Part of being a good pet owner is making sure that your furry best friend is not only happy, but also healthy. Good food, proper grooming, and exercise are all key factors there, but proper veterinary care also plays a critical role. Keeping up with preventative care can make a huge difference to your pet’s health and well-being! A Champions Forest, TX vet goes over some of the basic aspects of this below.

Annual Blood Work

Having those blood panels done every year can make all the difference in the world. Getting your four-legged friend’s blood work done annually allows your vet to have a baseline to refer to, which can make it easier to spot and monitor changes. Those tests may also reveal abnormalities caused by developing medical issues, sometimes long before symptoms develop. That can make a huge difference as far as treatment options and outcomes.

Intestinal Parasite Screening

Keeping Fido and Fluffy up-to-date on flea and tick preventatives can definitely go a long way towards keeping them healthy. However, fleas and ticks aren’t the only parasites that can endanger your furry friend. It doesn’t take much for parasites to take hold: pets can get infested simply by drinking out of—or even walking through—puddles, coming into contact with an infested pet, or eating plants and leaves at the park.

Heartworm Testing

Heartworms are one of the most deadly parasites that can infest your furry friend. Left untreated, heartworms will take up residence in pets’ hearts, lungs, and arteries, and can interfere with the function of these vital organs, which often proves fatal. This is one area where an ounce of prevention can be worth several pounds of cure! Given that, unfortunately, some strains of heartworms are becoming resistant to the preventative products, keeping up with those tests is especially important.

Core Vaccinations

Making sure your furry pal is current on vaccinations is also critical. The rabies vaccine is considered core for both cats and dogs. Fido will also need to be protected from canine parvovirus, distemper, parainfluenza, and canine hepatitis, while Fluffy should be vaccinated against feline herpesvirus 1, feline calicivirus, feline panleukopenia virus, and feline leukemia virus. Your vet may also recommend non-core vaccines, such as bordetella and/or canine leptospirosis vaccine. Ask your vet for more information.

As your Champions Forest, TX pet hospital, we’re here to help. Contact us anytime!