Pets are the best companions that one can have. When it comes to keeping your pet healthy, you will be happy to know that many steps go into this process. You have to look out for certain things when it comes to ensuring your pet’s overall health.
The following tips will help you keep your beloved furry friend healthy.
Regular Veterinary Check-ups
Like you, your pet might suffer from heart disease, arthritis, and toothache. An annual visit to your veterinary clinic in Nigeria is the most excellent method to avoid or detect such problems early on. Regular examinations are the essential method for keeping pets healthy. In addition to nutrition and weight control, annual vet appointments should include necessary immunizations, parasite treatment, a dental exam, and health tests.
Parasites Prevention
Fleas are the most frequent external parasite seen on pets and can cause skin irritation, hair loss, hot spots, and illness. Fleas may potentially transmit additional parasites to your cat or dog. It just takes one flea for your pet to become infected with tapeworms, the most prevalent internal parasite afflicting dogs and cats.
The Key is year-round prevention. Regular flea and intestinal parasite management and heartworm prevention are essential in endemic regions. Because some parasite treatments designed for dogs can be lethal to cats, consult your veterinarian about keeping your cherished pets safe from worms and fleas.
Keep a Healthy Weight
Numerous canines and felines are overweight or obese. And similar to humans, obesity in pets poses health hazards such as diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. According to Douglas, overfeeding is the most significant cause of obesity, and keeping our pets slim can add years to their lives. Consult your veterinarian, who may provide feeding recommendations based on your pet’s age, weight, and lifestyle.
Vaccinate regularly
Pets require frequent immunizations against diseases such as rabies, distemper, feline leukemia, and canine hepatitis for maximum health. Please consult your local vet about the immunizations that make sense for your dog or cat based on age, lifestyle, health, and risk factors.
Provide a Rich Environment
Your canine and feline companions’ long-term health and happiness depend on their environment. Mental stimulation is required for pets, including regular walks for your dog and scratching posts, window perches, and toys for your cat. It means playtime with you, which keeps your pet’s muscles toned and prevents boredom, and develops your relationship with your four-legged friends.
Neuter and spay your pets
Every year, over eight to ten million dogs end up in shelters in the United States. Some are lost, some are homeless, and some have been abandoned.
Spaying and neutering your cats and dogs is an easy method to avoid adding to this number. It is a treatment that can be performed on infants as young as six to eight weeks old.
In addition to reducing the number of unwanted pets, spaying and neutering have significant additional benefits for your cat. Studies indicate that it also lessens the risk of certain malignancies and decreases a pet’s propensity to wander, minimizing its danger of becoming lost.
Microchip and tattoo your pet
Without identification, as few as 14 percent of lost pets return home. Fortunately, microchipping and tattooing can help reconnect the pet with its owner. A microchip, around the size of a rice grain, is implanted under the skin in less than one second. It requires no batteries and may be scanned in seconds by a veterinarian or animal control officer.
Pet dental care
Your pet can also have gum disease, tooth loss, and dental pain. And similar to you, frequent brushing and oral cleanings assist in maintaining your pet’s healthy teeth. Dental disease is one of the most prevalent preventable ailments in pets, although the mouths of many pets are never examined. It is estimated that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats exhibit signs of dental illness by the age of three, resulting in abscesses, loose teeth, and chronic pain. In addition to regular dental cleanings by your veterinarian, periodontal disease can be prevented by owners who practice proper dental hygiene. The dental care of the owner comprises brushing, mouth rinses, and dental treats.
Don’t use human medicines for your pets
Human medicines can be fatal to your pet. In 2010, the ASPCA ranked human medications among the top 10 pet poisons. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen are the most common causes of pet poisoning, although antidepressants, decongestants, muscle relaxants, and acetaminophen are all hazardous to pets’ health. Ingestion of human medications can result in kidney damage, seizures, and cardiac arrest in dogs and cats. Call your veterinarian if you suspect your pet has ingested your prescription or anything hazardous.
A Vehicle’s Appropriate Restraint
You strap up for safety in the car; shouldn’t your pet do the same? Unrestrained pets in a vehicle are a distraction to the driver and can endanger both the driver and the pet. To keep dogs safe in transit:
- Never permit pets to ride in the front seat, where they risk severe damage or death if the airbag deploys.
- Do not allow dogs to ride with their heads out the window or unrestrained in the truck bed. In the event of an accident, both procedures place individuals at risk of being flung from the car.
- To ensure your pet’s safety, place cats in carriers and fasten the carrier with a seatbelt. A customized harness attached to a seat belt is available for dogs, as is a safe kennel.
Conclusion
A healthy pet is a happy, comfortable, and well-adjusted companion. If you want your pet to stay healthy and live a long, happy life, it’s essential to recognize how to care for pets properly. Be sure to ask your vet about anything that might be unclear, and ensure you follow the advice given to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. We hope this article has helped shed some light on what to expect regarding your pet’s health and how you can do your best to keep them happy, healthy, and safe.
If you need more information on how to keep your pet healthy, schedule an appointment with your Innova veterinarian to discuss your concerns.
