Veterinary Care 101 – Physical Exams

No pet owner can argue with the life saving benefits of physical exams that are offered at veterinary clinics and hospitals worldwide. A lot has been said on the subject over the years and it is a commonly agreed upon consensus nowadays that pets should be given a physical checkup at least once a year if not two at a veterinary clinic.

Instead of writing about the benefits of physical exams, I’d like to focus on what they could mean for your pet in general. This will help pet owners better understand why these are important and why veterinarians stress on them.

1. General Health and Well Being – Regular physical exams will keep the overall health of your pet in check. A healthy pet is a happy pet.

2. Early Diagnosis of Potential Problems – Physical exams can indicate beforehand any symptoms that might develop in your pet. They are instrumental in determining what early preventative measures need to be taken and can help the pet avoid contracting the disease altogether.

3. Pet/Veterinarian Interaction – Physical exams also serve as a great opportunity for the pet to interact with the veterinarian and for a chance to form a bond.

4. Helpful tips and Advice – Veterinarians offer helpful tips and advice on how to take better care of your pets. A vet can offer valuable insight or suggestions about your pet based on the pets physical exam results.

Pets are primarily the responsibility of the pet owners and as a general rule of thumb they should have their pet given a detailed physical at least once a year. Doing so will ensure that they are always in the best of health and spirits.

Animal Surgery at Veterinary Hospitals

Animal surgery is a very complex and potentially life-saving pet service. Even though some veterinary clinics offer it, it is more commonly administered at veterinary hospitals. Depending on the medical condition of the pet, animal surgery can provide a plethora of benefits though it must be noted that it can also a very costly expenditure.

Why Choose Veterinary Hospitals for Animal Surgery

If your pet needs immediate surgery, veterinary hospitals are a much better option due to their superior equipment and facilities. They provide the following benefits:

• Access to better and improved facilities and medical instrumentation
• Qualified, passionate medical staff and expert veterinarians
• All types of surgery, radiology and anesthesia services available on site
• Emergency and referral services available around the clock 24 hours a day
• Comprehensive computerized medical records for all pets

Types of Animal Surgeries

Animal hospitals specialize in dealing with all types of pet emergencies and animal surgery is no exception. They are fully capable and have qualified veterinarians on hand to handle the following types of surgeries.

1. Soft Tissue Surgery – Surgery targeting specific pet organs such as eye, liver and kidneys

2. Orthopedic Surgery – Deals with bone and joint diseases, fractures and related injuries

3. Neurosurgery – Specifically focuses on the spine and brain related injuries or diseases

If your pet is showing any signs of pain, your first course of action must be to immediately take the pet to your veterinarian for a proper check up. Matters such as the ones that require surgery cannot be put on hold. The sooner a diagnosis can be made the quicker the recovery process can be started for your pet.

Veterinary Care 101 - Nutritional Counseling

Nutritional counseling is one very informative and sought after veterinary service offered by vet clinics across the country. A pet’s health and over wellbeing should be the first priority of every pet owner and such programs by veterinary clinics help good pet owners become great pet owners.

Why Nutritional Counseling?

Pets are much different than humans when it comes to nutrition. What is beneficial and even necessary for us to survive as human beings, can be harmful, and in some cases fatal for the pets. This is why nutritional counseling programs are so valuable and informative. They are conducted by experienced nutritionists and/or veterinarians who have years of experience under their belt.

What Can You Get From Nutritional Counseling?

Many veterinary clinics offer nutritional counseling for pets. Attending one would bring about the following benefits.

· A better understanding of your pet, its behavior and it’s likes and dislikes

· The type of foods pets should avoid at all costs

· Common healthy foods to feed pets

· Some quality pet food available at cheap prices

· A few common tips on how to handle and care for your pet more effectively

· An ideal occasion for veterinarians to get acquainted with pets

· A few guidelines on how to know if something is wrong with your pet

Most of these counseling sessions are available free of charge however some may require a registration fee depending on the clinic and the topic of discussion. A nutritional counseling session is a great way for pet owners, their pets and the veterinarians to get together and interact. You can’t go wrong by attending such seminars.

5 Signs Your Pet Needs Immediate Veterinary Care

Pets are just as prone to getting ill as humans and will show signs of pain or illness that would require immediate veterinary care. Pet owners should always be prepared for such instances and one of the best ways to go about it is to keep your pet under constant observation. An ailing pet is not hard to spot as its behavior patterns and body language will clearly indicate something is amiss. Here we will go over a few signs that will help validate that your pet needs immediate veterinary care.

1. Sudden Gain or Loss of Weight – Gradual weight loss or gain is understandable depending on your pet’s diet. However any sudden and abrupt changes in a pet’s weight should be immediately brought to a veterinarian’s attention.

2. Watch out for the Odd Cough – An odd cough could very well be a sign of a collapsed trachea, infection or heart problems. Consult with a vet immediately if it starts occurring frequently.

3. Diarrhea with Blood – A pet experiencing diarrhea for more than twenty four hours or diarrhea with blood, signals a severe problem. Consult your veterinarian or take your pet to the nearest emergency vet clinic.

4. Rashes and Shedding – A pet’s skin is very sensitive to rashes and falling out fur. Excessive shedding or chewing at spots on the body indicates the pet requires veterinary care.

5. Hazy Eyes – A pet with hazy eyes and having trouble visualizing or a pet with abnormal discharge coming from its eyes indicates something is very wrong. Inform your vet immediately.

These are just a few of the signs and symptoms that should tell pet owners about the health of their pet. It is always best to consult with your vet on a regular basis and be up to date on proper pet health and veterinary care.

Pet Care during Travel

Nowadays pet care during travel is a lot easier than it used to be in the past. The reason for that is the shift in people’s mentality towards pets and a genuine concern about their happiness and wellbeing. It may seem like a daunting task at first however, there are many things pet owners can do during travel in order to make pet care during traveling as efficient as possible.

Pet Care Tips

· Ensure that the pet is healthy enough to travel. Take him to your veterinarian for a physical checkup.

· While at the veterinarian, make sure the pet is up-to-date on any/all vaccinations that may be required for the trip. This is especially true if leaving for another country.

· Always carry a health certificate of your pet for the trip.

· Make sure the pet has a proper collar with a name and contact information in case it gets lost.

· Pet travel is so common nowadays numerous hotels and vacation resorts offer adequate facilities for them. Check with them before making travel arrangements.

· Many airlines offer travel pet care services though it also depends on the type of pet travelling. Always check with them for their rules and regulations, especially about the types of pets that are allowed.

· If you are leaving your pet at home while you travel, make sure the pet has plenty of supplies to last during the trip. In addition, someone should always be available to look after the pet and have your contact information in case they need to contact you.

· Pet travel in a vehicle is a much more straight forward process. Make sure the pet is safely secure. Do not let them run loose in the vehicle as this may lead to an accident or to them getting injured. Be sure to make frequent stops for the pet.

These are a few helpful pet care suggestions for pet owners who are considering traveling in the future. Pet safety is a priority not only during travel but also before and after. Hence it is always a good idea to consult with a veterinarian before making any kind of travel arrangements.