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By Jean Hofve, DVM
With the current controversy
surrounding annual vaccinations, many people are electing to have their
pets get fewer vaccines. This has led to the assumption that they do
not need to bring them in for an annual examination. However, even if
your pet is not getting any vaccines, it is still essential that your
veterinarian have the opportunity to give your animal companion a
thorough examination at least every year (more often in some
situations). This applies not just to cats and dogs, but also ferrets,
birds, rabbits, reptiles, and other "exotic" animals and "pocket pets."
Why? 1. By checking your pet regularly, your
veterinarian can catch potential problems early. For instance, it is
estimated that 85% of dogs and cats who go to the vet for any reason
have significant dental disease. Left untreated, dental disease can
lead to painful tooth decay as well as systemic illness due to chronic
infection. Bacteria from infected teeth can enter the bloodstream and
"seed" other organs such as liver, kidneys, and heart, causing damage
to those organs. Every vet can tell a dozen stories of serious problems
such as cancer and heart disease that were discovered at an annual
exam, even though the animal seemed normal at home. Because many
animals tend to be very stoic, they often do not show symptoms until
disease is very advanced. Early diagnosis increases the chances of
successful intervention and treatment. 2. A
rough estimate of cat/dog years to human years is about 5:1 after the
first two years (which equal about 10 years each). If your pet does not
visit the veterinarian annually, this is the same as you not having a
check-up for ten years or more. And while you would know if you were
having pain or not feeling good, your pet cannot tell you if there's a
problem. By examining your animal and asking you about her appetite and
behavior, your veterinarian can assess her health more fully and make
appropriate recommendations to keep her as healthy as possible.
3. Veterinary medicine is in a constant state of change and
advancement. New information becomes available virtually every day in
every journal. The annual visit is a good time for your vet to
communicate to you any recent developments that could affect your pet's
health. For example, pet vaccination recommendations have changed
radically in the past four or five years, and continue to change today.
Additionally, there is new information coming out all the time on diet
and disease that may affect what you feed your pet.
The annual veterinary exam is a small investment of time, effort and
money that will more than pay for itself in better health and longer
life for your animal companion.
For more great articles on important feline health and behavior topics, visit the Publications Page at www.littlebigcat.com
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