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Tips For Keeping Your Pet Healthy

As pet owners, we all want our pets to live long and healthy lives. Owners can ensure that their pets stay healthy by implementing preventative measures into their daily routines. According to the AVMA, the cost of prevention is often a fraction of the cost of treating disease or a problem once it has become more advanced. Here are 10 preventative care tips to help you and your pet live a long, healthy, and happy life together:

1. Annual Exams

Even if your pet is not showing signs or symptoms, annual exams are a big part of your pet’s preventative care routine. Regular check-ups and wellness exams can help detect issues before they become something more serious.

2. Parasite Prevention

Parasites such as fleas, ticks, and heartworms can negatively affect your pet’s health. Ensuring that your pet is on preventative medication can help avoid contracting diseases that these parasites spread.

3. Watch for Allergies

Pets can have allergies, too! Their allergies can be seasonal, yearlong, or situational. From food to their environment (pollen, grass, etc.), it’s important to be aware of any symptoms your pet starts showing.

4. No Poisonous Plants

If ingested there are plants that can cause reactions ranging from mild nausea to death. Tulips, lilies, daffodils, sago palm, and carnations are a few that are poisonous to pets. Here is a full list of plants that are potentially toxic to pets.

5. First Aid Kit

In the case of minor injuries, bites or cuts, it’s nice to have a pet first aid kit, handy. Basic medical supplies can help to stabilize your cat or dog before you are able to visit the vet.

6. ID & Microchipping

With summer around the corner, you’re likely to spend more time outdoors with your pet. Ensuring that your pet has proper identification and microchipping will help you locate them if they were to get lost.

7. Regular Grooming

Having your pet groomed regularly is not just about beauty, but also allows for detection of lumps, bumps, and unwanted parasites.

8. Proper Nutrition

High-quality pet foods allow for a balanced diet which is critical to your pet’s overall health. As pets age, they often need less calories in their diet to help prevent them from becoming overweight. Consult your veterinarian to see what the best for your fur baby, as every pet is different.

9. Green Cleaners

Some cleaning products have toxic chemicals which can be lethal to pets.  A few toxic ingredients include ammonia, chlorine, glycol ethers, and more. Here is a list of toxic and unsafe ingredients often found in popular cleaners, as well as some safe alternatives.

10. Plenty of Exercise

Not only does exercise help with behavior problems for dogs, but it also helps to keep your dog happy and healthy. It can help with weight management, digestive issues, and more!

Summer appointments are booking up fast! Have you scheduled your pet’s wellness exam? Book your pet’s appointment, today!

SOURCES
Vet Street
ASPCA
Dogster
Pets.WebMD