Improve Your Pet's Health & Save Costs with Preventive Care
If you're like most pet owners, the costs of pet ownership can sometimes get concerning, especially if you find yourself low on cash. Many pet parents end up postponing or skipping their pet's vet checkups to save money in the short term.
However, trying to reduce your monthly budget by delaying or cutting back on preventive care - including pet wellness exams, vaccinations, heartworm and flea and tick prevention, and deworming - doesn't just put your pet's health at risk; it also increases the chance of pet illnesses or health emergencies.
Investing in regular, ongoing, and timely preventive veterinary care for your cat or dog will probably save you money in the long term while giving your pet a good chance to enjoy a healthier, happier life.
Pairing visits to the vet with diligent at-home care in the form of routine dental care, exercise, and nutrition can further improve your pet's health and longevity while reducing the total cost of vet care over your pet's lifetime.
In this post, we'll discuss some specific areas to pay attention to.
Routine Wellness Exams
Have you ever looked at the calendar one day and been startled to realize that it's time for your cat or dog's veterinary checkup - again? You're not alone, and you may even debate spending the time and money to take your four-legged friend in, especially if they seem perfectly healthy.
However, your pet isn't able to tell you how they're really feeling. They may be experiencing pain or illness without displaying obvious symptoms that would alert you to their condition. Early detection and prevention are also key to timely, effective treatment of illness and disease.
Bringing your dog or cat in for a regularly scheduled wellness exam allows us to detect potential health problems early, when treatment is likely to be easier and less expensive, with the best chances of success.
For more information about wellness exams, read our posts titled, "Why Your Pet's Checkup is So Important" and "What to Expect During Your Pet's Wellness Exam".
Vaccinations
Having your pet immunized with vaccinations appropriate for their age, lifestyle, and risk level is one of the smartest investments you can make in your pet's preventive healthcare.
These vaccines prevent deadly illnesses such as rabies, feline leukemia virus, canine parvovirus, and distemper. The potential costs of treating these conditions are far more expensive than the cost of vaccines. In some cases, pet vaccines also protect your family and members of your household from disease.
Your veterinarian can tell you about core vaccines recommended for all cats and dogs and provide advice on any additional vaccines worth considering based on your pet's risk for other, less common illnesses.
Flea, Tick & Heartworm Preventives
Heartworm disease is so debilitating and potentially deadly that vets recommend having your pet tested annually. Year-round preventive care should also be a priority.
Read our post, "Preventing Heartworm Disease in Pets" for information about how dangerous heartworms are, and how parasite preventives can help protect your pet.
For information about fleas and ticks, see our posts titled, "How can I tell if my cat or dog has fleas?" and "Protecting Your Pet (And Your Family) From Ticks".
Our veterinarians recommend flea and tick preventives as a cost-effective method of controlling fleas, ticks, and heartworms year-round.
Dental Care
Bringing your pet in for regular dental cleaning and maintaining at-home dental care can save you money in the long term by reducing the risk of gum disease and other oral health problems, systemic infections, and organ damage.
For more information about dental healthcare for your pet, see our blog posts, "Dental Care for Cats: What You Need to Know" and "Signs Your Dog Needs Dental Cleaning".
Exercise
Just like people, your pet will benefit from regular exercise appropriate for their breed and age. Walking and playing fetch with your dog can yield mental and physical health benefits for both you and your pup.
Nutrition
Pet owners often struggle with veterinary nutrition issues, such as how much to feed their pet. Overfeeding is a common problem and can cause health issues such as obesity, which is related to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, and arthritis due to joints having to support more weight than they should.
While it may feel daunting to try to find answers for your pet health and nutrition issues on your own, our vets in Parrish are here to help. We offer nutritional counseling to arm you with the knowledge you need to help keep your pet in great health, with a well-balanced diet.
Following a consultation that will include an exam and questions about your pet's diet, our vets can recommend the right diet plan for your pet.
Spaying & Neutering
In addition to preventing unwanted pregnancies, spaying or neutering your pet also offers other benefits for your pet's long-term health and happiness. Having this procedure done can also reduce undesirable behaviors such as spraying, along with aggression and the desire to roam outside of your house or yard.
Additionally, it can reduce the risk of mammary tumors and prostate disease.
Pet Wellness Plans at Ellenton Animal Hospital
We understand that most pet owners would love to prioritize their pets' health above financial concerns. However, as essential as regularly scheduled preventive care can be to keeping your pet healthy, it can sometimes be a challenge to manage these recurring expenses.
This is why we offer Pet Wellness Plans that 'bundle' all the preventive services that keep your pet healthy during the year into one easy monthly payment plan that helps you save money and balance your budget.
Our Pet Wellness Plans for cats and dogs cover all the important aspects of health your pet needs to thrive, including annual and six-month wellness exams, core vaccinations, bloodwork, and heartworm testing. They also include a fecal exam and a 12-month supply of tick, flea, and heartworm prevention medications.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.