Pet Health Tips: Preventive Measures for a Happy, Healthy Pet
Who doesn’t want a happier, healthier pet? Bowman Veterinary Hospital is your dedicated partner in animal care. Helping Sacramento pets live their best life is what we do, and pet preventive care is where it’s at. Keep reading for our top tips for a healthy pet.
Healthy Body
Focusing on keeping your pet’s body strong and healthy is the foundation of a healthy pet. Things that make a big difference include:
- Feeding a healthy diet that is appropriate for your pet’s nutritional needs
- Providing fresh, clean water at all times
- Providing daily exercise to foster physical fitness
- Helping your pet maintain a healthy body weight
- Keeping your pet’s fur and skin mat free and clean
- Trimming toenails as appropriate
- Making sure ears are clean and free of debris
- Providing a good home dental care routine
It is also your responsibility as your pet’s caretaker to notice when they are a bit off. Having a good knowledge about your non-human family member’s normal habits and behaviors can help to alert you when something is not right. The sooner you notice an issue and contact us, the sooner we can help.
Healthy Mind
Mental health is just as important for our four-legged friends as it is for us humans. Providing a mentally stimulating and secure environment is key to keeping our California pets healthy and happy.
So how can you support pet mental health?
- Provide a safe environment for your pet to thrive
- Encourage daily physical exercise
- Allow social interaction with people and other animals as tolerate by the pet
- Supply safe and fun toys (consider rotating these)
- Encourage activities that stimulate the brain such as training sessions, games, and interactive toys
- Recognize and ask for help with mental health issues such as anxiety
Pet Preventive Care
A good pet preventive care plan involves focusing on a few key areas. Our expert team is here to help you with:
- Routine wellness examinations: Scheduling visits for wellness care at least annually can help prevent and catch problems. Routine physical examinations give us the opportunity to notice subtle changes and discuss concerns in a timely manner.
- Screening testing: It is so much better to catch a small issue before it becomes a problem. Routine testing for parasites, infectious diseases, overall organ function, and health is an important part of pet health.
- Spay and neuter services: For many pets spay or neuter at an appropriate age can help support overall health. Your pet’s veterinarian can discuss timing.
- Dental care: Not only do clean teeth smell better, but pet dental health is an important component of good, proactive pet care. Routine oral exams and anesthetized cleanings are a part of any animal’s wellness plan.
- Vaccination plans: Vaccinations provide an important opportunity to prevent serious diseases. A personalized vaccination recommendation plan is made for each pet.
- Parasite prevention: Prevention recommendations against infectious agents like fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites, and heartworms can make a big difference in a pet’s health and longevity.
Pet preventive care starts at home and continues here at the veterinary hospital. Please feel free to ask us any questions you have about your pet’s care.