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As a pet owner, it is natural to want to do everything possible to keep your beloved family member happy and healthy. True Care Veterinary Hospital shares this goal with you. That is why we place an emphasis on preventative care.
Preventative care is a proactive type of pet care that aims at preventing and addressing problems early rather than trying to fix them once they are present. Read on to understand the benefits of several commonly recommended preventative pet procedures.
The Spay or Neuter
The mother of all preventative pet procedures is the spay or neuter. Spaying or neutering your pet has many health benefits. Allowing us to perform these procedures can:
- Prevent unwanted litters of puppies/kittens
- Decrease unwanted behavior issues such as aggression and urine marking
- Prevent pets from escaping and roaming
- Eliminate the risk of certain cancers
- Decrease the risk of other cancers, including mammary cancer
- Decrease the male dog’s risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Eliminate the female’s risk of pyometra, a life-threatening uterine infection
Allowing us to complete these procedures as part of a pet wellness routine can add valuable, enjoyable years to your pet’s life We recommend that most dogs and cats be spayed or neutered around six months of age, however it is never too late to have this preventative pet procedure done.
Preventative Dental Care
Your pet’s dental care is also extremely important. Dental care is possibly one of the most overlooked aspects of pet care. We brush our teeth several times a day, visit the dentist a few times a year, and most of us still end up having an issue or two during our lifetime. Pets are no different, yet some of them go their entire life without any dental care at all. According to a study done by the American Veterinary Dental Association 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of dental disease by the age of three.
While a good dental home care routine is vital, prophylactic tooth cleanings under anesthesia are also important. Unchecked, the accumulation of plaque and tartar on the teeth can lead to:
- Inflammation and destruction of the tissues that support the teeth, resulting in periodontal disease.
- Oral pain
- Loss of teeth
- Infection
- Bad breath
- Damage to other organs like the liver, heart, and kidneys due to inflammation and infection
Many pets never show signs of a problem until it is too late. This is why preventative dental cleaning procedures are so important. Often this is the best time for us to do a thorough oral examination and take dental x-rays if needed. This way we can perform any necessary dental surgery such as tooth extractions during the same procedure as required.
Preventative pet procedures such as these are often the most effective way to literally add years to your special companion’s life. True Care Veterinary Hospital is happy to be a part of this. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns, we are always here to help.