Regular trips to your local animal clinic will help keep your family member healthy whether you have a dog, cat, or other pet. However, visiting the vet can be a daunting experience for some pet parents.
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to make your first visit easier. This article will go over some of the most important steps you can take to ensure your pet gets the care they need.
Exams
Visiting NW Hhouston animal clinic ensures your dog or cat stays healthy and happy. These yearly exams help your vet identify and treat potential illnesses and diseases before they become severe.
A wellness exam includes a history of your pet, a head-to-tail physical examination, and vaccinations based on your pet’s age and lifestyle. A fecal exam and intestinal parasite screens are also performed to prevent zoonotic diseases that can spread to people.
After the physical exam, your veterinarian will talk to you about your pet’s health and ask questions about your pet’s diet and lifestyle. These answers will help your veterinarian determine any dietary and lifestyle changes that could improve your pet’s health.
Your veterinarian will also listen to your pet’s heart and lungs with a stethoscope. They will also palpate the lymph nodes on your pet’s face, neck, armpits, and inguinal area (where the insides of the back legs meet the abdomen). The vet might use an otoscope to check the ears for ear discharge, redness, or odor.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are critical to the health of your pet. They stimulate your dog’s immune system to produce the necessary antibodies to fight off viruses and bacteria that cause diseases.
Your veterinarian will recommend a vaccination program that best protects your pet. These recommendations are based on your pet’s particular lifestyle, access to other animals or wild animals, travel to geographic locations, and the application of available vaccines.
Most pets receive initial vaccinations at birth, followed by booster shots every few years. As your pet ages, these shots become more important due to the declining immunity or immune suppression that can occur with aging.
Vaccines help keep your pet healthy and avoid expensive illnesses that can cause them to suffer or even die. They also reduce the cost of treatment. Many veterinary clinics offer low-cost vaccination clinics to help keep your pet healthy and happy.
Preventive Care
Regularly getting your pet in for routine exams and vaccinations is the best way to ensure they stay healthy. It can catch health problems early, which is more cost-effective than treating them after they’ve become serious.
It can also help your pet live longer by preventing ailments! The saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” most certainly applies to pets and their owners.
Preventive care for your furry friend involves an annual exam, vaccinations, and parasite control. The exact schedule will depend on your pet’s age and risk factors.
Vaccines are particularly important for dogs and cats to receive regularly. This includes parvovirus, rabies, and other vaccines that protect your pet from diseases that can affect humans.
Emergency Care
If your pet has a health emergency, getting them the treatment they need as soon as possible is important. The most common emergencies include traumatic injuries, shock, poisoning, and severe breathing problems.
The veterinary team at the animal hospital will rapidly assess your pet’s condition and assign priority of care to each problem. They may ask for a brief medical history and perform a physical examination of your pet.
Tracheal intubation (a tube placed into the larynx) is often performed for an emergency involving your pet’s airway. Oxygen can be given through this tube to help the animal breathe and prevent loss of life. Mouth-to-nose resuscitation and chest compressions are also part of this procedure.
