It’s Pet Wellness Month! Of course, here at Oak Hill Animal Hospital, we’re always concerned with pet wellness. Here, a Covington, GA vet offers some tips on keeping your furred, feathered, or scaled friend happy and healthy.
A proper diet is the starting point for any good pet care regimen. Offer your animal companion a high-quality, nourishing food, one that’s appropriate for their age, weight, health, and lifestyle. As far as treats, just stick to safe ones and don’t overdo it. Ask your vet for specific advice, including tips on portion sizes, safe and unsafe foods, and, of course, snacks.
Part of keeping your pet in good condition is keeping them safe. This means being vigilant about potential dangers, such as toxic plants, wires and cords, and small or sharp objects. The exact things you’ll need to address will depend on what sort of pet you have, and where you live. Someone with a fenced yard will need to address issues like toxic plants, while someone in a third-floor apartment may be more concerned about making sure their screens close securely.
It’s always better—not to mention cheaper and easier—to protect your animal companion from dangerous parasites and diseases than it is to treat issues once they’ve arisen. Keep up with your pet’s vaccines and parasite control!
Regular exams are very important! These may reveal minor changes in your pet’s health which could signify a developing medical issue. It’s always beneficial when issues are caught and treated early on. Most pets should come in at least once a year. However, some need more frequent visits. Ask your vet to recommend an appointment schedule.
Pets need to stay active, just as people do. Dogs will benefit from daily walks and play sessions. Cats and smaller pets will need toys, as well as things to climb and explore. Of course, this also varies from pet to pet. A reptile may like basking rocks and climbing branches, while a sugar glider would be thrilled with a hammock.
In order to keep your pet healthy, you need to be able to recognize signs of illness. Do plenty of research! This is especially important for people with exotics and reptiles, as their care needs aren’t as well-known as those of dogs and cats.
As your Covington, GA animal clinic, we’re here to help! Call us anytime!
