Pets, like people, require regular medical check-ups to stay healthy. Puppies, kittens, and senior pets especially need to see their veterinarian frequently to keep them happy and healthy, whereas adult pets with no chronic diseases generally need only an annual check-up. However, each pet has individual requirements to ensure they experience a great quality of life.

A proactive approach to your pet’s health care will reap you and your furry companion innumerable benefits. Here are four of the top reasons you should not skip your pet’s next wellness visit.

#1: Regular wellness care keeps your pet healthy by preventing disease

Infectious disease prevention is the primary goal of pet wellness care. During your pet’s wellness visit, we will discuss their lifestyle and potential risk for infectious diseases and parasites. Pets who stay strictly indoors and do not interact with other animals typically require only core vaccinations, while pets who spend time outside, visit pet-friendly businesses, and stay at boarding facilities will need extra vaccinations that protect against a wider disease range.

Parasite prevention is also key to preventing serious illness in your pet. Again, we will recommend the most effective parasite prevention plan for your pet based on their lifestyle and exposure risk and help keep your furry pal—and you—safe from vector-borne diseases.

#2: Regular wellness visits can catch health issues early

Catching diseases in their early stages is another goal. Wellness screening tests are designed to detect changes in your pet’s health status before they cause serious problems. Over time, we will establish a baseline of their normal values from their annual results, and catch subtle abnormalities that can signify a disease process is beginning.

Examples of regular wellness visits catching early stage disease include:

  • Physical exam — During the oral exam portion of your pet’s physical exam, we may notice reddened gums and yellowish-brown tartar accumulation on the teeth. Your pet may not have shown any problems with eating, drinking, or toy-chewing problems at home, because dental disease often causes no significant issues until the disease has advanced and damaged the tooth and its supporting structures. By identifying early stage dental disease (i.e., gingivitis, tartar), we can schedule a comprehensive dental cleaning before teeth become damaged, loose, or lost, and cause substantial pain and widespread infection.
  • Blood work — Standard wellness blood work includes two tests—a complete blood count (CBC) and blood chemistry panel—that quantify and evaluate red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and organ function. By conducting these tests at your pet’s annual wellness visits, we can identify subtle changes in the results over the years that indicate potential problems. 

For example, senior cats often develop chronic kidney disease and typically show no clinical signs until about three-quarters of kidney function is lost. However, steady increases in kidney enzymes can be seen early in the disease process, and earlier when a test specific to kidney function is performed. 

Customizing your pet’s wellness screening tests to their risk potential for disease provides a safety net of sorts that can catch health issues in the earliest stages and allow for more effective, easier, and less costly treatment.

#3: Regular wellness care saves you money

The adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” certainly holds true about your pet’s wellness care. Budgeting each year for preventive care services, such as vaccinations and screening tests, can help keep your pet healthy and prevent serious disease for minimal cost compared with emergency care. 

For example, vaccinating your growing puppy appropriately can prevent parvovirus, which is a potentially fatal disease that attacks the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow. Treatment consists of intensive nursing care and round-the-clock hospitalization that can cost thousands of dollars, and your puppy may still succumb. However, life-saving vaccinations cost a fraction of the price.

#4: Regular wellness visits guide your pet’s health care 

Your pet’s wellness visits also allow us to offer guidance and recommend the best health and wellness support. For example, we can recommend the best diet for your pet’s particular nutrition needs, schedule a dental cleaning to eliminate oral bacteria, or instruct you on helping your furry pal reach and maintain a healthy weight. By offering advice tailored to your pet’s current health status and potential disease risk, we can better support their health and quality of life for longer.

Is your four-legged friend due for their next wellness visit and vaccinations? Don’t forget to schedule their preventive care appointment with our Stanton Pet Hospital team to ensure your pet’s long-term health and happiness.