A pet can greatly improve your enjoyment of life but with that enjoyment comes great responsibility. Today, our La Mesa vets offer some information about routine care for your dog and how wellness plans can help you manage the cost of pet care.
Routine Veterinary Care For Dogs
One of the most important parts of being a pet parent is ensuring that your dog has a lifetime of good health and that you tend to all of their needs. This includes veterinary care, training, food and nutrition and exercise. In return, you will get a lifetime of love and snuggles. Not a bad trade if you ask me!
Our La Mesa vets are experienced in treating pets at every stage of life and every health status - from young and energetic fluffballs to older fur friends who may have recurring or comorbid health issues. One thing that will be true across the board will be the fact that your pet just like any other will need customized veterinary care and an annual care plan tailored to their needs.
Your vet will be able to answer any questions that you have as well as offer recommendations for the care that your pet requires. Having a quick pet care checklist to keep on hand for reference (and planning these items on a calendar) will help to ensure your pet gets to all their annual visits, vaccine, grooming and dental appointments.
Here we will share some handy checklists and information about what type of care your dog will need.
A Checklist to Help You Care For Your Dog
Just as your vet will help with preventive care and routine checkups, you as a pet parent will need to keep up with the things that can be done at home to keep your pet healthy.
Here are some of the things that your veterinarian will manage:
- Routine Exams
- Vaccinations
- Grooming
- Dental Hygiene
- Fleas and ticks
- Worming (heartworm and intestinal)
A few of the things you should be doing at home include:
- Bathing, Cleaning & Brushing - It's important to bathe and brush your dog at home in between professional grooming sessions to maintain their clean coat.
- Feeding - Your cat or dog needs a consistent feeding schedule to stay healthy and thrive.
- Exercise - Your cat or dog needs a lot of exercise - make sure you get your daily walks, plenty of outside time and bonding time in.
Routine Pet Care Services at Rancho Village Veterinary Hospital
You should be bringing your dog in for annual physical examinations to allow your vet the opportunity to gain insight into the health of your dog. Routine wellness exams, combined with regular vaccinations, parasite prevention and dental care, form the foundation of your pet's care plan. Dental health is a serious issue among dogs in the La Mesa area. Your vet will recommend the necessary treatments and checkups to help protect your dog's oral health.
Because your dog will change and grow as they age, the services they need will change as well.
One thing to keep in mind is that there is no bad question. If you notice anything out of the ordinary happening with your dog you should reach out and ask your vet about it. It could very well save your dog's life.
How Pet Wellness Plans Can Help You Care For Your Dog
As a pet owner, you understand how important it is to ensure that your cat or dog lives a happy, healthy life. There are several ways to accomplish this, including providing affection, play, and exercise, a healthy diet... and routine preventive vet care. Wellness Plans allow your vet team to monitor your pet's health and well-being, which can help them live longer and happier lives.
- Preventive Care
- Support Good Pet Care
- Budgeting
- Discounts
- Be Prepared For Emergencies
- Customization
Wellness Plans For Dogs & Extra Large Dogs
For your canine companion, wellness plans often include:
- Routine wellness exams
- Core vaccinations
- Bloodwork
- Annual heartworm & tick disease testing
- Bi-annual intestinal parasite screenings
- Bi-annual wellness exam with Bordetella
- 12-month supply of flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
Remember that pet insurance and dog and cat wellness plans are not the same things! Pet wellness plans in La Mesa are primarily concerned with routine preventive care services, whereas pet insurance is concerned with emergency care and ongoing health conditions.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.