We care deeply about our pets and want to ensure that they are always happy and healthy. Our Las Vegas veterinarians are sharing pet care tips today to help you give your cat or dog the best life possible.
Tips For Taking Care of Your Pet
We all adore our pets, and it is critical that we provide them with the high-quality care they require and that all of their requirements are met. Our Island Pet Hospital veterinarians have compiled a list of tips to assist you in caring for your furry animal companion.
Bring Your Pet For Routine Exams
A healthy adult cat or dog should see their vet once a year for a routine wellness exam (pet checkup) to make sure they don't have any illnesses or diseases or catch them early when they are easier to treat. Young or senior pets and animals that have an underlying medical issues may have to see their veterinarian more frequently.
Your veterinarian will examine your pet's overall health, ensure that their vaccinations are current, recommend preventive care products, and inform you of your pet's nutritional and exercise needs during these visits. These visits ensure that your pet has the best possible chance of living a long and healthy life.
Provide Your Cat or Dog With a Healthy Diet
There are numerous advantages to feeding your pet a diet that contains all of the nutrients they require, including strengthening their immune system, keeping their coat shiny, keeping their skin healthy, maintaining their intestinal health, increasing their mental acuity, keeping their muscles and joints in good shape, and more.
If you aren't sure what type of food to feed your pet ask your veterinarian, they will be able to recommend the types of food that will be best for your cat or dog.
Help Your Pet Maintain a Healthy Weight
Obesity can shorten your pet's lifespan, and even a few extra pounds on their waistline can put them at risk for diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and more. When you bring your cat or dog in for a routine checkup, your veterinarian will weigh them and tell you what their ideal weight is.
Your vet can tell you how many calories your furry friend should be consuming every day, so you will be able to know how much you should be feeding your pet at every meal. In addition to this, you also need to provide your cat or dog with enough exercise every day to help them maintain a healthy weight.
Keep Vaccinations Up to Date
Another important thing you need to do to keep your pet healthy is ensuring their core vaccinations are provided on schedule and kept up to date. Vaccines help protect your cat or dog from a range of serious often life-threatening diseases and illnesses, and some vaccinations such as the rabies vaccine are mandatory by law in most states.
Your cat or dog's vaccination schedule will vary depending on their health and where you live, but they should begin receiving their first round of shots when they are 6 to 8 weeks old. Inquire with your veterinarian about which vaccinations your pet requires and when you should bring them in for their shots.
Get Your Furry Friend Spayed or Neutered
Not only does having your cat or dog fixed prevent unwanted litters, but it also prevents a variety of dangerous conditions and undesirable behaviors like roaming, territory marking, howling, scooting, and animal aggression. Your veterinarian will be able to tell you when your pet should be spayed or neutered based on their opinion.
Care for Your Pet's Teeth
Like people, cats and dogs are at risk of getting various dental conditions such as periodontal disease and tooth decay if they aren't provided with proper dental care. This is why it's very important to keep your cat or dog's teeth and gums clean by brushing their teeth, providing them with dental chews or treats, and bringing them to the vet annually for regular oral health exams and hygiene cleanings.
Keep Your Cat or Dog Well Groomed
To avoid painful knots, mats, and skin conditions, make sure you keep up with their grooming needs. Each cat and dog breed has its own grooming requirements, with longer-haired breeds requiring more grooming than shorter-haired breeds. Brushing, bathing, and nail trimming are all examples of grooming. We recommend writing down how often you should groom your animal friend in your schedule or calendar; your veterinarian can inform you of your pet's specific needs and recommend the best tools to use.
Always Supervise Your Pet
While you may believe you are doing your pet a favor by allowing them to roam freely, it is always best to keep an eye on them and be aware of their whereabouts. By keeping an eye on your pet, you can avoid car accidents, fights with other cats or dogs, being kidnapped, predation, ingesting harmful substances (such as poisons, toxic plants, or dangerous foods), and being exposed to serious contagions, and more.
If you have a cat you may want to keep them as an indoor companion, or if you have a dog you can keep them on a leash, in a fenced backyard, or supervised at a dog park.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.