DEDICATED TO THE CARE OF YOUR PET

Wellness Exams for Your Pets

For millions of health-conscious Americans, the annual checkup has become a routine practice. Like people, dogs and cats can benefit from routine wellness exams too. But with one important difference - pets age faster than people.

On average, most dogs and cats reach adulthood by age two, says Dr. Marty Becker, a veterinarian and consumer spokesperson for National Pet Wellness Month, an educational initiative sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association and Fort Dodge Animal Health. By age four, many pets are entering middle age. And by age seven, most dogs, particularly larger breeds, are entering their senior years.

Because dogs and cats age seven times faster, on average, than people, significant health changes can occur in a short amount of time. And, the risks of cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, heart disease, metabolic problems and other serious conditions all increase with age.

Many pet owners are not aware that taking a dog or cat to the veterinarian once a year is the same as a person seeing their doctor or dentist once every seven years, says Dr. Becker. He recommends pets have a wellness exam every six months so that veterinarians have the opportunity to detect, treat or, ideally, prevent problems before they become life-threatening.

"Prevention is the real goal of twice-a-year wellness exams," says Dr. Becker. "When veterinarians see a pet on a regular basis, they can help pets avoid some preventable illnesses and diseases. Plus, a pet will never have to suffer from pain that could be treated or prevented by the veterinarian."

Pet wellness exams include screenings for a variety of potential diseases. These screenings are usually accompanied by an individualized risk assessment of your pet's environment - where you live, emerging disease risks in your community, your pet's interaction with other pets and wildlife, travel plans, and other lifestyle considerations.

Pet wellness exams also help your veterinarian determine a proper prevention program, including a vaccination schedule tailored specifically for your pet. By using personalized pet health protocols, veterinarians can pinpoint specific preventive health care needs for your pet. Information about the pet aging process, disease prevention and twice-a-year wellness exams is available through the National Pet Wellness Month Web site at www.NPWM.com.

A pet owner's best source for wellness exam and preventive health care information is their personal veterinarian. "Only your veterinarian knows your pet's medical history, current health status, and potential risks your pet faces," says Dr. Becker.

Protect yourself. Protect your pet.

Here are some tips for keeping your pet (and in turn, your family!) pest-free.

• Brush your pet after each outing.

• Use tick/flea treatments or medications as recommended by your veterinarian to kill fleas and ticks on your pet.

• Ask your veterinarian how you can protect your pet from Lyme disease through vaccination.

• Cut or mow tall brush or grass where your pet plays.

• Do daily “tick checks” on yourself, pet and children.

• Use tweezers to remove any ticks you find, and apply antiseptic to the affected area.

• Vacuum your house and wash your pet's bedding regularly to remove flea eggs and larvae.

Article courtesy of the National Pet Wellness Council

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