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Vet's Corner

10 Things Your Vet Wants You To Know

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Throughout our own lives, we learn the basics of human health and wellness – maintain a healthy weight, brush our teeth, wash our hands, etc. But, did you know there are basics of dog health and wellness, too? Wendy C. Fries of WebMD compiled this list of the 10 things your vet wants you to know to keep your dog healthy, happy, and safe.

10 Things Your Vet Wants You To Know

1. Regular Exams are Vital

Just like you, your pet can get heart problems, develop arthritis, or have a toothache. The best way to prevent such problems or catch them early is to see your veterinarian every year.

Regular exams are “the single most important way to keep pets healthy,” says Kara M. Burns, MS, Med, LVT, president of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians.

Annual vet visits should touch on nutrition and weight control, says Oregon veterinarian Marla J. McGeorge, DVM, as well as cover recommended vaccinations, parasite control, dental exam, and health screenings.

2. Spay and Neuter Your Pets

Eight million to 10 million pets end up in U.S. shelters every year. Some are lost, some have been abandoned, and some are homeless.

Here’s an easy way to avoid adding to that number — spay and neuter your cats and dogs. It’s a procedure that can be performed as early as six to eight weeks of age.

Spaying and neutering doesn’t just cut down on the number of unwanted pets; it has other substantial benefits for your pet. Studies show it also lowers the risk of certain cancers, Burns tells WebMD, and reduces a pet’s risk of getting lost by decreasing the tendency to roam.

3. Prevent Parasites

Fleas are the most common external parasite that can plague pets, and they can lead to irritated skin, hair loss, hot spots, and infection. Fleas can also introduce other parasites into your cat or dog. All it takes is for your pet to swallow one flea, and it can to end up with tapeworms, the most common internal parasite affecting dogs and cats.

Year-round prevention is key, says McGeorge, who suggests regular flea and intestinal parasite control, as well as heartworm prevention in endemic areas.

Because some parasite medications made for dogs can be fatal to cats, talk to your vet about keeping your precious pets worm-free, flea-free — and safe.

4. Maintain a Healthy Weight

Many dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight or obese. And just like people, obesity in pets comes with health risks that include diabetes, arthritis, and cancer.

Overfeeding is the leading cause of obesity, says Douglas, who adds that keeping our pets trim can add years to their lives.

Because pets need far fewer calories than most of us think — as little as 185-370 a day for a small, inactive dog; just 240-350 calories daily for a 10-pound cat — talk to your vet, who can make feeding suggestions based on your pet’s age, weight, and lifestyle.

5. Get Regular Vaccinations

For optimal health, pets need regular vaccinations against common ills, such as rabies, distemper, feline leukemia, and canine hepatitis.

How often your dog or cat needs to be immunized depends on their age, lifestyle, health, and risks, says McGeorge, so talk to your vet about the vaccinations that make sense for your pet.

6. Provide an Enriched Environment

An enriched environment is another key to the long-term health and welfare of your canine and feline friends, says C.A. Tony Buffington, DVM, PhD, a veterinary nutritionist and professor at Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center in Columbus.

Pets need mental stimulation, say the pros, which may mean daily walks for your pooch, and scratching posts, window perches, and toys for your cat. It means play time with you, which not only keeps your pet’s muscles toned and boredom at bay, it also strengthens your bond with your four-footed companions.

7. ID Microchip Your Pet

Lack of identification means as few as 14% of pets ever find their way home after getting lost. Fortunately, “microchipping allows for the pet to be reunited with its family,” no matter how far away it is when found, Burns says.

About the size of a rice grain, a microchip is inserted under the skin in less than a second. It needs no battery and can be scanned by a vet or an animal control officer in seconds.

Be sure to register the chip ID with the chip’s maker. A current registration is the vital last step in making certain your pet can always find his way home.

8. Pets Need Dental Care, Too

Just like you, your pet can suffer from gum disease, tooth loss, and tooth pain. And just like you, regular brushing and oral cleanings help keep your pet’s teeth strong and healthy.

“Dental disease is one of the most common preventable illnesses in pets,” Ohio veterinarian Vanessa Douglas tells WebMD, “yet many people never even look in their pet’s mouths.”

It’s estimated 80% of dogs and 70% cats show signs of dental disease by age three, leading to abscesses, loose teeth, and chronic pain. In addition to regular dental cleanings by your vet, “periodontal disease can be avoided by proper dental care by owners,” Douglas says. Owner care includes brushing, oral rinses, and dental treats. Your vet is a good source of information about brushing techniques, oral rinses, and dental treats.

9. Never Give Pets People Medication

Medicines made for humans can kill your pet, says Georgia veterinarian Jean Sonnenfield, DVM. As a matter of fact, in 2010 the ASPCA listed human drugs in the top 10 pet toxins.

NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen are the most common pet poisoning culprits, but antidepressants, decongestants, muscle relaxants, and acetaminophen are just a few of the human drugs that pose health risks to pets. Human drugs can cause kidney damage, seizures, and cardiac arrest in a dog or cat.

If you suspect your pet has consumed your medication — or anything toxic — call the 24-hour ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Also be sure to immediately check with your vet, and if it is during evening or weekend hours when your regular veterinary clinic may be closed, check for a local 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic and take your pet there for an examination. Many metropolitan areas have these clinics.

10. Proper Restraint in a Vehicle

You buckle up for safety when you’re in the car, shouldn’t your pet? Unrestrained pets in a car are a distraction to the driver, and can put driver and pet at risk for serious injury, “or worse,” says veterinarian Douglas. To keep pets safe in transit:

  • Never allow pets to travel in the front seat, where they’re at risk of severe injury or death if the airbag deploys.
  • Don’t let dogs ride with their head out the window or untethered in the back of a truck bed. Both practices put them at risk of being thrown from the vehicle in the event of an accident.
  • To keep pets safe, confine cats to carriers, suggests Douglas, then secure the carrier with a seatbelt. For dogs, there’s the option of a special harness attached to a seat belt, or a well-secured kennel.

Read the list in its entirety here. Now that you know the top 10 things your vet wants you to know, do you have any other helpful tips for dog owners? Tell us about them below!

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5 Comments

5 Comments

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  3. Avatar Of Kay Garriott

    Kay Garriott

    says:

    I noticed you don’t list proper nutrition. What if we fed our children the same thing the same way for every meal? And what if we fed them the food in the pretty bag from Wal-Mart because we trust food manufacturers to know what is best for my child? We need more information from our vets on how to decide that we feed our pets!

  4. Avatar Of Canine Care canine care says:

    I have lots of problems with suggesting regular shots. Proof is out there they do more harm than good. All the info is on our website. Vets make money from shots. Research before doing shots and NEVER trust your vet on it — or meds. Please read on caninecare.org about it all/

    Some people meds are fine. Like your basic pink benadryl tablet (not other forms) also gas x and pepto bismal all in my pets arsenal.

    Microchips are another big business and more and more is coming out about them. Get a tatoo when you spay or neuter instead. Do the research before you get one. I have read so much on it (again info on caninecare.org) that I went to have the chip in my pet removed. NEVEr will I chip my pets again.

    Prevent parasites naturally by giving FOOD GRADE diatomaceous earth in your pets food a few times a week. Again that info on caninecare.org. Anything you see on this website cross check and you will find more info to confirm what you read on it.

    Top tips really should be

    after main 1st set of shot are complete (that is started from 12 weeks and completed at 18 months) your dog should be good for life. NEVER give a lyme shot.
    If in doubt do titers.

    Feed only human grade diet and people food IS good for pets if it fresh meats, legumes veggies and fruits. Just know what is bad for them and what to avoid. Whole foods makes for a healthy pet

    Keep your pet slim and fit, exercise is important

    Avoid rawhides and toys made from materials sourced in china.

    Avoid chemicals.

    All this an more on caninecare.org note nothing is sold on this website. Solely run by volenteers and vets who lost pets to cancer and food recall.

  5. I get pleasure from, lead to I found exactly what I used to be looking for.

    You’ve ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day.
    Bye

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