Preventative care is essential for catching health issues early, preventing disease, and ensuring a happy, healthy life for your pet.
As a pet parent, your furry companion’s well-being is a top priority. Just like humans, pets benefit from regular medical care, which helps them avoid serious illnesses and stay healthy for years to come. Preventative care is essential for catching health issues early, preventing disease, and ensuring a happy, healthy life for your pet. At Alexander Animal Hospital, we believe that a proactive approach to your pet’s health makes all the difference. Here’s how key aspects of preventative care, including fecal exams, heartworm prevention, and flea and tick prevention, can protect your pet’s health.
Fecal Exams: Identifying Hidden Threats
Fecal exams are one of the most important yet often overlooked parts of preventative care. These exams help veterinarians detect parasites, bacteria, and other gastrointestinal issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. Common parasites like roundworms, hookworms, and giardia can severely impact your pet’s health, leading to symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and lethargy.
Tip: Regular fecal exams—at least once a year or more often for young pets—allow for early detection and treatment of these parasites, preventing them from causing serious harm to your pet’s digestive system.
Heartworm Prevention: A Lifesaver for Your Pet
Heartworm disease is a serious and possibly fatal condition caused by parasitic worms that live in the heart and lungs of pets. It’s transmitted by mosquitoes, and once your pet is infected, the treatment can be lengthy, difficult, and expensive. Prevention, however, is simple and highly effective.
Tip: Give your pet a monthly heartworm preventative as recommended by your veterinarian. This can be in the form of a chewable tablet or topical treatment. Regular testing for heartworms is also essential to catch any signs of infection early. Prevention is far easier—and less stressful for your pet—than treatment.
Flea and Tick Prevention: Keeping Pesky Pests Away
Fleas and ticks are more than just a nuisance. They can carry diseases like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and tapeworms, which may cause severe health issues for your pet. Fleas can also lead to allergic reactions and infections from excessive scratching, while ticks can transmit serious illnesses to both pets and humans.
Tip: Year-round flea and tick prevention is the best way to protect your pet. There are various options available, from oral medications to topical treatments and flea collars. Check with your veterinarian to determine the best method for your pet. Remember to check your pet regularly for any signs of fleas or ticks, particularly after spending time outdoors.
A Lifelong Commitment to Health
Preventative care is a lifelong commitment to your pet’s health. Regular vet visits, combined with at-home care, can help extend your pet’s life and ensure they remain jolly and active for years to come. At Alexander Animal Hospital, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Contact us today to schedule your pet’s next preventative care appointment and ensure they’re protected from common health risks. Your pet deserves the best care possible—and with preventative measures, you can make that happen!
Support Your Pet’s Wellness at Alexander Animal Hospital
Alexander Animal Hospital is a full-service animal hospital located in Severna Park, Maryland, serving the Severna Park, Pasadena, and Arnold Areas. Our goal is educating clients on the needs of their pets and understanding the importance of individualized veterinary care in order to strengthen the human-animal bond between owners and their pets.
We understand you have a choice when deciding on the care for your pets, and we strive to provide you with unparalleled services including wellness exams, vaccines, lost pet microchip ID, dental care, surgical services, digital radiography, and in-hospital laboratory services and diagnostics. Other highlights of Alexander Animal Hospital are the separate cat and dog waiting and exam rooms, as well as after-hours on-call emergency services.
Please take a look around our website and then give us a call at 410-777-8678 to set up an appointment. We’re social! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for all the latest updates!