When’s the last time you took your pet to the vet? Your dog or cat’s health is just as finicky as any person’s, with diseases such as heartworm and hip dysplasia able to crop out of nowhere and seriously affect the physical and emotional health of your furry friend. Caring for your pet means staying on top of their daily needs and taking preventative measures to prevent these more extreme conditions and keep them happy and healthy. Spaying and neutering your pet accomplishes the dual goal of preventing unwanted litters as well as circumventing common illnesses associated with hormones and certain behaviors. Let’s take a look at frequent health conditions and pet owner tips to help you stay on the ball.
What Are Common Health Conditions?
Just like humans, cats and dogs can develop teeth problems and heart issues, needing routine care to ensure they don’t develop feverish or chronic conditions over time. Heartworm disease affects millions of pets every single year, characterized by vomiting, trouble breathing and chest pain. While dogs can have dozens of worms in their heart, a cat frequently has only two or three. Regardless, this is a serious condition that can be easily treated with medication if it’s caught in its early stages. A common mistake many owners make, as well, is not caring for their pet’s teeth — by the time they reach age three, a stunning 80% of dogs and 70% of cats will develop periodontal disease.
How Do I Care For My Pet’s Teeth?
The vast majority of your pet’s tooth care can be done with brushing. Flossing is unnecessary, as cats and dogs’ gums aren’t as sensitive as ours. While many veterinarians at spay and neuter clinics will explain the importance of brushing to owners, surveys have shown only 65% of pet owners not brushing their pet’s teeth on a consistent basis. A pet’s mouth should be examined by a vet at least once per year to pinpoint potential problems and halt the advances of any disease before they get worse — when your pet reaches seven years of age they should be examined twice per year due to a lowered immune system and overall physical health.
How Do I Recognize Pet Allergies?
Did you know over 60% of all dog food allergies are caused by beef, dairy and wheat? These are very common ingredients, to boot, so many pet owners find themselves baffled when their pet has a difficult time eating the average store-brand canned or dry food. Kennel cough is one such condition can develop from an allergic reaction, with symptoms including nasal discharge, a lethargy loss of appetite, fever and depressive symptoms. These can develop a few days after exposure and last as long as two weeks if untreated.
What Are Health Tips I Should Know?
Regular exercise and frequent attention are necessary to ensure both physical and mental health in your cat or dog. While it’s tempting to reward your furry friends with treats, too much can lead to overeating and side-effects like bloating and dependency. Treats should make up no more than 10% of your pet’s total daily calories. Reducing this can also keep their teeth healthy and in need of less brushing than usual. Last, but not least, a spay and neuter clinic can offer you a combination of pet safety and health.
What Is Spaying And Neutering?
The importance of neutering a dog or cat can’t be understated. It’s necessary to go to a spay and neuter clinic to keep your cats and dogs both healthy and free from unnecessary litters. Pounds only continue to get fuller by the day, meaning responsibility on the part of pet owners go a long way in reducing strain on the environment and local animal control. Veterinarians at spay and neuter clinics are familiar with the process of spaying and neutering cats and dogs of all breeds, able to reduce the frequency of certain diseases and hormonal issues with a single session. Keeping your cat or dog consistently healthy takes a initiative and a careful daily touch, adding up to a happier pet and a happier you in the long run.