Many pet owners do not consider avoidable risks and hazards to their pets ahead of time. Prevention is less costly and less invasive than treatment. Let's talk about a few basic steps to keep your pets healthy and reduce the need for interventional treatment.
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The first and most important step is making use of your veterinarian as a source of information and early detection of disease. At a minimum, your pet should be examined once yearly, with regular examinations often allowing detection of problems before they become critical.
Secondly, always be aware of what is going on with your pet. Are they in lean body condition? Are they playful and active? Do they have an odour? Changes in eating behaviour and toilet habits, as well as water intake, can be important indicators of problems in our pets. By taking a mental note of their behaviours while healthy, if they fall ill, you will be able to recognise change instantaneously.
Keeping your pet enclosed within your home boundary, as well keeping them on a leash when walking are important precautions to reduce the risk of fighting, consuming toxic substances and vehicular trauma. It also reduces the risk of infectious disease transmission, along with yearly vaccinations. Most animal parasites such as intestinal worms are avoided by using regular control and preventatives.
Daily brushing of your pet's teeth will not necessarily prevent the need for veterinary dental intervention, but will do a lot to control tartar, calculus and gum disease. A less time-consuming alternative to teeth brushing includes using oral hygiene dental wipes, specifically formulated diets or feed/water additives. Ensure your pet is also well groomed, as diseases of the ears and skin can cause discomfort and lead to serious chronic or ongoing problems. Evaluate the ears routinely for discharge or odour.
Obesity is unfortunately all too common. While we as the owners are responsible for feeding our pets, we are also responsible for their weight management. While most pet owners will admit their pet is overweight, they do not consider it to be a significant health risk and are not aware of the many issues that can arise as a result.
None of these steps are particularly costly or difficult, and it all comes as part of responsible pet ownership and ensuring they live a long healthy life.
Dr Renee Pigdon, Pertfocus Vetcare
