When it comes to avoiding potentially disastrous health problems with your pet, a veterinarian may be your best ally. She can recommend simple preventive measures, may spot early signs of trouble you might not notice, and can do routine tests to spot serious problems early. Between 10% and 15% of pets that seem normal upon physical examination have underlying problems that a veterinarian can only detect by doing further testing.

Also, because animals age so much faster than humans do—1 people year equals about 7 cat or dog years—the American Veterinary Medical Association now recommends that pets see the doctor twice a year.  The whole idea is to prevent or minimize disease or injury so the pet can live a long, healthy life.

Because pets can’t complain to their owners when they’re in pain or just feeling out of sorts, regular communication with your veterinarian is very important. Never be shy about bringing in a written list of your concerns when you visit the doctor. new products and technology are making prevention easier all the time.  In the past, we used to focus on treating sick animals; now, the best veterinary care focuses on a comprehensive approach to wellness. This change can mean a giant leap in quality of life for our pets.

CATCH IT EARLY
A number of potential health problems can be avoided or dealt with quickly if they are considered—and caught—early:

Obesity—Even just a few pounds can be a significant weight gain, particularly in small dogs and cats. Taking action to prevent obesity will help protect your pet from heart disease, diabetes, and breathing difficulties.

Dental Problems—Together with your veterinarian, you can set up a dental program for your pet before a little tartar or bad breath turns into periodontal disease.

Diabetes—If caught early, a change in diet, sometimes in conjunction with insulin therapy, could do the trick. But if left unchecked, diabetes can result in irreversible cataracts, dehydration, and even the pet’s body eating up its own muscle tissue for energy.

Kidney Disease—Very common in cats, kidney disease is easily treatable by altering the diet, but without treatment it leads to dehydration and severe weight loss.

Thyroid Disease—Thyroid disease is very manageable, but in the long term it can cause weight gain or loss, baldness, and bladder infections.

ANATOMY OF A WELLNESS EXAM
A complete wellness exam has four components:

• The consultation is the time to share any concerns you may have about your pet’s health. Be sure to tell your veterinarian if your pet has suddenly started eating or drinking more or less, has changed his exercise habits, has started going to the bathroom more or less frequently, has been throwing up, coughing, or scratching, or is doing anything else outside his normal routine. Your veterinarian will also talk with you about parasite prevention to make sure you are using the right products to protect your pet from these pests.
• During the physical exam, your veterinarian will check your pet from nose to tail for any sign of a medical problem.
• Preventive tests include taking a stool sample to check for certain internal parasites and performing a heartworm test.
• The wellness profile will help your veterinarian to detect underlying health problems and includes a complete blood count, blood chemistry panel, and urinalysis as well as osteoarthritis screenings for cats and dogs over 6 years of age.

Help us help keep your pet around for many healthy years! Call and schedule your wellness visit today!

 

All of us at Companions Animal Hospital