about it?
- What’s the best way to protect my pet from parasites year-round?
- What vaccinations do you recommend to keep my pet healthy?
- Would a titer test be an appropriate way to assess my pet’s immunity to a specific disease?
- Can you please scan my pet’s microchip to make sure it’s still reading properly? Is it written in his medical record?
- Is it safe to spay/neuter my pet now?
- Is there anything else you suggest I do to help keep my pet healthy and happy?
What is heartworm disease?
Heartworm disease is a serious, and potentially fatal, disease in pets throughout the United States, as well as other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms that live in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of affected pets; causing symptoms such as severe lung disease, heart failure, and damage to surrounding body organs. Heartworm disease is transmitted via mosquito bite from an infected pet to a new host. Hosts for heartworm disease include our dogs and cats, but also can include ferrets, wolves, coyotes, foxes, and in rare instances - humans.
Heartworm disease is a serious, and potentially fatal, disease in pets throughout the United States, as well as other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms that live in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of affected pets; causing symptoms such as severe lung disease, heart failure, and damage to surrounding body organs. Heartworm disease is transmitted via mosquito bite from an infected pet to a new host. Hosts for heartworm disease include our dogs and cats, but also can include ferrets, wolves, coyotes, foxes, and in rare instances - humans.