Welcome to my blog on pet health!
In this article, we will discuss the most common health issues that pets face and how to prevent them. As pet owners, it’s important to be aware of these issues so that we can keep our furry friends healthy and happy.
Dental Problems
Dental problems are one of the most common health issues that pets face. Over 80% of dogs over the age of 3, and between 50-90% of cats over 4, live with dental disease 1. It’s not always easy to remember to brush your pet’s teeth, which is the best way to prevent dental disease, but regular dental care is important. Without regular dental care, food and bacteria turn into plaque, which hardens into tartar. This irritates the gums, causing inflammation and gingivitis that can affect the entire body—not just your pet’s mouth. Dental treats and water additives can make a big difference if you simply can’t stick to a brushing routine. Yearly dental cleanings, like the ones recommended by your own dentist, are the other big step you can take to protect your pet from dental disease.
Obesity
Obesity is another common health issue that pets face. It can shorten the length of your dog or cat’s life and lead to a host of health problems from arthritis to heart disease 1. We encourage all pet parents to keep their furry friends on a balanced, nutritious diet. Daily exercise is also essential as it helps keep your pet mentally stimulated, limber, and happy to boot.
Parasites
Parasites are another common health issue that pets face. The most common parasites that plague pets are heartworms, fleas, and ticks. Fleas cause significant skin discomfort and even allergic reactions in some pets. Ticks can transmit diseases that’ll affect your pet for life. Heartworm disease is one of the most dangerous and expensive parasitic infections to treat, so heartworm prevention is incredibly important 1. Contact us today if you need flea, tick, and heartworm preventives for your pet.
Allergies
Our pets can’t talk, but they can sure scratch, lick, nibble, and sneeze. If your pup or kitty is doing a lot of any of these things, bring them in for a checkup. They might be coping with allergies to pollen, mold, dust mites, fleas, or even something in their food. With allergy testing and treatment, we can get to the bottom of those sniffly snuffles so your pet can feel better again 1.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a common pet health issue, especially if they are aging or overweight. The earlier we spot the signs of arthritis, the better your pet’s prognosis will be. With supplements, pain management, and extra TLC, your pet can continue to enjoy life with you, arthritis and all 1.
We hope this article has been informative and helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. Thank you for reading!
