15 Interesting Facts About Pet Wellness Care The Words You've Never Learned
pet care at home for Your Pet
Health care is vital for your pet throughout its life, whether it's a puppy or an older animal. Puppy and kittens require regular checks to monitor growth and strengthen their immunity to common illnesses.
Pet insurance plans provide wellness insurance as a supplement. Wellness coverage for pets differs from pet insurance on several levels.
Vaccinations
Vaccines are among the most important advances in medicine. They are responsible for saving more lives than all other medical treatments. This is due to the fact that they stop diseases that would otherwise be life-threatening or cause severe and prolonged illness, suffering, and death. In the majority of cases, prevention is more cost-effective and effective than treatment.
Immunizations are an essential element of pet care and they can aid in preventing serious diseases in dogs and cats as well as humans. Vaccines contain microorganisms which have been altered or killed and then administered to the body in order to stimulate the immune response. Vaccines are a way to make the immune system identify and fight off diseases-causing organisms, without suffering the more serious effects associated with infection or illness.
Puppies and kittens must receive a full regimen of vaccines during their initial stages of development to build up a strong defense against infections. Our veterinarian will advise the appropriate vaccines for your pet based on its age and its lifestyle.
The primary vaccines are rabies distemper and parvovirus. They are vital for all cats and dogs as they guard against the ravages of infections that could be easily transmitted to humans. The core vaccines are administered in a series of two injections at the time of kittenhood or pup, and then boostered annually.
Non-core vaccinations are recommended according to the type of lifestyle and risk factors. Dogs who go to grooming and boarding kennels, training classes and dog parks, for example, may require vaccination.
All pets are generally advised to receive the Hepatitis A vaccine, as well as hepatitis B and C. These help to prevent a number of deadly diseases that could be passed on from animals to humans and vice to. A combination vaccine, also known as a A2PP or FVRCP for dogs and cats respectively, protects against most common infections that can be transmitted between these species. The lyme vaccination, recommended for dogs who live in areas with many deer, protects them against the bites from the deer tick, also known as the illegitimately called deer tick. It can lead to a severe bacterial infection.
Fecal Exam
A fecal examination, also called a fecal floatation, is a microscopic examination of your pet's stools. This will allow your veterinarian to identify intestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms. They can spread to your family members as well as other pets.
A fecal sample can be collected in a variety of ways. Your vet could use a special fecal sample loop which is inserted into the rectum and then pulled back to obtain an fecal sample. pet care website is particularly useful in identifying cysts and worms. Your veterinarian can perform the test directly by putting an amount of the sample on the microscope glass. This test comes with the disadvantage that it will only be reliable in the absence of celluloid or fat in the sample.
A centrifugal flotation test can be another method. The feces are mixed with a specific solution to test for parasite eggs. The eggs will rise, and they can be observed under a microscope. This method is more sensitive than direct smears however, the results depend on the details of the procedure and the particulars of the specimen.
The best way to make sure that your pet is not infected with intestinal parasites that may affect his health or spread to other pets and family members is to conduct annual fecal examinations. These conditions can cause discomfort to your pet, and could even cause more serious issues that require treatment. Some intestinal parasites, such as roundworms and hookworms may be transmitted to humans and pose a serious health risk.
It is important to include fecal testing in your pet's routine of well-being. It is recommended that all pets undergo an fecal test at minimum every year, and more frequently for puppies and those who live in environments that are conducive to parasites. Intestinal parasites can be a major cause of illness for pets and can cause diarrhea, weight loss and vomiting. In addition to detecting parasites the fecal test can also detect abnormalities in blood or other indicators that could be signs of disease or an ongoing infection.
Dental Exam
Pet dental care is an important part of wellness. Pet teeth can become infected without proper oral care and cause other health problems like bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. These conditions start when tartar forms on the teeth, and it affects the surrounding tissues. The buildup can be absorbed into the bloodstream and spread to other organs such as kidneys, the heart and liver. This could cause inflammation and increase the risk of serious diseases. Regular brushing at home as well as dental cleanings can help keep your pet's teeth clean.
During the dental exam, our veterinarian will evaluate your pet's mouth for evidence of tartar and plaque. He or she will use an instrument to remove the tartar that has accumulated and a periodontal probe to check the pockets under the gum line, where periodontal diseases begin. X-rays of the entire mouth are taken to examine the bone and roots of the teeth.
Dental exams should be scheduled at least every year, but regular exams are recommended for those at risk for dental disease or who have reached their senior years. In addition to a comprehensive physical examination, the vet will discuss your pet's diet, weight, and behavior with you. If you notice any changes in your pet, the vet will provide helpful information about the reason and suggest further tests or treatments if necessary.
Wellness plans can be a great option to save money and cover preventive treatments, such as dental cleanings and heartworm tests. These plans are similar to traditional pet insurance plans, however they reimburse for certain medical expenses, rather than covering an entire visit. Our veterinarians are more than willing to discuss the various plans and options with you.
Contact our Spring Hill veterinarians to schedule an appointment today! We can conduct an examination for wellness, update vaccinations, and suggest any other preventive measures your pet requires. We hope to see you soon!
Parasite Control
Parasites, whether internal or external, are the organisms that feed on your pet, and deprive her of essential nutrients. pet care products can also cause damage to her organs and body systems, resulting in various unpleasant symptoms. In extreme cases (such as heartworms) there are instances where these parasites could be fatal. Although many believe that parasites are a necessary part of being a pet parent, this does not necessarily have to be the case. Our veterinary team knows what parasites are prevalent in your region and can explain how they affect your pet.
The proper management of pet parasites can reduce the risk of spreading disease to humans and pets living in the home. This includes regularly administering preventative treatments for ticks and fleas all year long, wearing the tick collar as often as possible and grooming your pet regularly especially after she has been outside. Checking her coat for indications of an infestation like scratching, chewing and licking can aid in ensuring she is free of these pests that cause a lot of trouble.
Internal parasites such as tapeworms and roundworms are often acquired accidentally by ingesting parasite eggs that have been found in areas contaminated with the faeces of animals that have been infected. These parasites can also be zoonotic, which means they can be transmitted from pets to people (and reversed).
Ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas are most likely to be present in urban areas with large number of pets, however they can be found in homes in all areas. Fleas are known to cause severe allergic reactions and can transmit vector-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, Ehrlichia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Ticks can also be an issue in the sense of causing painful, itchy and allergic reactions in pets and the possibility of transmitting vector-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease and ehrlichia to humans.
At a minimum all shelter pets must receive a basic internal as well as external parasite control protocol at the time of intake. This should include prophylactic treatments with at least an oral dewormer that is effective against roundworms and hookworms as well as a flea and tick preventative (Nemex and Strongid are the most commonly used products).