Routine dog and cat checkups are important in keeping your dog and cat in good health. Our Fairfield, NJ vets discuss why annual cat and dog exams are important.
Routine veterinary exams are important. They help your vet find issues early and treat them promptly, ensuring your pet lives and gives you excitement for a long time to come. Here are five reasons why these routine exams are important.
Check-Ups Can Help You Save Money
Early detection and treatment of diseases such as cancer can save you thousands of dollars in emergency and long-term medical bills. Treatment for Addison's disease, hyperthyroidism, periodontal disease, and obesity, for example, is less expensive if detected early.
Your Vet Can Uncover Problems
Cats and dogs can put on brave faces, but they can also conceal their discomfort better than humans. When you notice something isn't right, it's usually because they're in pain and can't hide it any longer. Like humans, cats and dogs have evolved to conceal pain and disease.
A veterinarian can inspect your pet in the same way that a mechanic can inspect your car. Your veterinarian is trained to detect subtle signs of disease or illness. Among them are changes in respiration, heart rate, eyes, and minor swellings. These symptoms could indicate anything from digestive issues to kidney issues to discomfort, cancer, and other conditions.
It Can Help Save Your Pet From Pain and Suffering
When your pet is healthy, the more time you spend with them, the easier it is to figure out what is wrong when they are sick. Early detection of growing disorders using blood, urine, and stool testing can help in determining and treating them before they become serious.
These diseases can include diabetes, hyperthyroidism, anemia, and even heartworms.
They Can Check Your Pet's Weight, and Check Them for Fleas and Worms
At each vet visit, your pet's weight will be recorded, added to their file, and, if needed, flea and worming medication will be administered on the spot. Most veterinary practices (including ours) make this process much easier for you by keeping track of these details.
Your Visits Can Act Like a Q&A Session
During a wellness check-up, you have the best opportunity to ask your veterinarian and veterinary technician questions. If you have a good working relationship with your veterinarian, you will be able to get answers to questions that come up in between consultations. If you only see your veterinarian in an emergency, there usually isn't enough time (or a well-established medical history) to ask more questions.