When you bring your pet in for a routine pet checkup you are providing them with the best chance at a long and healthy life by monitoring them for potentially preventable diseases. Our Montecito vets discuss routine vet checkups and how to plan for your pet's preventive care exam.
Why Is Routine Preventive Care Important For My Pet?
Preventive care is an incredibly important part of your pet's routine care as vaccines and parasite prevention help to protect your pet against various conditions and diseases which can be potentially life-threatening to your pet.
Even when your pet may seem to be in perfect health it is important to be consistent with routine care in order to prevent your pet from being affected by dangerous diseases.
Dog or cat checkups can help to discover, diagnose and treat illnesses caused by various diseases before they become serious allowing your pet the best chance at a full recovery.
How often should I bring my pet in for preventive care?
Typically your vet will recommend annual dog or cat checkups in order to assess the overall health of your pet and provide necessary preventive care. If your pet is very young or old or suffers from any health conditions then your vet may suggest that your pet has routine pet checkups more frequently.
It is very important that your pet receives preventive care through vet checkups, vaccinations and parasite prevention in order to protect against various serious and life-threatening diseases and conditions that are entirely avoidable.
What are some of the things that are addressed during a routine wellness visit?
Once your vet has had the opportunity to perform the physical portion of the pet checkup they will then focus on the preventive care portion of the visit. Some aspects of preventive care that a preventive care pet checkup in Montecito may address are:
- Diagnostics (e.g., heartworm testing, FELV/FIV testing, fecal examinations, etc.)
- Parasite prevention and treatment
- Vaccinations
- Microchipping
- Reproductive counseling (e.g., spay/neuter)
- Discussing a preventive care plan for your pet
Why are vaccines important?
Vaccines are a crucial part of your pet's long-term health care plan. Vaccines help to prevent your beloved pet from contracting and transmitting dangerous diseases that could be detrimental to not only their health but to the health of your family as well as other pets within your home.
Our vets recommend that all pets receive the core set of vaccines in order to protect them against the most common infections in the Montecito area. Our vets can also recommend a series of lifestyle vaccines for pets that spend time in social settings such as the groomers or at a boarding facility.
Once your pet is an adult your vet will recommend that they receive routine care that includes regular pet checkups as well as parasite prevention in order to provide your pet with the best chance at lifelong health and wellness.
Why is parasite prevention important?
In the Montecito area there are parasites such as heartworm and ear mites that have the potential to cause serious and life-threatening conditions in your pet. During your dog or cat checkup, your vet will ensure that your pet is up to date on parasite prevention in order to best protect your pet.
By providing parasite prevention for your pet you are protecting them from a variety of diseases including:
- Heartworm disease
- Lyme Disease
- Anaplasmosis
- Babesiosis
- Ehrlichiosis
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
What are the costs associated with preventive care?
Bringing your pet in for routine preventive care is a necessary cost associated with the care of your pet. While it may not make sense to bring your pet to the vet when your pet is not experiencing any illness, our vets in Montecito can assure you that the cost is worth it. Routine preventive care can protect your pet from serious diseases that could end up costing you far more than routine care.
As well as saving you money in the long run, preventive care helps to protect your pet from the pain and discomfort of potential diseases.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.