11 Things Vets Wished Pet Owners Knew

Just like regular doctors, veterinarians are vital to the health of pets. While these animal doctors know how to treat all types of animals, there are a few things that most vets wish their patients' families knew. It’s not enough to drop a pet off at the vet and hope for the best. There are many things that you can do on a regular basis to keep your pets healthy and happy and to make the vet’s job easier.

1. Schedule Regular Exams

Just like people, pets need regular physical exams to ensure they remain healthy. Yearly exams help pets live longer and can actually save money in the long run by treating minor illnesses before they turn into major ones.

2. Avoid Self-Diagnosis

Don’t try to diagnose a pet’s illness. Symptoms can point to a variety of diseases or illnesses. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

3. Have Pets Microchipped

Even the most well-behaved pets can wander or run away. A simple microchip is affordable and can help a shelter or vet locate the owner of a pet.

4. Focus on Nutrition

Animals need proper nutrition to stay healthy and lean. A complete and balanced diet can help ensure longevity and prevent your pets from getting sick.

5. Act Quickly

When a pet is sick or showing signs of distress, call a vet quickly ~ don’t wait to see if the sickness passes. Some illnesses can turn into life-threatening emergencies very quickly if you don’t address them immediately.

6. Ask Questions

A vet can’t read minds. Ask questions and communicate the level of care expected when a pet is in distress. Vets won’t order unnecessary tests and don’t know how far you will go to achieve optimal care for your pets. Ask questions and understand all of the options available.

7. Pay Attention to Dental Hygiene

Poor dental care can make a pet miserable, leading to problems with the heart and kidneys. Both dogs and cats need regular dental X-rays to reveal hidden problems.

8. Banish Fleas and Ticks

Both ticks and fleas can carry a host of diseases and make pets miserable, especially if they are sensitive to these pests. Fortunately, year-round flea control is easy and can prevent additional trips to the vet.

9. Consider Insurance

Veterinarian visits aren’t cheap. Insurance can help you pay for treatments and allows you to accept the most advanced care for your pets. By using insurance, you can take advantage of treatment options that might have been out of reach financially.

10. Small Animals Need Checkups, Too

Even rodents and other small animals need regular checkups. Hamsters and rats need regular dental exams to prevent the overgrowth of teeth. It’s easy to spot front teeth that get too long, but back teeth are often the problem.

11. Keep Medications Out of Reach

Just like children, pets are notorious for finding things and gobbling them down or putting them in their mouths. Keep both over-the-counter and prescription medications out of reach of pets to avoid overdose or illness.

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Raven Hannah is a self-described animal whisperer, lifelong pet parent, and owner of HolisticPetsAndPeeps.com & TheGiftedPet.com. She is certified as a holistic consultant, aromatherapist, Reiki practitioner (for animals and people), and pet nutritionist. She encourages others to celebrate animals as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled! 

When Raven isn’t busy being a slave to her very demanding senior cats or helping her favorite rescues with fundraising projects, she is most likely working on growing her businesses and raising awareness in an effort to make this world a better place for all creatures.

February Is National Pet Dental Health Month!

Does your fur kid have dental disease? If your dog or cat is over the age of two, then the answer is “highly likely”.

It’s February, which means it’s also National Pet Dental Health Month! If you’re wondering why the awareness campaign lasts for a whole month, it’s because periodontal disease is the most commonly diagnosed disease in dogs and cats. Veterinary dentists will tell you, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over the age of two have some form of periodontal disease.

That number may seem awfully high, but unfortunately it’s also accurate. Plaque and tartar accumulate on our pet’s teeth just like it does on our own, but the vast majority of pet parents don’t brush their companion animal’s teeth twice a day. Or even once a day. (It’s OK to admit it, you’re in good company). By their second birthday, your fur kid is basically fully grown. And far too many of these adults have never had their teeth brushed.

“But his teeth look fine!” you might protest. That very well may be true. However, plaque (the gummy film that forms on a pet’s teeth within hours of eating) isn’t obvious to the naked eye. Over the course of several days it combines with minerals to harden into tartar. Over weeks and months, this tartar builds into a thick brown stain. Often referred to as “yuck mouth”, there are less familiar technical terms for it (such as Stage IV periodontal disease, the worst level). With routine care and attention, you should be able to prevent them from ever experiencing that stage.

Evaluating a pet kid’s teeth and gums begins with a visual inspection. I call it “flip the lip” because you really need to lift that lip up to view the back molars, which is where the really bad buildup occurs. During the visual exam, we check for tartar, any anomalies (like extra or missing teeth), and for gum inflammation. We also check for any unusual masses. Two of my dogs have had oral melanomas, both discovered during routine exams.

Even if you regularly brush their teeth, they will eventually need a full cleaning at the veterinarian. This dental cleaning will often include x-rays of the mouth, a vital component of an oral exam. Bone loss, where the root is diseased below the gum line is more common than many realize.

Cats suffer a unique condition that makes x-rays even more crucial. Three quarters of cats over the age of five suffer from tooth resorption, a painful condition where the body reabsorbs the protective dentin covering on a tooth, leaving the root exposed. The cause is unknown, and it can affect just one or many teeth. The worst part is, the entire lesion may be below the gum line, resulting a normal-looking crown but with a terribly painful root. The only treatment at that point is extraction of the affected tooth. As stoic as felines are, even the most observant pet parents won’t see any evidence of this problem. Scary, right?

The concept of “anesthesia-free dentistry” has become very popular over the years, but I would caution you to know its limitations. We anesthetize our fur kids because that is the only way we can be thorough in our examination, clean underneath the gum line where much of the bacteria and plaque reside, and extract teeth if necessary. I have seen many dogs and cats at my clinic just weeks after an anesthesia-free cleaning who are still suffering from significant dental disease. If you do use this option, just know that while it may remove tartar and plaque from the visible surface of the tooth, it does not provide the health benefits that a full cleaning under anesthesia would.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, treat your companion animal to the gift of health! Many veterinary clinics offer special deals or packages during the month of February, so if you’ve been putting off that dental cleaning, there’s no time like the present to schedule an appointment. And be sure to check out the Life’s Abundance dental-health products discounted for the month of February in celebration of National Pet Dental Health Month. We’re offering these great products at their reduced Autoship prices (up to 18% off retail!): Gourmet Dental Treats, Turkey & Berry Chews, and Buffalo Bully Sticks!

By making just a couple of improvements to your care regimen, you could help to add years to your fur kid’s lifetime.

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*Article excerpted from our Life's Abundance Blog and Dr. Jessica Vogelsang