It starts with that first veterinary visit: the physical exam, the vaccines, the flea/tick and heartworm preventative options, the recommendations regarding spaying or neutering, the diet questions. There is much to consider when deciding how to care for your four-legged family member. Preventive care is a key aspect of maintaining health and longevity.
Routine wellness exams are at the heart of preventive medicine. During these visits, there is a conversation regarding medical history and any health concerns that you may have for your pet. Manageable diseases such as periodontal disease and obesity can be discussed, and a plan formulated. It is common for animals to show little to no signs of illness until the condition has become severe. Routine exams can, therefore, act as early detection, catching subtle abnormalities sooner to help increase longevity and maintain a positive quality of life. These wellness visits are also an opportunity to ask your veterinarian any pertinent questions that you may have. It is recommended that wellness exams be performed at least once per year.
Vaccines prevent potentially life-threatening diseases. The core vaccines for dogs include distemper, parvovirus, and rabies. For cats, the core vaccines are rabies and feline distemper. These vaccines are considered core due to the prevalence and severity of these diseases, and in the case of rabies, the additional risk of transmitting this fatal disease to humans. The primary elective vaccines for dogs are Lyme, leptospirosis, bordetella, and influenza; for cats, feline leukemia virus. The decision regarding whether or not to administer elective vaccines is based upon the risk of exposure for the individual animal, depending on his or her lifestyle.
Understandably, there is often concern regarding the potential for adverse reactions to vaccines, as well as to flea, tick and heartworm preventatives. A study conducted in 2005 that surveyed over one million canine medical records found that the percentage of dogs who develop a vaccine reaction is around 0.4%. Generally, this risk is much lower than is the risk carried by the diseases against which the vaccines protect. The same holds true for flea, tick and heartworm preventatives. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association recommend continuing flea, tick and heartworm prevention year-round. Fleas and ticks, both of which carry serious diseases, can be found in the Hudson Valley even in the depths of winter, and heartworm disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, is becoming increasingly prevalent in the Northeast as well.
In addition to safety, cost is another important factor when making decisions regarding preventative care. As a general rule, disease prevention is significantly less expensive than the cost of treating or managing the disease. A lifetime of heartworm prevention costs less than treating one episode of heartworm disease and carries far fewer risks. Vaccinating a dog for parvovirus over the course of his lifespan is exponentially more cost-effective than is the hospitalization necessary to try to save the life of a puppy infected with this virus, and is much more likely to yield a successful outcome.
Veterinarians are aware that the options regarding preventive veterinary care can be overwhelming and stress-inducing. Your family veterinarian will be happy to guide you in determining the best plan for your pets to keep them happy and healthy for as long as possible.
Should you have any questions, comments or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us by phone at 845-876-6008, or by e-mail at [email protected].
Thank you for choosing us to be part of your pet's healthcare team!
With warmest regards,
Your friends at Rhinebeck Animal Hospital