It is safe to say pet owners want what is best for their furry family members. We buy them toys, the food we think is best, shower them with love and affection and try our best to keep them healthy. However, it is all too easy to overlook a very important part of your pet’s health routine, yearly vet visits. That’s right, most vets recommend that they see your dog or cat at least once a year! 56% of Millennial pet owners say that they fall short of that suggestion, and here are a few reasons why that should change.
The benefits of yearly vet visits
Like anything in life, vet visits cost both time and money, so why should you spend those taking Fido or Fluffy to the vet every year? Here are just a few reasons it’s worth the investment:
One of the largest benefits is that it can SAVE you money in the long run, spotting health issues in your pet early can help you prevent expensive surgeries in the long run. Early hip issues, parasites, dental issues etc. can all be spotted by a keen eyed vet quickly and then plans can be put in place.
Your pet’s weight can also be an important factor in their health, and your vet can help you determine if they are getting a bit heftier than is healthy. 60% of cats and 56% of dogs are overweight or obese, meaning your pet is likely at an unhealthy weight! Your vet can help you come up with a diet and exercise plan for your pet, saving you and your pet difficulty down the line!
Shots Shots Shots
Just like you or I, your dog or cat can benefit from vaccinations, designed to prevent diseases. Many of these vaccines need regular upkeep, conveniently every 365, which is part of the reason the vet wants to see your pet so often! Your pet’s health aside vaccination paperwork is needed for a lot of activities you may want your pet to participate in. Don’t let your pooch or cat miss out or get sick just because you don’t want to take your pet to the vet!
General Advice
Taking care of pets, young and old, can be difficult for any pet parent, and we could all use a little advice from time to time. Your vet can be a well of advice on nearly any subject, from behavioral issues (Tevra Pet’s own Vet recommends our new NO! NO! Correction Spray for behavior issues by the way) to proper diet. However your vet cannot recommend courses of action unless they know you or your pet!
Just like visiting a human doctor can be scary, a vet visit isn’t topping any lists of the best ways to spend a Saturday afternoon, it’s important for pet. It can lengthen your pet’s life and may bring you and your pet closer together if that’s even possible! So if you haven’t taken your pet to the vet in the past year, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone, for you and your pet!