Healthy Pet

PETCARE Animal Hospital doctor’s prescription for a healthy pet includes…

Rx: DIET AND EXERCISE

Two of the fundamentals of good health consist of diet and exercise, just as in people. Feed your pet a premium-quality diet, or at least the best that you can consistently afford to purchase. Companion animals require the same dietary considerations that we do; the best diets consist of higher quality ingredients. You generally get what you pay for!

Rx: VACCINATIONS

Your pet needs to be vaccinated against contagious diseases on a yearly basis. Indoor pets are not entirely safe from contagious diseases, and without vaccinations they may have little natural immunity to these diseases.

Rx: DENTAL CARE

People in the United States have come to think of dentistry as primarily “cosmetics”. In reality, if you have dental disease, your entire health will suffer. Pets have teeth, and their teeth are no different!

There is no reason for pets to lose teeth from age and/or neglect if they are taken care of properly. Most pets need to have their teeth cleaned and polished in the hospital every year (at a minimum) once they begin developing gingivitis (typically by two years of age). Every pet is different – some have problems earlier and some later.

Your pet’s veterinarian will let you know when their teeth have problems that need to be addressed.

Rx: PARASITE CONTROL

We are always concerned with controlling intestinal parasites and heartworm infestations. Every pet should be de-wormed at least yearly with a broad-spectrum Prescription deworming medication. Dogs should be tested for heartworm infestation every year and placed on Heartworm Prevention medications all-year-round.

Rx: SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PET

Pet overpopulation is a serious problem in this area, with much suffering as a result. If your pet is not being bred then they should be neutered or spayed (if this has not already been done). It is not correct to think that all females should be
allowed to have a litter before being spayed!

Spayed females have dramatically lower risks for developing breast cancer (which is much more common in dogs than in humans).

Rx: BEHAVIOR TRAINING

Neutered males usually have less behavioral problems and have a much lower chance of prostate problems as they age. The number one reason why people find new homes for their adult pets is because of behavioral problems.

Unfortunately, most people assume that dogs ‘naturally’ learn how to behave around people and around other pets. This is incorrect. Pets, just like infants, learn what they are taught.

Please take your dog to an obedience school at an early age and keep up on training at home. Don’t let a tragedy happen!

Rx: YEARLY EXAMINATIONS

Medical examinations are important for your health; likewise regular examinations are important if we are to maintain the health of your pet. Many diseases are treatable when diagnosed early. Far too often we are presented with patients
who haven’t seen a doctor in many years and now have a disease that has advanced beyond the possibility for easy treatment. Delaying simple problems until they are no longer simple costs lives and money.

Preventative health measures and routine examinations are the foundations of modern veterinary medicine.

Rx: SENIOR PET CARE

Pets past the age of seven are considered to be senior pets. It is important that older pets have yearly blood tests and other diagnostic tests in order to detect problems early, before they become serious! Geriatric patients should be fed the special diets made for older pets.

Remember that AGE is not a disease – every older pet still deserves a good quality of life!