THE CARE THEY DESERVE Even if your pet isn't sick, it should see the doctor for an annual wellness check-up. All dogs and cats need regular health care. Don't wait until your pet looks or acts sick to visit a veterinarian. FINDING A VETERINARIAN Most vets are very good, some are O.K. and some are indifferent or bad. Begin by talking to people who have cats or dogs and get a few opinions. Go along with a friend to their appointment. Most important is if you can communicate and get along with your vet. Does the veterinarian: Ask questions about the pet's general health, appetite, etc? Always take the pet's temperature when examining it? Handle the pet all over looking for lumps, feeling glands, etc? Tell you about shots necessary for the pet? Tell you about heartworm and its prevention? Ask for a stool sample to check for parasites, regularly? Examine the pet's ears, eyes, skin, teeth and gums? Have an emergency number for evenings and weekends? Answer your questions? Good vets appreciate questions about health care. Really like to work with animals? Seem to know something about the problems of your breed? Explain to you exactly what he/she is doing with your pet? Explain the nature of medications he/she gives your pet? Ask questions- your pet can't speak for himself so you have to be his voice. Once you find a vet you feel comfortable with, stick with them. Get to know them and let them get to know you and your pet. ANNUAL VISITS At least once a year, all adult dogs and cats require a visit to the veterinarian for a wellness check-up that involves: A comprehensive physical exam that will pick up any health problems early when treatment is more effective and often less expensive. Vaccinations to protect your pet against disease. Heartworm testing (a simple blood test) followed by dispensing of preventative is recommended for all dogs exposed to mosquitoes (best performed in early spring). Discussion of a flea control program. Oral medications administered monthly are available to keep your pet flea free. Checking a stool sample for internal parasites. Dental exam for your pet's overall good health. Discussion of pain management for animals with chronic conditions such as arthritis. And while a one-time visit can bring a fairly expensive bill, these things can be spread out over time to make the proper care of your pet financially manageable. (Puppies and kittens require more frequent visits, as do pets having specific problems.) DIET All companion animals should be fed a high quality food and have water available at all times. Take the time when visiting the vet to ask about what food and treats he/she recommends. Most vets recommend not feeding you pet table scraps as animals have different digestive systems and cannot handle many foods humans can (some foods like chocolate can even be toxic to an animal). Likewise, only certain bones, if any, are safe for dogs, so please ask questions. BATHING AND GROOMING While most cats dislike being bathed, getting a cat used to being brushed early on is a good idea, especially if it has long hair. All dogs need regular grooming- brushing, combing, bathing, nail clipping, tooth care and sometimes ear cleaning. Grooming is essential for good health and it is up to us to do this for them. Some breeds require daily brushing, most need to be brushed two times a week. Some breeds require professional grooming occasionally. Starting young, with gentle brushing will get your pet used to it. The more frequent you brush, the shorter your sessions will need to be. Proper diet, exercise, vet care and grooming, all lead to a healthy shiny coat. A well-groomed dog doesn't need a bath more than 2-3 times a year (preferably not in cold weather). Don't bathe very young pups unless it's an emergency. Clean instead with a damp soapless cloth. Bathe him when: He's dirty. He smells doggy (most dogs if brushed regularly and have a clean bed remain sweet smelling for months). He's been swimming in saltwater (irritates his skin). How to bathe: Let him out first Make your dog secure and stand him on a towel or mat Put cotton in his ears Plenty of towels A medium sized metal pot with a handle or flexible shower hose Soft wash cloth for his face Good quality, mild dog shampoo (never use human shampoo, it's too harsh for his skin) A piece of steel wool in the drain will catch the hair Ears Use mineral oil and cotton, squeezed out. (Never use alcohol, peroxide or cotton swabs in a pet's ears). Gently clean out the ears; cleaning only what you can see. Never probe deeply into areas not visible. Change wads frequently and never use the same wad in both ears. Teeth Your dog's teeth need to be brushed regularly or cleaned with a terry cloth rag to prevent tartar build up and gum problems. Certain chew toys like rawhide strips also help to keep tartar from building up. Prevention and maintenance of good oral health are the keys to preventing periodontal disease which can lead to infection of the liver, kidneys and heart. Professional scaling is often necessary to remove the build up on a dog's teeth. Nails You can learn to clip the nails of both dogs and cats. Because the dog's nail has a vein and a nerve, great care must be taken. But if a dog's nails get too long, the dog will be putting some of it's weight on the nails and this will push the paws back at an uncomfortable angle and in time cause painful problems for the animal. If you can't see the vein as in black nails, clip a tiny portion; wait a few days then clip some more, as the vein and nerve recedes each time the nails are clipped. If you don't feel comfortable or the dog won't let you, try a file or ask the vet to do it for you. Your pet's appearance says a lot about you and how you feel about him. For all his unconditional love and loyalty, he deserves good care.