Preventive care for your cat or dog helps protect your pet from issues before they arise. Today, our Clarksville vets discuss the importance of preventive care for your pet and what you can do to keep your companion healthy.
Why Preventive Care is Important
Bringing your cat or dog into the Sango Veterinary Hospital for preventive care allows our vets to find any issues before they become worse and gives your vet the opportunity to provide your pet with any vaccinations or preventive medications they need to keep parasites from invading their bodies.
Preventive care for your companion is an important measure to ensure they live a long, happy, and healthy life. Your pet’s preventive care should incorporate regular check-ups, pet dental care, and grooming to keep them looking and feeling their best.
As our pets get older, they are at risk for developing age-related illnesses and issues like arthritis, diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, and cancer. Regular pet preventive care helps your vet identify your pet’s specific risk factors such as age, lifestyle, weight, or genetics, and quickly treat any issues.
Routine preventive care for your pet should include:
- Grooming
- Vaccinations/Parasite Control
- Dental Care
- Bloodwork
- Heartworm Testing
- Stool Screening
Good pet preventive care helps maximize our companions’ health, wellness, and quality of life, which is what every pet owner wants for their furry friends.
Financial Benefits
The cost of preventive examinations is also far less than what it would be to treat diseases, illnesses, and parasitic conditions when they have become more serious. Preventive exams and early detection can also save your pet from experiencing more pain or discomfort.
Preparing For Your Pet's Preventive Exam
If you are planning on bringing your pet in for a preventive care examination with your vet, here are a few tips on how you can prepare:
- Schedule an appointment slot where you have no time restrictions because the length of the exam will depend on your pet's breed and medical condition.
- Arrive about 10 minutes early to fill out the new patient forms if it is your first visit.
- Bring records of your pet's medical history and past and present medications and dosages.
- Take notes of your pet's food, exercise routine, and bowel movements to help your vet understand your pet's lifestyle.
- Inform your vet of any recent or previous tick bites.
- Your vet may ask you to bring in a fresh sample of your pet's stool for a fecal exam or a urine sample for a urine test.
- To help your pet stay calm at their appointment bring their favorite blanket or toy.
- Record any symptoms or behaviors that your cat or dog is displaying that's concerning you to share with the veterinarian.
- Prepare any questions you have for your vet ahead of time.
- Call your vet to ask them if it is okay for your furry friend to eat before their appointment (some tests require fasting).
- Make sure to bring your cat or small dog in a carrier, if you have a larger dog keep them on a leash
- Ask for a cost estimate and Inform your vet of your budget so they can adjust the exams accordingly.