By Seneca Guillen |
Preventive care is a proactive approach to healthcare for your pet. It's like taking your vehicle in for an oil change so that it continues to run smoothly. Proper preventive care can help to increase the lifespan of your pet, while also providing a happier and healthier quality of life.
Regular check-ups with your pet's veterinarian can aide in catching problems early, and preventing them altogether. Wellness and preventive care visits should be tailored to meet the needs of each specific patient being treated. Some pets may only need to visit their vet once or twice a year, while others will require more frequent visits.
While the biggest benefit of a solid preventive care program is improving the quality of the pet's life, it can also save the family money in the long run.
While the biggest benefit of a solid preventive care program is improving the quality of the pet's life, it can also save the family money in the long run. The cost of preventive treatments is often far less than trying to treat a condition or disease once it has become more advanced. Plus, when problems are caught at an earlier stage, it improves the chances of a more favorable outcome.
A number of factors should be taken into consideration when developing a preventive care program for a patient. Things like age, health status, and life-style risks should all be taken into consideration. Also, the canine and feline patient may often have different needs. For example, if you have a strictly indoor only cat, most veterinarians will say it is fine not to vaccinate for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), since their risk for contracting the virus is all but eliminated by not going outside where they can potentially come into contact with another infected cat.
Below is a list of some things that are commonly addresses during a preventive care or wellness visit.
Vaccinations
Heartworm Testing (canine & feline) & FeLV/FIV Testing
Parasitic Screening
Parasitic Control – heartworm, flea/tick, intestinal parasites
Reproductive Counseling (spay/neuter or reproductive management)
Identification (microchipping)
Behavior Counseling
Dental Care (both at-home and in-hospital)
Diagnostics (early disease and genetic screening)
The veterinarian will also perform a thorough physical examination of the patient, evaluating the eyes and ears, the oral cavity, the patient's overall body and muscle condition score, heart and lung sounds, range of motion of all four limbs, skin and coat, and so much more! Unless the patient is dealing with an injury or illness, this should be a painless and stress free experience for the pet. Medical staff will always do their best to accommodate the needs of each individual patient, so as to make the visit as enjoyable as possible. If the patient is dealing with an injury or illness that is making them especially uncomfortable, there are many safe options for pain management and/or sedation available.
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) have partnered in creating preventive health care guidelines for both dogs and cats. At Clover Basin Animal Hospital, we adhere closely to these guidelines, so that we can best serve our clients and their fury friends!