When you think of going to the vet, you might first think of the more emergency cases, injuries, or the sudden onset of illness, but your local vet can provide a much wider range of care than just emergencies.
Preventative care uses tried and true methods to reduce your pet’s risk of developing illness or inadvertently coming into harm during its lifetime.
There is a reason the idiom “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” has remained a popular saying. By anticipating your pet’s health needs and keeping them clean, groomed, and well-trained with a good diet and exercise plan, you can enjoy many more years with your beloved pet.
Benefits of Preventative Care for Pets
Reduces the chances of illness and disease
Ask any pet owner about the “unsanitary” things their furry friend likes to do, and you’ll likely hear more than one squeamish story. As they explore the world and follow their instincts, pets can come into contact with pathogens that can make them seriously ill.
Even regular interactions aren’t strictly risk-free. Just like humans can unknowingly pass colds and flu between each other, so can cats, dogs and other animals accidentally spread contagious illnesses.
It gives you, the owner, peace of mind
Preventative medicine is designed to reduce your pet’s risk of illness and injury, and by keeping up with this type of care, you can reduce your stress for your pet’s health and help your local vet to help your pet if or when it does require medical attention. For example, keeping your pet’s vaccinations up to date means a vet can rule out certain diseases or illnesses, even if your pet presents those symptoms, to diagnose the actual problem.
Keeps your pet healthier and happier for longer
All pet owners want as much time with their furry friends as possible. Cats and dogs quickly become parts of the family and the rest of our family. We want to see them healthy, happy, and thriving. This comes down to grooming and hygiene care, ensuring they get the proper nutrition, behave well and have everything they need to live long and healthy lives.
Types of Preventative Care for Pets
Rossmore Veterinary Hospital offers several well-being services to ensure your pet stays happier and healthier for longer.
Microchipping
Pet microchipping helps to keep your pet safe and secure. A pet might get spooked by a thunderstorm or fireworks and run away. It might follow its curious nose beyond its familiar area and get lost. You might be in a rush one day and not close a door or gate properly by accident. These scenarios can happen to anyone, even the most attentive and diligent pet owners.
Microchipping your pet is the most surefire way of being reunited with a lost pet. Inserted under your pet’s skin, microchips are only the size of a grain of rice and contain a unique code that can be scanned at any vet or pet shelter. This code can then be looked up in a database, bringing up your details as the pet’s owner.
Nail clipping
Nail clipping is another essential grooming service that protects your family from scratches and improves your pet’s comfort. The requirements for nail trimming will depend on the breed, activity level, age, and the environment your pet enjoys. For example, pets with more outdoor access will likely experience more natural wear and tear on their nails than strictly indoor pets. Nails that become too long can lead to splits, breaks, and bleeding, which can cause pain and the risk of infection.
Behavioural advice
It’s easy to overlook the mental health of our furry friends, but it’s an essential part of pet care. Solving issues like stress, anxiety and depression in animals can be challenging, as your pet can’t verbally communicate what’s bothering them. Your pet’s moods can change seemingly at random (ask anyone who has owned a cat), but there is usually a cause for this behaviour. Behavioural advice can help narrow down these causes and get to the root of the problem.
Anxiety, stress, fear, and depression can all be debilitating conditions for your pet, and poor mental health can exacerbate physical conditions. Preventative vet care will not only address the issues caused by stress (weight gain, loss of fur, behavioural problems, etc.) but will also try to address the cause of the problem. This could be anything from something in your pet’s environment, adding a new family member or pet, or sometimes something so minor that it’ll sort itself out before you know what it is.
Nutritional advice
Just like with people, what your pet eats is vital in keeping them at a healthy weight and providing them with essential nutrients. Many cats and dogs experience digestion or gut problems. If you notice any symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting or that certain foods make your pet sluggish, visit your vet to discuss your pet’s diet and the type of food or supplements they may need.
Washing and grooming
Professional dog grooming is about more than keeping your pet stylish (though it certainly does that, too!). Bathing and grooming your dog helps them maintain a healthy coat and skin. Your groomer can also remove knots in your pet’s fur, reduce excess hair that can lead to hairballs, and spot any issues that may need to be addressed by your vet. For animals with a thicker coat, a trim or a shave can help them stay cool during Australia’s scorching summer months.
The Importance of Exercising Your Pet
Providing your pet with plenty of exercise is essential to being a pet owner. It keeps them at a healthy weight and their joints and muscles in good condition, but it’s also great for their mental health. Whether it’s daily walks for your dog or play sessions with your cat, this exercise burns off excess energy, prevents future physical issues, and improves your pet’s overall mood. If you’re unsure how much exercise is best for your pet, chat with your vet for some tips.
Vaccinations and Disease Prevention
Like humans, dogs, cats, and other pets need vaccinations when young to keep their immune systems fighting fit and ward off potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccinations protect your pets against preventable diseases such as heartworm, kennel cough, hepatitis, feline immunodeficiency disease, cat flu, feline leukemia, and more. All of these are potentially life-threatening diseases that will make your pet very ill. The best treatment is prevention, so be sure to keep your dog or cat up to date with their vaccinations.
Pet Health Checks
Sometimes, we don’t know our pet is sick until they present symptoms, but to a trained and accredited vet, the signs can be there long before we notice them as pet owners. Just like us humans, taking your pet for regular and comprehensive health checks can give you, as the owner, peace of mind about your pet’s overall health. If your pet has a minor and previously undiagnosed symptom, your vet can develop a treatment plan long before your pet’s illness becomes severe.
Prevention and Emergency Care
Even if you take preventative medicine seriously, there is still always a chance that your pet may require emergency care. It’s unfortunately a fact of life that unforeseen injuries or illnesses can still occur.
If your pet needs emergency care, you must immediately transport them to an emergency vet. Time can be of the essence depending on the condition, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. We recommend driving to your nearest emergency vet, so you know the way. Also, have any carriers, information and records, or other essentials readily available to grab them immediately.
Preventative Care When You Need It
At Rossmore Veterinary Hospital, our expert team is dedicated to providing the best overall care for your pet. We pride ourselves on our caring, professional approach and would love to care for your pet. So, whether there’s an emergency, your pet isn’t acting as its normal self, you want some nutritional or behavioural advice, or it’s just time for a check-up, our team are here to help. Book your next appointment today!