The biggest responsibility of a pet owner is to protect the animal’s health and well being. This begins by preventing as many diseases as possible by providing the necessary nutrition and exercise, and checking him for symptoms of disease and conditions. Animals can’t “tell” you if they don’t feel well, but if you know your pet well and personally groom him, you will be able to notice any changes in behavior or symptoms like rashes or discharge. If you do discover something out of the ordinary, you need to go straight to your vet.


General Pet Care Health Tips

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Many conditions can be avoided or at least corrected in its early stages through proper vigilance and care. Here are some tips:

• Exercise .Regular exercise can have both physical and emotional benefits for your cat or dog,.Not only does it keep both of you fit (even humans need to walk around the block every now and then), it promotes bonding. The key to getting the most out of exercise is to vary the kind of activity. Some days you can just go out for a stroll with your dog; others, you can play Frisbee or horse around in the yard. If you have a cat, you can tie a feather on a string so she can swat it with her paw, or toss her a ball with a little catnip placed inside.
• Visit the vet regularly. Don’t wait for sickness to strike to bring your pet to the doctor. He will need vaccinations and checkups.
• Set the rules and stick to them. Don’t let your pet get away with potentially dangerous behavior. Does your dog run out in the street? Does your cat enjoy squeezing behind the sound system, tangling itself in the wires? Say no so this doesn’t become a habit—it’s for their own good, and since they don’t know better, it’s your job as owner to set the boundaries.
• Maintain a clean environment and good hygiene. Make sure you brush your pet’s teeth, his coat clean, and (if you have a cat) sweep out the litter box. This prevents the onslaught of disease-causing bacteria.

When Should You Call the Vet?

Regular vet visits can become expensive, as every pet owner knows. Most of us opt to “wait and see” what happens instead of picking up the phone and setting up an appointment. We also turn to the internet to see whether we could handle it ourselves. This can be dangerous; not all the information online is accurate, and with our untrained eyes it’s easy to mix up symptoms. You have to call the vet if:

• You think your pet has ingested a poison or toxin. Foods like onions and chocolate have toxins that are deadly to your pets. Human medicines such as Tylenol can also be deadly.
• Your pet has been struck by a vehicle or taken a fall. Even without any obvious signs of bleeding or limping, he could have internal bleeding or a concussion.
• Your pet has been in a fight. Bites and scratches can lead to infections if not properly treated. Rabies is also a possibility, especially if your pet has tangled with a wild animal.
• Your pet has been limping or exhibiting signs of lameness. It doesn’t matter whether your pet has had an injury or not.

Vaccines for Cats and Dogs

It is true that animal vaccines are the best way to keep your pets healthy and living longer. However, studies have shown that some vaccines do not need to be injected annually into your pets. Some, like rabies or distemper, only need boosters after every three years. In any case, you need to follow the schedule for vaccinations, particularly the following:

• Distemper/Parvo Combination (dog). Protects against infectious and dangerous diseases.
• Rabies (cat and dog). Fatal to animals and human beings as well.
• Distemper/Upper Respiratory (cat). A four-in-one vaccine that protects against serious diseases.
• Feline Leukemia. Protects against a potentially fatal disease.
• Feline Infectious Peritonitis. Another fatal disease for your cat.