If you have a pet, you are more than familiar with taking it to the vet for regular check ups, scheduled appointments, and even emergency visits. Here’s the 5 Most Common Reasons people visit the vet.
Skin Allergies & Ear Infections
Some pets who have a lot of hair in their ears are often prone to ear infections when yeast builds up in the warm and moist area. Be sure to check and clean your pet’s ears regularly and groom excess hair in order to prevent these types of infection from occurring.
Skin allergies can also lead to repetitive scratching. This can introduce bacteria into your pet’s ear or disturb the natural balance of their skin. This can be triggered by the type of food your pet eats, poor grooming, hot spots from collar rubbing, or elemental exposure. If your pet its scratching a lot, get it checked it out!
Gastro-intestinal Problems
This is a broad category that includes vomiting, diarrhea, and not eating. While one missed meal isn’t always an issue, if problems persist, it’s important to take your pet in before it gets worse. If you ever see blood in the stool or vomit, they should be seen right away.
You can lower the risk stomach problems by sticking to a regular diet and avoiding feeding you pet table food. Pancreatitis, parvovirus, and foreign bodies are life threatening, and delaying treatment can only make things worse for your pet. If they still won’t eat, are lethargic, vomiting or having diarrhea for more than 24 hours, then it’s time to take them to the vet.
Bad Breath/ Teeth Issues
Brushing teeth is a great preventative measure for future dental problems. You should start when they are young to at least get them used to having hands in their mouth and the feeling of brushing. You’ll want to use an enzymatic pet toothpaste since human toothpastes can damage the enamel of your pets’ teeth, and use a child’s size soft bristled toothbrush. When it comes to dental extractions, it can be expensive because your pet needs an anesthetic – it’s better to brush than to be stuck with problems in the future!
Limping
If your pet starts to limping, you should certainly have them checked out if the problem lasts more than a day. Be sure to keep them on a leash and limit excessive exercise and jumping so they don’t over-do it and make things worse. Commonly, the problem can be traced back to a sprain/strain and may recover with time. Other times limping could be caused by arthritis that comes with age. Medications, along with keeping them at a good body weight, can also help alleviate discomfort.
Vaccines & Check-ups
Vaccines are a common reason people take their pets to the vet, but ideally you should visit the vet annually for a check-up. The examination is the most critical part of the visit as it allows the opportunity to assess your pet’s total body health, find problems before they become more serious, and discuss the things you should be monitoring or watching for as your pet gets older.