When was the last time you took your cat or dog in for a wellness examination? If it’s been over a year, you should schedule an appointment with your local animal hospital as soon as possible. Contrary to popular belief, pets need annual preventative care more than humans do. Since they age quicker, the onset of health problems can also occur more rapidly. If it’s been a while since your furry friend has seen a vet, O’Fallon Veterinary Medical Center of Missouri explains some of the benefits of annual checkups.

A Guide to Caring for Your Pet

1. Wellness Exams

Physical examinations can detect a wide variety of health issues that are not immediately noticeable. Based on their history and a study of their eyes, ears, mouth, skin, abdomen, and coat, vets can determine whether your pet has a tumor, deterioration or loss of vision, a heart murmur, or bacterial infections. Finding these conditions early allows your veterinarian to treat them before they progress and inflict greater harm.

2. Parasite Prevention

To ensure your pet doesn’t get infected from heartworms, fleas, and ticks, an animal hospital can provide them with the proper medication and treatments to prevent parasites from latching on. Your vet can also create a special regimen for your dog to follow based on their environment. 

3. Screenings

Veterinarians also take blood tests and urinalyses to check for various problems, including heartworms, tick-borne disease, and organ failure. It’s important to get these done annually, or more frequently if issues are detected. If possible, a check for intestinal parasites should be done yearly, as these can spread to humans and other animals.

4. Immunizations

Vaccinations protect your pet from a host of infectious and potentially deadly diseases and parasites, including parvovirus, rabies, kennel cough, and feline herpesvirus. Your animal hospital will strongly recommend core shots on a schedule, and optional ones might also be suggested based on your animal’s lifestyle and environment.

5. Recommendations

After all the testing, examinations, and treatments, your vet can offer you advice on how to keep your pet healthy and living as long as possible. They may suggest insights about the best nutritional approach and exercise options depending on your pet’s weight, age, current health, and checkup diagnoses. If you have concerns about moods or behaviors, they’ll gladly provide tips for improvement.

For expert preventative care, take your pets to O’Fallon Veterinary Medical Center. This animal hospital has all the services your cat or dog needs to stay on top of their health, including spaying and neutering, surgeries, and immunization. You can trust their staff to be compassionate and up-front about everything from your pet’s needs to the cost of treatment. To set up an appointment, contact their office at (636) 272-3100, or visit them online.