Our pets are just like us! They also need preventative care to stay healthy, vibrant, and full of energy. Here’s what a pet’s preventative care routine should look like:
- Regular checkups with your veterinarian.
- Vaccinations.
- Diagnostic tests.
- Parasite screenings and treatments.
- Use of prescription medications when needed.
While you may be focused on giving your pet the balanced diet and exercise they need to thrive, these essentials aren’t always enough. It’s important for pets to be seen by veterinarians. Next, take a look at the tips every pet owner needs to know to keep animals thriving!
Preventative Care Tips to Know for Your Pets
What does every veterinarian wish you knew about your pet’s health? The right preventative care can keep your pet safe from fleas, ticks, heartworm, obesity, painful skin issues, and more. Here are the top preventive tips to know:
- Start with a nutritious diet that provides the vitamins and nutrients needed to help your pet enjoy a shiny coat, healthy skin, and tons of energy! Foods with fillers can leave your pet deficient. Your vet can help you select the right diet based on your pet’s breed, size, and health history.
- Like diet, daily exercise is essential for keeping your pet in good health. Daily play helps to manage weight, strengthen bones and joints, and improve mood!
- Staying current with vaccinations can shield your pet against rabies, distemper, herpes, Lyme disease, worms, and more.
- Regular grooming is essential for coat health! It also provides an opportunity to inspect your pet’s coat and skin for ticks, bumps, and other signs of trouble. Don’t forget to brush your pet’s teeth!
- Make sure your pet can be easily identified if they are ever separated from you. While you may be diligent about supervising your pet at all times, there are situations where pets manage to sneak outside. You want to make sure that your pet can be identified using either a collar or chip in the event that this happens. Proper identification is the best way to be reunited with your pet quickly!
There’s no need to feel overwhelmed by the idea of creating a wellness routine for your pet. Your veterinarian will work with you to develop a schedule for checkups and vaccinations that will keep your pet properly protected. Additionally, a veterinarian can help you to create a personalized lifestyle routine for your pet that involves the right diet, proper forms of exercise, and other factors that will help your pet thrive!
Do Animals Need Different Types of Care During Different Seasons?
While a pet’s health needs won’t change dramatically with the seasons, it is sometimes necessary to adjust your care routine with the weather. For example, pets that spend any amount of time outdoors in the winter may need a little bit of extra attention for their paws! The salt and chemicals used to melt sidewalk snow and ice can actually irritate an animal’s feet. It’s recommended that pet owners use a damp towel to clean paws following outdoor walks. You can also consider purchasing outdoor boots made for pets.
During cold weather, it’s often necessary to increase caloric intake for pets that spend time outdoors. Keeping body temperature elevated burns more calories! Your veterinarian can let you know how much extra food and water to provide based on the size of your pet.
During warm-weather months, keeping pets hydrated is important. This is also a time to routinely inspect pets for ticks. Pets with thin coats and pink skin can benefit from sunscreen products that are made specifically for animals.
The Benefits of Having Pet Insurance
Staying ahead of serious health issues using preventative pet care is the best way to avoid surprise bills down the road. Giving your pet the exceptional care they deserve doesn’t have to feel like a financial burden.
Many pet owners sign up for discounted pet insurance to save on care costs. Ultimately, committing to preventative care helps you to keep the promise to your pet to always give them the best in life!