Preventative Healthcare for Cats and Dogs

Taking a proactive approach to your pet’s health care can help prevent disease, improve their quality of life, and even prolong their life.

Several things can be done when it comes to preventative health care, and as well as avoiding illness, the aim is to ensure your dog or cat remains active, happy, and thrives.

Why Does Preventive Care Matter?

Catching medical issues promptly, before they advance, can make therapy more effective and keep treatment costs down. As the old saying goes, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’

Investing in the proper preventative healthcare is generally economically beneficial for owners. A great example is when we spay a female before they develop a pyometra surgery.

A spay surgery tends to cost a few hundred pounds, but the cost of treating an infected uterus can be a thousand pounds or more. Similarly, vaccines are very affordable, but the cost of hospitalising and treating a patient with Parvovirus can be very high.

Some owners feel helpless when their pets age, but the truth is that there are a number of ways we can help both young and older cats and dogs. This article discusses some of preventative healthcare's most influential and vital aspects.

Routine Veterinary Check-Ups

As vital as it is to check your pet over at home regularly, this will never replace a check-up with an experienced vet.

Vets offer specialised services in feline and canine healthcare; their priority is your pet’s wellbeing.

Frequency

Generally, most young and healthy pets will be seen once a year. This allows a vet to update them on their vaccines and parasite prevention and do a ‘nose to tail’ check.

However, check-ups should be more regular for those with any underlying medical issues or who require ongoing medication. We also want to see senior pets more frequently, at least twice a year.

Physical Examinations

A physical exam should be the cornerstone of any check-up, and it should be done alongside talking to the owner about the pet’s medical history and current concerns. Most pets are easily examined, though some require restraint or even calming medication.

By checking the animal all over, a vet can detect issues that are easily missed at home. These can include recent weight loss, a sore tooth, cataracts, or arthritic changes in joints.

Diagnostic Screenings

Though we tend to think of diagnostic testing as something done when an animal has symptoms, we are now moving more toward performing diagnostic screenings.

This is especially the case in older pets, who are more likely to be coping with undiagnosed underlying medical issues.

For some of the medical conditions we screen for, signs can be subtle and are easily missed during the early course of the disease. This can include high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, proteinuria (the presence of protein in the urine), and early kidney disease.

Vaccinations and Parasite Prevention

The world around our pets is sometimes out to get them! Given how they like to sniff about outside and eat all manner of things, they put themselves at high risk of infection and parasites.

Vaccine reactions are infrequent but can occur. Signs can include swelling of the face, trouble breathing, collapse, and the development of hives. Contact an emergency vet right away if you’re concerned about a reaction.

Core Vaccinations

Starting from 8 to 9 weeks of age, pets no longer get the maternal antibodies they need for protection from their mother’s milk, so it is time for modern medicine to take over.

At this age, kittens and puppies start a vaccine course, and they then require boosters every year or so throughout their lives.

For some diseases, owners may opt to get an antibody titer test to check antibody levels via blood in case they have high enough antibody levels that a booster vaccine would not be needed that year.

Non-Core Vaccinations

Some non-core vaccinations include Kennel Cough in dogs, Chlamydia in cats, and the Rabies vaccine for animals travelling internationally.

Certain individuals only require these vaccines at certain times in their lives.

Parasite Control

Parasites such as intestinal worms, protozoa, fleas, ticks, and lungworms can all cause your pet to become very unwell and lead to a range of unpleasant signs, including:

• Chronic diarrhoea
• Weight loss
• Skin infections
• Coughs
• Sore joints
• Increased tendency to bleed

Given the high risk of exposure our pets face (especially those fed a raw diet or who spend a lot of time outside), it is generally recommended that they receive routine prevention on a schedule.

Neutering

Neutering is usually a good idea, as it reduces the risk of certain cancers (including mammary and testicular cancers) and prevents pyometra (uterus infections) and scrotal torsions from developing.

In cats, it dramatically reduces the risk of wandering and also makes fights far less likely.

However, neutering may not be the right choice for every pet and is always worth discussing with your vet. An anxious male dog, for example, may benefit from keeping his testicles and the testosterone they produce.

Nutrition and Weight Management

A lot of research has been conducted to discover that weight management can significantly increase both lifespan and quality of life. Though it is not always easy to keep our pets slim, it is our responsibility to help them eat correctly and get the exercise they need.

If your pet suddenly goes off their food, this is a concern, and it is best to reach out to your vet.

Balanced Diet

The correct diet for your furry friend will depend on a range of factors, including their age, breed, and lifestyle.

The best food for a young Retriever will not be right for a geriatric Chihuahua. Also, consider that you'll need to change your pet’s diet as it enters its senior years. The easiest way to keep your pet well-fed is to offer a complete dog or cat food.

Portion Control and Feeding Schedules

The aim is to have a body condition score of about 4 out of 9 and for this to be consistent over the pet’s lifetime.

For those prone to being overweight, it can help to weigh out portions and feed them on a schedule. However, other pets (particularly some active cats), do fine with graze feeding.

Supplements and Special Diets

Those who consume commercial pet food will generally not need us to alter their diet plan much. However, depending on their medical needs, we may consider supplements such as joint care, probiotics, and skin supplements.

For pets with specific medical issues, prescribed diets may be required. This is the case, for example, for those with chronic liver disease, kidney failure, and food allergies.

Dental Care Practices

Oral hygiene is often overlooked, resulting in pets with significant dental disease in their senior years.

Importance of Oral Hygiene

With good oral hygiene, we can potentially prevent the need for teeth to be extracted over the pet’s life.

This also means we reduce the risk of chronic oral pain and excessive bacteria buildup, which can lead to infections within the body, including the liver and respiratory tract.

Home Care Tips

The best thing we can do from home is to brush our pet’s teeth daily. This is usually achieved with a finger (for smaller pets) toothbrush and tasty pet-safe toothpaste.

Products that can be added to food and water to reduce plaque buildup are also available.

Professional Cleanings

Many of our patients need one or two cleanings under anaesthetic throughout their lifetime to remove calculus that has slowly built up and to remove any teeth that are causing pain.

Smaller breeds have less space in their mouths, making periodontal disease more likely.

Exercise and Mental Stimulation

Not only do regular exercise and mental stimulation reduce stress and prevent obesity, but they also support cognitive ability and can slow down the progression of dementia in older pets.

Exercise Guidelines

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to exercise, and you’ll have to tailor your pet’s plan to their needs, accepting that their abilities change with age.

Try to maintain a consistent daily routine, and avoid overdoing it on weekends or holidays, as this can strain muscles and joints.

Mental Enrichment

Offering new pet entertainment is essential, particularly for those who may spend limited time outside, such as house cats.

This can include interactive toys, food puzzles, mini-training sessions, cat trees, scratch posts, and even exercise wheels for cats.

Indicators of Insufficient Activity

A promising sign that your pet is bored or under-stimulated is that it is developing nuisance behaviours.

These can include incessant barking, digging, or furniture chewing in dogs or inappropriate toileting and excessive meowing in cats.

Some pets, rather than using up their energy to do other things, may become lethargic and depressed when bored. You might notice they sleep more and are less engaged when interacting with you.

Recognising Early Warning Signs of Disease

Monitoring your pet closely allows you to be its best advocate and to bring any concerns to its vet before they worsen.

Behavioral Changes

Some of the more subtle behavioral changes we see that can indicate underlying issues would include changes in sleep patterns, altered personalities, and reluctance to play or go outside.

Physical Symptoms

Look out for anything different from the norm. This can include signs such as:

• Vomiting in cats
• Diarrhoea in dogs
• Diarrhoea in cats
• Dog coughing
• Abdominal swelling,
• A new discharge or smell
• Swelling of the eye or ear or even excessive thirst

When to Seek Veterinary Attention

While every pet can have an ‘off’ day, if you’re noticing signs persisting or they’re really affecting your pet’s day-to-day life, it is time to chat with an expert.

Seek help from an emergency vet if you’ve noticed any red flag signs, such as difficulty breathing, weakness, or pale gums.

Senior Pet Care Considerations

As your pet ages, their needs inevitably increase. The body and mind start to encounter issues, and the rate of disease climbs the older an animal gets.

Most senior dogs are dealing with at least one chronic issue, whether it be joint pain, dementia, cancer, hormonal disease, or dental disease.

Increased Veterinary Visits

At a minimum, we want to see our golden oldies every six months. However, for those on medication or with known medical issues, we may need to see them a lot more often than this. Many vets now recommend yearly blood work, a urine analysis, and a blood pressure check.

Specialised Nutrition

Seniors need to transition to a senior diet, which is more nutritionally appropriate.

The age at which this happens depends mainly on breed and can be about 7 in a cat or large breed dog, but often a couple of years later in a smaller breed dog.

Mobility Aids

A considerable number of seniors are dealing with mobility issues and joint pain. We can make their lives easier by using aids inside the home, including orthopaedic beds, non-slip rugs, and ramps.

Cats also benefit from wide trays with a low lip that are easy to access and position when toileting.

Learn More About Preventative Healthcare

We welcome you to contact us to discuss your pet’s preventative healthcare plan and to book a routine check-up or any diagnostic tests you feel are due.

We’re always happy to talk to owners about how to keep their pets as happy and healthy as possible.

FAQs

How often should I take my pet for a check-up?

Mostly, you’ll be seeing your vet every year or so. However, patients who are unwell or older will need to be seen more often than this.

Are vaccinations necessary even if my pet is always indoors?

Talk to your vet about your pet’s unique needs. Those who go outside (to patios or gardens) are still at risk of infectious disease spread by other animals, such as rats (Leptospirosis, for example).

Cats who are exclusively indoors are still at risk of infectious disease, as we can be carriers or when they go to places like the vet, groomers, or cattery.

How do I know if my pet’s diet is appropriate?

Check your pet food to ensure the packaging states it is a ‘complete’ diet rather than just a topper. Your pet should have a healthy Body Condition Score, a shiny coat, and lots of energy.