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NATIONAL
PET WELLNESS
MONTH

ANNUAL EXAMS
Pets should visit the veterinarian at least once a year. Annual exams are a great opportunity
to check on the overall health. You should also review the vaccina;on status and program
most appropriate for clients pets at this ;me.
SPAY/NEUTER
Not only do the procedures prevent individual medical problems such as mammary and
tes;cular tumors and uterine infec;ons, spaying or neutering also helps curb pet
overpopula;on and reduces the number of unwanted pets who are euthanized every day.
Spay and neuter surgeries can be safely performed at 6 months of age.
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
According to the Associa;on for Pet Obesity Preven;on, veterinarians classied 53 percent
of adult dogs and 55 percent of cats were classied as overweight or obese. Preven;on is
much easier to accomplish than treatment, so help pets get on the right diet and exercise
regimen. Speak with your veterinarian if you are having trouble maintaining a healthy
weight for your pet
BALANCED DIET
Commercial dog and cat foods make it easy to provide a nutri;onally balanced and
complete diet. Dog and cat foods contain all of the dierent nutrients pets need in the
appropriate quan;;es. It is very dicult to create a balanced and complete diet from
people foods.
DENTAL CARE
Evaluate teeth and oral health annually. We recommend brushing your pets teeth.
Unchecked, dental disease can lead to pain, infec;on which could aect other organs,
kidney problems or nutri;onal issues if the pet cannot adequately chew and digest food.
SENIOR PETS
There are many health issues more common to aging dogs, including kidney and liver
disease, more frequent intes;nal problems, prostate disease and tes;cular cancer, breast
cancer and infected uterus, diabetes, arthri;s and degenera;ve joint disease, cogni;ve
problems. It is important that pets have an annual wellness visit. Talk to your veterinarian
about whether such visits should become more frequent.