Just like you, your pets need to have their health constantly monitored and double-checked.
You regularly floss and eat healthy to keep yourself in fighting shape. When you own a cat or a dog you have to take on the work of two people, providing them with the resources they need to feel their best. When your best still isn’t good enough? An emergency animal hospital can pick up the slack. Your local animal medical center is staffed with seasoned professionals that can provide you on-the-spot treatment for snake bites and useful know-how on applying back braces when the telltale sign of arthritis rears its ugly head.
Experienced pet owners and new pet owners, keep reading. Below are some useful tips on giving your pet the best possible chance at a healthy lifestyle.
Did You Know?
Before diving into the wide world of animal hospitals, learn a little more about the state of pet ownership in the United States. It’s estimated a whopping 38 million households today own cats. The number of households that own dogs is similar, to boot. Forbes Magazine recently did a poll that revealed over 90% of pet owners spend either the same amount or more on their pets during the recession period. Put simply, Americans love their furry friends and will go to great lengths to make sure they’re always happy.
Fleas, Ticks, Mites, Oh My!
While you won’t have to worry about this too much during the winter, you’ll still want to keep an eye out for these pesky parasites whenever you’re done taking your dog for a walk. The average flea can live for more than 100 days without a blood meal…and heaven help you if they’re a female flea! Able to lay more than 2,000 eggs in her lifetime, these remain some of the most stubborn issues your animal will run into during a typical year. Circumvent unreliable do-it-yourself techniques and visit a specialty vet to get rid of a flea infestation quickly.
Vaccinations For The Uncertain Future
You apply for your seasonal flu vaccine to lower your chances of getting seriously sick. You double-check with your physician to make sure there aren’t vaccines you could be missing out on. It’s important to give this same attitude to your cats and dogs so they aren’t faced with a nasty surprise out of the blue. It’s suggested by most of today’s veterinarians you bring your kitten or puppy in for vaccines every three to four weeks until they’re a robust 16 months old. Vets also recommend a twice-yearly check-up for older pets, to be on the safe side.
Buffing Out Those Cuts And Splinters
Sometimes you’re focused less on preventative care and more on a sudden injury when you’re out hiking. What do you do when your dog limps over with a splinter or you suspect an animal bite? Your emergency animal hospital will have all the resources you need and then some. While you might be tempted to save money and attempt to treat the wound yourself, you could run the risk of infection and put them at a worse spot for recovery. The emergency animal hospital is designed from the ground-up to give you reliable care as quickly as possible.
Embracing Animal Psychology Every Day
Here’s one more tip to set you off with. Animal health services aren’t just about removing ticks as they’re found or double-checking a vaccine. They’re also about ensuring your cat or dog is feeling loved, secure, and happy. Dogs should be walked on a regular basis and given plenty of opportunity to play and relax. Even your cats, aloof as they can be, need to be given toys and challenge to keep their minds sharp. Just like us, animals are capable of developing depressive episodes or learning bad coping methods when their needs are not met.
The signs of a pet emergency can be subtle and they can be overt. Make sure you let specialty veterinarian services at your local emergency animal hospital help you out.