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Wellness Care for Your Pet

No matter if you're a puppy or an older pet, taking care of your wellness is vital throughout the lifespan of your pet. Puppies and kittens require routine checkups in order to monitor their growth and increase their immunity.

Pet insurance plans often offer pet wellness coverage as an added benefit. However, pet wellness coverage is quite different from pet insurance in a variety of ways.

Vaccinations

Vaccines are among the most important advances in medicine and are credited with saving more lives than other medical treatments. This is due to the fact that they stop diseases that could 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 a crucial aspect of pet care and can prevent serious illnesses in cats and dogs as well as humans. Vaccines are the preparations of dead or altered microorganisms introduced into the body to activate the immune system to react to invaders. Vaccines are a way to train the immune system to recognize and fight pathogens that cause disease without having to suffer the more serious effects that come with an illness or infection.

Kittens and puppies must receive a full regimen of vaccines during their initial stages of development to strengthen their defense against infectious diseases. Our veterinarian will recommend the right vaccines for your pet based on its age and lifestyle.

Rabies, distemper and parvovirus are regarded as the most important vaccines. They are considered to be essential for all cats and dogs since they guard against deadly infections that are easily transmissible to people. The primary vaccines are administered in two injections at the age of a kitten or puppy, and then boosters every year.

Non-core vaccinations may be recommended depending on lifestyle and risk factors. For instance, dogs that go to groomers, boarding kennels training classes, and dog parks might need to be vaccinated against bordetella (kennel cough) which is extremely infectious, as well as leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease that can cause liver and kidney failure in pets as well as humans.

All pets are usually recommended to receive the Hepatitis A vaccine as well as hepatitis B and C. They help keep out a range of deadly diseases that could be passed from animals to humans and vice from one to the other. A combination vaccine, called a DA2PP or FVRCP for dogs and cats respectively, protects against the most prevalent infectious diseases that can be transmitted between the two species. The lyme vaccine, which is recommended for dogs who live in areas with many deer, protects them from bites from the deer tick, also known as the illegitimately called deer tick, which can lead to a severe bacterial infection.

Fecal Exam

A fecal examination, sometimes known as a fecal floating, is a microscopic look at your pet ownership's stools. This allows your vet to detect intestinal parasites like whipworms, roundworms and hookworms, and giardia that are not easily diagnosed and could affect your pet's health. They can infect family members and other pets.

A fecal sample can be obtained in several ways. Your veterinarian may employ a specially designed fecal sample loop that is placed in the rectum, and then pulled back to get a sample. This technique is particularly useful in identifying worms and cysts. Your veterinarian can also conduct a direct smear which involves spreading a small amount your pet's feces onto the microscope slide. This type of test has the disadvantage that it will only be reliable if there is no celluloid or fat in the sample.

A centrifugal flotation test is another method. The feces are mixed with a specific solution to check for eggs of parasites. The eggs will flounder and can be observed under microscope. The benefit of this method is that it's more sensitive than a direct smear, however, the results are still dependent on the procedural details and specimen attributes.

The best pet (visit site) way to ensure that your pet isn't suffering from intestinal parasites that may affect his health or spread to other animals and family members is to perform annual fecal tests. These conditions can be uncomfortable for your pet, and may cause more serious health issues that require treatment. Certain intestinal parasites, like hookworms and roundworms can be transmitted to humans. This poses a serious health risk.

Fecal testing is an important and simple part of your pet's wellness routine. It is recommended that all pets have a fecal examination at least every year, and more often for puppies and those living in environments that are conducive to parasites. Intestinal parasites are a major cause of illness for pets that can cause diarrhea, weight loss and vomiting. The fecal tests can detect parasites as well as blood or other abnormalities that could be signs of disease or infection.

Dental Exam

Dental care for pets is an important part of wellness. If you don't take care of your oral health teeth of pets could become infected and lead to other health issues like bad breath, tooth decay and even gum disease. The conditions begin when tartar forms on the teeth and affects the surrounding tissues. The buildup can also move through the bloodstream to organs like kidneys, the heart, and liver. This can cause inflammation and increase the risk of developing serious illnesses. Regular brushing at home as well as dental cleanings help keep your pet’s teeth clean.

During a dental examination our veterinarian will look over the teeth of your pet for evidence of plaque and tartar. The vet will use the tool for scaling to remove the tartar, and an instrument to look for pockets under the gumline where periodontal diseases begin. X-rays of the entire mouth are taken to examine the bone and roots of the teeth.

Dental exams are recommended at least once a year, but more frequent exams are advised for those with a higher risk for dental disease or who are in their old age. The vet will also talk with you about your pet's weight, diet and behavior. The vet will provide you with information on any changes that you may notice in your pet and may recommend additional tests or treatment if necessary.

Wellness plans are a great way to save money and cover preventive treatments, such as dental cleanings and heartworm tests. These plans are similar to traditional pet insurance, but they pay for medical expenses that are pre-determined instead of paying for an entire visit. Our veterinarians are more than pleased to discuss the various plans and options with you.

Contact our Spring Hill veterinarians to schedule an appointment today! We can perform a wellness exam or update vaccinations, and suggest any other preventive measures your pet safety tips needs. We are looking forward to seeing you soon!

Parasite Control

Whether of the internal or external kind, parasites are a variety of organisms that feed off your pet, robbing her of essential nutrients. They can also cause damage to her major organs and body systems, resulting in many uncomfortable symptoms. In extreme cases, some of these parasites (such as heartworms) could even cause death. While many people assume that parasites are a normal part of being a pet's parent but this doesn't have to be the situation. Our veterinary team knows what parasites are prevalent in your region and can explain how take care of pets they affect your pet.

Responsible natural pet care parasite management will reduce the chance of spreading disease to humans and pets living in the home. This means administering preventative flea and tick treatment throughout the year, using collars to keep ticks away, and grooming your dog often, especially after she's been outdoors. Inspecting for signs of parasite infestation that include chewing, scratching, or licking will help to ensure that your pet is not afflicted with these pests.

Internal parasites like roundworms and tapeworms are usually acquired by accident through the ingestion of parasite eggs that were found in areas contaminated with excrement from animals suffering from infection. These parasites are also zoonotic. This means they can be passed from animals to humans (and in reverse).

Ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas are more likely to be present in urban areas with large pet populations, but they can be found in homes in all locations. The fleas can trigger severe allergic reactions in pets and also transmit vector-borne illnesses such as cat scratch disease (Bartonella), Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ticks can also pose an issue in terms of causing painful itchy, and allergic reactions in pets and potentially transmitting vector-borne diseases like Lyme disease and ehrlichia to humans.

At minimum all pets in shelters should be provided with a basic internal and Best Pet external parasite control program at time of intake. This should include prophylactic treatments with a minimum of an oral dewormer that's effective against hookworms and roundworms as well as a flea and tick preventative (Nemex and Strongid are most commonly used products).