As we know “prevention is better than cure.” When it comes to your pet’s health that is certainly true. Having annual testing done is essential to care for your pet’s health and to catch any illnesses before they have a chance to become more serious.
Our pets are wonderful at making us feel better and they can instinctively know when we are feeling under the weather. However, for us humans, it can be more difficult to know if our pets have any hidden illnesses. More often than not, we only realize when there are obvious signs and symptoms.
Annual preventative care will involve a physical exam and testing your pet’s blood, urine, and fecal matter. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that cats and dogs have annual checkups.
Annual Preventative Care for Early Disease Detection
When you take your cat or your dog for an annual checkup, your vet will, first of all, perform a physical examination to try to detect early signs of serious illness. Very often, it is difficult for pet owners to notice these signs.
Your vet may also ask you about changes to your pet’s habits. For example, you may have noticed that your pet dog has started drinking more water. That could be a sign that he might be developing diabetes. Or, if there is a buildup of tartar, it might be time to have his teeth cleaned before he starts losing them.
The vet will also check your pet’s weight to make sure that your pet isn’t becoming obese. Carrying around too much weight is just as bad for pets as it is for humans. If there are weight issues, then your vet can suggest a plan of action to reduce the weight.
Tests for Preventative Care
Your vet may also arrange for various tests to be carried out. Some of the tests the vet could arrange are:
- Blood Tests. These can show if your pet has heartworms. Heartworms can interrupt the normal flow of blood and cause damage to the heart. Blood tests will also show if there are the proper amount of red blood cells which can indicate if there are some infections. A blood test will also show if the internal organs are functioning properly.
- Urine Tests. Urine tests will show if the kidneys and bladder are working properly. This will also show early signs of diabetes.
- Fecal tests. Testing your pet’s poop is a way to check for life-threatening viruses and if your pet’s immune system is working properly. Also, the poop will show if there are problems with parasites.
Although a visit to your local vet can sometimes be associated with stress for both you and your pet, it is an essential way that you can care properly for your pet’s health.