Things You Won’t Hear From Your Veterinarian
What do you need to know about taking care of your pet? It's not enough that you pay a yearly visit to the vet. They do help maintain health and well-being for your cat, dog and other pets, but there's so much more you can do.
Here are a few things your pet doctor won't tell you:
1. Your pet is overweight. About 40 percent of pets in the U.S. can lose some weight. Obesity in pets is a leading cause of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and skin inflammation. Pet owners have websites that will guide them in knowing the presence or absence of body fat. Ideal body weights vary within breeds but there are general indicators of an overweight pet like not being able to feel their ribs, the presence of a pooch in the side of their abdomen and shortness of breath.
2. You can check with a vet before buying or adopting a pet. Owning a pet is a big decision. You should think about whether you are financially and emotionally capable of caring for a pet both in health and sickness. Consult with a vet and discuss your work schedule and family life to make sure you have enough time to care for a pet. You should also know that some breeds can have more medical problems than others.
3. It's important to monitor closely your pet's symptoms. Around seventy percent of the vet's diagnosis is based on getting a good history and getting the correct information out of pet owners. Vomiting and regurgitation are two different things. So are upper respiratory coughing and lung coughing. Make sure you take careful notes when you notice anything unusual in your pet.
4. Even indoor pets should wear a collar. All pets must have an ID collar. And if your pet likes roaming the neighborhood or wandering away, try having a microchip implanted for extra security.
5. It is usually better to have pets neutered. That gives cats 92 percent less chances of developing develop breast cancer. Think about the approximately 4 million dogs and cats that are euthanized each year simply because there are not enough homes for them, too.