Search Results for ‘preventative’

As summer comes to a close, and the cool of fall begins, everyone is preparing for sweaters and pumpkins. With the change of the season, it can be easy to forget that as we gear up for cool weather, pests like ticks and fleas do not. It is important to maintain preventatives for your pet all year round. Let’s review some of the important reasons to keep up on preventatives for your dogs and cats.

Skin Problems

One reason to use prevention against fleas and ticks is because they can cause skin problems for your pet, and your family. The tiny pests can cause irritation of the skin when they bite, leading to itching and redness. In some cases, they can cause a allergic reaction.

The Costs

In addition to irritation, the presence of fleas and ticks can quickly become overwhelming. When fleas and ticks get into your home, they can quickly populate and spread, making them difficult to get rid of. It can be very costly to treat an infestation in your home, and can take more than one treatment because of the varying lifecycle of the little bugs.

On top of this, if your pet is infested, they will also need treatments. This can range from flea dips to topical and oral medications in order to get rid of the pests.

Preventatives Stop Illness

The number one reason for preventatives is to stop the spread of illnesses from fleas and ticks to your pets. There are a variety of illnesses that these small bugs can carry, and spread to your pets and your family. Fleas in the US commonly transfer flea-borne tape worms, cat scratch fever (bartonellosis), murine typhus, and flea-borne spotted fever.

Ticks can spread illnesses such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, leptospirosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, rickettsiosis, and more. Fleas and ticks spread these illnesses through their bites. The more they bite, the more likely the to infect your pet. Preventatives are designed to lower the chance by killing off fleas and ticks when they get on your pet and try biting them.

Does my pet need preventatives?

The short answer is – Yes! Fleas are small, and move quickly. Ticks can also be easily missed, ranging in size from as small as a poppy seed, to as large as the eraser on a pencil. It can be difficult to find these pets on your pets, especially cats since they groom themselves so often!

Even if your pet is an indoor cat, or a small dog that rarely goes outside – they still need preventatives! All it takes to pick up fleas or ticks, is for you to have them on your clothes when you come inside. Even a brief step outside by your dog to use the bathroom can expose them.

As a result, by the time you notice the presence of fleas or ticks in your home or on your pet, it may already be too late. Veterinarians recommend you keep your pet on preventatives year-round. Here in Minnesota, these pests are present all year.

You can read more about Flea and Tick Prevention from our previous blog. You can look up prevalence of tick and flea borne illness near you checking out the Parasite Prevalence Maps.

Written by Valerie – ZimmVet CSR Lead

Have you ever wondered why your pets’ Veterinarian recommends administering flea and tick preventatives over winter?

There is a common misconception that if there is snow on the ground and temperatures are cooler that fleas and ticks are not out. While it is true that flea and tick activity may slow during the winter months, they are able to survive any time the temperature is above freezing, even during the winter months when it is snowy as long as they have a host such as an animal or person.

Ticks carry various diseases that have the potential of being very dangerous or even fatal for animals and humans. These diseases include but are not limited to Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Powassan virus disease. If these diseases are contracted and are undetected or remain untreated, they can have long-term adverse effects on the body.

Fleas are very active in the Fall months as temperatures begin to drop. Fleas survive by biting a host and taking a bloodmeal from them. Oftentimes they seek out our furry counterparts as a warm host to survive the fall months which can result on your pet bringing them into your home, where they can survive throughout the winter. It can be very difficult to clear your home of fleas once an infestation takes place as the lifecycle is very complex and they lay large amounts of eggs rapidly. The only way to rid your home of a flea infestation is by vacuuming daily, washing of blankets and bedding in hot water, brushing your pet and treating all fibrous surfaces while treating your pet and administering a preventative. It can take months before your home is free from these pesky biting parasites. Fleas can cause flea bite dermatitis in pets and people which is a reaction to the protein in the saliva from the flea bite and is extremely itchy.

It’s always easier to prevent rather than treat diseases.

By: Dr. Leslie Reed, Veterinarian at ZimmVet

WHY does my dog need to stay on heartworm, flea & tick prevention in the winter?? There’s no bugs out!

Contrary to popular belief, fleas, ticks, mosquitos and other external parasites can remain active YEAR-ROUND and can negatively affect our pets. Here’s why it’s recommended you keep your furry family members on their preventatives at all times.

Heartworm Prevention                                

Even though mosquitoes are cold-blooded and typically become inactive at temps <50 degrees F, they can find and hide within a warm area (ie your house) to lay their eggs and remain active even throughout the cold winter months. Furthermore, fluctuating temperatures and those occasional warm days where temps suddenly rise may disturb a mosquito’s hibernation, sending them off for a quick meal on your pet.

It takes only 1 mosquito and 1 missed dose of prevention to contract heartworm disease.

Heartworm prevention year-round is much cheaper (and much more pleasant) for your pet than heartworm treatment, which can span several months and is typically a series of deep, rather painful, muscle injections with side effects including swelling, discomfort, and inappetence.

Oral heartworm preventatives also address intestinal parasites either through the active ingredient or an additional added ingredient. Some combat fleas as well. Intestinal parasites can be picked up by your pet all year long by consuming feces of other dogs or wildlife which may be intentional (yuck!) or non-intentional (licking of paws with fecal matter on them).

Flea and Tick Prevention                       

Fleas are the most common external parasite of dogs and cats and have the ability to transmit disease to both pets AND their humans. Most pets acquire fleas not from contact from another infested animal, but from an infested environment.

When a pet comes into your home with fleas, which can make the pet itchy, eggs can fall into your carpet or bedding as the pet scratches, along with flea dirt (flea feces). The eggs hatch to larvae, which develop by feeding on the flea dirt. The larvae then spin a cocoon in fibers such as carpet or bedding to form a pupae, where a live flea will eventually hatch and then latch on to a warm body (cat, dog, human). Pupae are resistant to drying, freezing, and insecticides and can remain dormant for months.  The entire flea life cycle can repeat itself every 3 weeks.

Not all pets with fleas will itch, only those allergic to the flea bites. So just monitoring for itching is not sufficient.

Heavy flea infestations can lead to severe anemia, which can be life threatening (pets at highest risk are young kittens and puppies being raised outdoors, as well as elderly cats going outdoors).

Use flea control products all year round so you don’t get caught with a surprise heavy flea burden in the spring. Home decontamination is NOT a fun process.

Ticks typically remain dormant in the winter, but can awaken during rising temps, even at 40-50 degree F, and crawl off to find a warm body to jump on to. 

It takes a single tick feeding for 48 hours to transmit Lyme disease. Lyme disease can cause joint soreness/stiffness, fever, anorexia, lethargy, and in advanced cases, acute kidney failure.

Other common tick-borne diseases in Minnesota include Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis, which can cause similar symptoms as Lyme disease, as well as bleeding disorders secondary to destruction of platelets. These diseases may be transmitted to your pet if a tick is attached for 24 hours or possibly even less!

Again, prevention is typically much cheaper and much more pleasant for your pet!

Get protected!

There are many options for heartworm, flea, and tick preventatives (even some all-in-one products), so check in with your veterinarian to determine which would be the best option for your pet!

By Dr. Maria Krenz, DVM – ZimmVet-763-856-4848

Canine Preventative Product Overview

Veterinary medical technology continues to take leaps and bounds to provide safe and effective products for pets. There are two main categories of preventative products to help keep your pet parasite-free and healthy, which include flea and tick as well as heartworm.  Consulting with your veterinarian is the first step to making sure you are picking the right preventative product for your pet.  

Flea & Tick Prevention

Flea and tick control for your pet is critical in Minnesota because of our high rate of tick-borne diseases such and lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Not only can these diseases cause severe joint pain, but they can also cause irreversible damage to the kidneys and severe bleeding problems. Fleas can cause severe itching, which can also lead to other parasite and blood problems. Once in your house, it can take up to three months to get rid of fleas.

Oral:  Flea and tick products administered orally have been available for years and have proven to be very effective and safe. These products range from one-month products to three-month products such as Bravecto. These products also have the advantage of killing skin mites.

Topicals:  There are many topical products on the market and range from older harsh chemicals with lower effectiveness to safer more effective products. Generic products, such as many of the products available at big box and pet stores, are not as effect as the name brand products available from your veterinarian. One safe and effective product on the market for years is Frontline. There are now various versions such as Frontline Plus with faster kill rates and other benefits. Frontline works by spreading on the oils on the skin and does not go into the body. Frontline is waterproof.

Collars: Flea and tick collars have been a low-cost option on the market a long time. With this product, it is important to follow the label directions on how tight the collar is to make sure it is working. Collars are typically not waterproof. This means if your pet has a bath or swims they may not be protected for days after. Depending on the ingredients some can be irritating, and they can cause local skin reactions. Dog collars containing permethrin are toxic to cats. A newer collar that is safer is the Seresto collar. At ZimmVet, we do not recommend collars as a first line product.

Heartworm Prevention and Dewormers

Monthly heartworm prevention has been the mainstay of preventing this severe disease. These products also come with the benefit of deworming for common intestinal parasites, which are a year-round problem. All heartworm preventative products are prescription items and can only be purchased with a prescription from your veterinarian. If you are buying a product without a prescription, it is likely counterfeit or not a heartworm prevention medication. Oral products are very safe and have been on the market for a long time. Common products are Interceptor and Heartgard. These are given monthly.

Combination Products for Flea, Tick and Heartworm

Combination products are now available to prevent heartworm as well as flea and tick protection in one convenient monthly dosing.  Just like with most heartworm medications, these products are also a general dewormer.

Oral: Simparica Trio is an example of an all-in-one monthly oral chewable product. This provides great convenience for owners to only have to give one product. This product is a cost savings for bigger breeds as it goes up to 132 lbs. without having to buy additional size categories. This product has been gaining in popularity since gaining FDA approval in 2020. It has combined product technologies which have already been on the market for years.

Topical: Revolution is an example of an all-in-one monthly topical product. Revolution only has a label for killing the dog tick, while other common flea and tick products have labeling for 4-5 different tick types.

Fleas, ticks and heartworm disease are all very preventable pet illnesses with several options on the market to provide you with the best options for you and your pet.   Your veterinarian will recommend the best products for your pet and have cost saving coupons and manufacture rebates not available elsewhere.

Disclaimer:  This written content is meant to be educational and is not medical advice.  Always consult a veterinarian about medical advice for your pet.

Minnesota Ticks Carry More Than Just Lyme Disease

For a long time, when you thought about ticks, you probably thought only of Lyme disease. Unfortunately, changes in climate and terrain have introduced new tick species—and with them, new diseases. The good news is there are many preventative measures you can take to protect your pets.

Minnesota is home to about a dozen different tick species. Fortunately, only three of those are known to carry disease. The American dog tick, commonly called the wood tick, is the most common species in our state. This tick can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia—though it’s rare to find one that actually carries these diseases.

Next, we have the blacklegged tick, better known as the deer tick. This is the species most people associate with tick-borne illness, as it spreads both Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Finally, Minnesota is also home to the Lone Star tick, which can transmit tularemia and ehrlichiosis. These persistent parasites can cause serious illness in both pets and people, making prevention especially important.

Ticks live, on average, two to three years. They must feed on blood to survive. In their first year, they prefer smaller mammals such as rodents or birds—often picking up disease-causing organisms that make them infectious for life. As they mature, they move on to larger mammals like pets, deer, and humans. A tick typically feeds for three to five days on a single host, but it can transmit disease in as little as 24 hours. Once full, it drops off and searches for its next host.

In Minnesota, ticks are most active from early spring through late fall. Even during winter, if temperatures rise above freezing or snow cover is light, ticks may still be active and searching for hosts. Before the first snowfall, female ticks lay hundreds to thousands of eggs, preparing the next generation for spring.

At ZimmVet, we see tick-borne diseases every day—whether as an incidental finding on annual lab screenings or in patients showing symptoms. We routinely diagnose Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. Symptoms can vary widely and may include muscle or joint pain (causing limping, stiffness, or lethargy), loss of appetite, high fever, and even bleeding disorders. Once the disease enters the body, it begins attacking your pet from the inside out.

Treatment depends on the severity of infection. Some pets require hospitalization with IV fluids, antibiotics, and round-the-clock veterinary care. Others can recover at home with prescribed medications and rest. Regardless, these diseases are painful, can be costly to treat, and are far easier to prevent than to cure.

Thankfully, prevention is simple. At ZimmVet, we carry Simparica Trio®, a once-monthly oral medication proven to prevent heartworm, intestinal parasites, fleas, ticks, and Lyme disease transmission. When paired with the annual Lyme vaccine, your pet has excellent protection against tick-borne infections.

Year-round prevention is the best way to keep your pet safe. With consistent protection, your pet won’t be an easy target for the next hungry tick!

By Dr. Maria Krenz, DVM – ZimmVet

In the Zimmerman area, dogs are at a high risk for contracting Lyme disease from a tick bite. In 2023, 1 in 12 of the dogs tested in Sherburne County for Lyme disease were positive for this painful disease. Now is the time to make sure your pet is protected. The best level of protection includes using a Lyme vaccination, tick prevention products as well as checking your pet daily for ticks.

We only see a couple ticks a year on my pet, why do I need to vaccinate against Lyme disease?

All it takes is one tick bite to spread Lyme disease. Any pet that goes into long grass, brush or wooded areas is at high risk and should be vaccinated for Lyme disease. Even though ticks prefer these environments, they can be found even on short mowed lawns or traveling across hard surfaces. The immature nymph stage of the tick is very small and difficult to see. A nymph is typically the size of a poppy seed. Once Lyme disease is contracted, it can cause swollen painful joints, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy and can even lead to kidney failure.

My pet has been positive for Lyme is the past, so I don’t vaccinate anymore.

Often, pets will show up positive on an in-clinic test called a 4dx test, even after Lyme disease has been successfully treated.  This is because the pet has antibodies or proteins in their system from the past infection.   Additional bloodwork, called a titer, can tell us if a positive test means a new infection.  Anytime a pet is bitten by a tick, it can be re-infected with Lyme disease.  Pets that are positive for Lyme disease are at high risk for reinfection, these pets need extra protection and yearly vaccination is especially important.

I have vaccinated my pet and they still contracted Lyme disease.

Lyme bacteria is a tricky disease, and does many things to fool a pet’s body.  No vaccination provides 100% protection. At ZimmVet, we administer the vaccination that provides the newest updates to Lyme technology.

Preventative Tick Products

There are many tick products on the market. Many products that can be purchased over the counter may not work as well, as they may not be waterproof or can cause side effects in the pet. When purchasing product from a veterinarian you receive the full manufacturer guarantee and backing, along with money saving rebates or free doses. At ZimmVet, we carry the top of the line tick prevention products. Bravecto is an oral chewable tick preventative that lasts for 3 months. Simparica Trio is a monthly oral chewable that is an all in one and provides heartworm prevention and deworming besides flea and tick prevention. Clients with small children especially like oral products and they do not have to worry about kids touching the pet after application. Collars and be useful in combination with other products but are typically not waterproof so can leave a pet unprotected for periods after swimming or bathing. In some pets, for added protection we combine use of products. Using more than one product should only be done under veterinary direction.

Minnesota and the Zimmerman area have a high prevalence of Lyme disease.  By vaccinating against Lyme, using a proven flea and tick treatment monthly Bravecto or Simparica Trio, and removing ticks daily, you will give your pet the best chance of staying healthy.

For more information visit www.dogsandticks.com or www.petsandparasites.org

Disclaimer:  This written content is meant to be educational and is not medical advice.  Always consult a veterinarian about medical advice for your pet.

Advances in medical technology and preventative care are allowing pets to live longer, happier lives. It is not uncommon for cats to reach 20 plus years of age, and small dogs to live 14-16 years. More often pets are seen as a family member and people are looking for ways to spend as much time as possible with their beloved pets. Owners can influence their pet’s lifespan and quality of life with a few simple care guidelines.

Ideal Weight-Add 2 Years of Pet Life:
Extensive research has been performed to evaluate the effects of obesity on lifespan and medical conditions, such as arthritis. Data shows that an ideal weight pet will live on average two years longer as compared to its obese littermate. Since pet owner’s control their cat or dog’s feedings, lifespan is directly influenced by an owner’s ability to regulate calories and provide adequate exercise.
There are many resources available for pet owners to help their pet’s lose weight. The first step is to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to set a goal weight for your pet, calculate their calories needed for safe weight loss and create a weight loss plan.
There are many tools available to help pet owners achieve their pet’s weight loss goals. Talk to your veterinarian about what works best for your pet.

Regular Home and Professional dental Care-Add 4 years of Pet Life:
Regular oral care and keeping a pet’s mouth healthy has been documented to add 4 years to their lifespan. Dental disease causes more than just oral pain and infection; it also impacts your pet’s organs, such as heart, liver and kidneys. Daily home dental care with products approved by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral health Council), will help keep your pet’s mouth healthy. This can include daily brushing, using a chew or water additive. Besides home care, pets also need professional dental cleanings, just like humans who go to the dentist. Your veterinarian will examine your pet’s mouth during their wellness exam and indicate when a dental cleaning is necessary.

Regular Veterinary Preventative Care:
Your veterinarian is available for more than just taking care of sick pets, he or she is your pet’s partner in preventative medicine. Yearly exams for pets under 7 years of age and twice yearly exams for pets over 7 years of age can identify problems before they become severe. Part of the wellness visit should include bloodwork to screen major organ functions such as your pet’s liver and kidneys. Any program to keep your pet healthy will include administering appropriate vaccinations, deworming and using products to prevent common illnesses such as Lyme disease.

Disclaimer: This written content is meant to be educational and is not medical advice. Always consult a veterinarian about medical advice for your pet.

As temperatures rise, we will see more and more activity from bugs and creepy crawlies. This means your dog’s risk of contracting preventable illnesses will increase too! Lyme, and several other illnesses, are carried by ticks and spread through their bite. While ticks are out year round, the spring and summer see a significant increase in their numbers. That is why April is a great time to discuss the hazards of Lyme, and ways to protect your pet!

Where Do Dogs Get Lyme?

Lyme Disease in Minnesota is a well known risk for both people and dogs alike. According to The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), there have been over 109 confirmed cases of Lyme disease in Sherburne County alone, and 4,189 cases across Minnesota in the first few months of 2024. 

The risk is very present, and those numbers are, unfortunately, expected to rise. Ticks are typically found in environments with heavy vegetation, like forests or grassy areas, like when you go hiking or camping. However, they can also be found in your own back yards. They are also common near bodies of water or in marshy areas.

Symptoms of Lyme Disease and Treatment

If you are worried your pet is getting ill, here are some common symptoms associated with lyme:

• Limping that starts and stops again
• Less interest in eating or complete loss of appetite
• Decreased activity, laying around often
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Painful and swollen joints
• Fever

Call your veterinarian right away to discuss the symptoms and risk factors your pet has for Lyme, including their exposure to ticks and their symptoms. To diagnose your pet, the veterinarian will want to run lab tests to rule out other illnesses and to confirm the Lyme diagnosis.

Once diagnosed, they will begin a course of antibiotics to fight back against the illness. This can take a month or longer to resolve itself.

Preventing Lyme Disease

The best way to avoid your pet getting sick is to be proactive in protecting them. A reliable tick-preventative product recommended by your veterinarian, as well as vaccination, are the strongest protections for your dog.

Additionally, you can also:

• Mow your grass, trim bushes, and remove unnecessary brush piles to make your yard less friendly to ticks.
• Inspect your pet when coming in from outdoor activities. Check their bodies over, including particularly tick-favored spots such as ears, legs, tails, and under their collar. Remove ticks you find immediately, wrapping them in tape or flushing them to dispose of them.

If you do find a tick on you or your pet, be sure to get checked for Lyme disease to be on the safe side. It can take 3 to 4 weeks before symptoms start.

Talk to your veterinarian today about prevention options.

To learn more about Lyme Disease, you can also visit another of our blogs on Lyme disease Prevention.

Disclaimer: This written content is meant to be educational and is not medical advice. Always consult a veterinarian about medical advice for your pet.

By Dr. Maria Krenz, DVM – ZimmVet 763-856-4848

Many people enjoy hunting as a hobby with their dogs. A little preparation can make the time fun for you and your dog. It’s time to get your dog ready for hunting season

Flea & Tick Prevention

Fall is peak time for transmission of Lyme disease from adult ticks. It is also when many pets become infested with fleas. There are a variety of products on the market including topical and oral options. Talk to your veterinarian about what product is best for you pet. Check out this blog post from ZimmVet on preventatives.

Internal Parasites

Hunting dogs are at higher risk to contract roundworms and hookworms from the environment. These parasites can then be passed to people. The University of Minnesota has a great article on internal parasites. Heartworm prevention, such as Sentinel or Simparica Trio®, deworms for these parasites and should be given once a month.

Vaccinations

Make sure your pet is current on vaccinations such as Rabies, Lyme and Leptospirosis. Hunting dogs are at increased risk of these easily preventable diseases. Also, if your dog is going to be hunting with a group of other dogs, its distemper combination, Bordetella and Influenza vaccinations should be up-to-date.

Exercise

Just like a person, a dog that is not properly conditioned before working hard can suffer from performance injuries such as pulled muscles, sore joints and strained or torn ligaments. Gradually increase your pet’s activity over a couple weeks prior to the start of hunting. In addition, be sure to allow your pet time to rest while hunting.

Food

Overweight pets are at an increased risk for performance injuries as well as exhaustion. Get your dog ready for hunting season by making sure they are an ideal weight prior to the start of hunting season. Weight loss occurs safely over several months when a pet is more than a few pounds overweight. Contact your veterinarian to make a weight loss plan for your pet. During hunting, a dog’s calorie intake increased. Feeding small frequent meals can help your pet keep up to the demands of hunting.

Paws

Many dogs can wear down their paw pads and form painful ulcerations. Keep protective boots on hand for your dog to wear. Dogs can suffer from cuts and debris in their eyes, especially in grass and wooded areas. Keep an eye saline solution with you, along with some bandaging material to stop bleeding until you can get to your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can help you put together a first aid kit for your pet or you can purchase a premade kit.

Senior Hunters

Senior dogs can often remain active and healthy with the help of your veterinarian. Older pets benefit from a daily glucosamine supplement such as Dasuquin. One month before hunting, start your dog on this supplement if you don’t already have them on it year round. Senior dogs do well on pet pain medication started a day prior to the hunt and continued daily. The goal is to control the pain before it builds up. If your pet is already on a daily pain medication your veterinarian can prescribe additional medications to help during hunting. Contact your veterinarian to make a plan to keep your senior hunter comfortable.

Disclaimer:  This written content is meant to be educational and is not medical advice.  Always consult a veterinarian about medical advice for your pet.

By Dr. Maria Krenz, DVM – Zimmvet (763)856-4848

Advances in medical technology and preventative care are allowing pets to live longer, happier lives.  It is not uncommon for cats to reach 20 plus years of age, and small dogs to live 14-16 years.  More often pets are seen as a family member and people are looking for ways to spend as much time as possible with their beloved pets.  Owners can improve their pet’s lifespan and quality of life with a few simple care guidelines. Improving your pets lifespan.

Weight Management – Add 2 years of life!?

Extensive research has been performed to evaluate the effects of obesity on lifespan and medical conditions, such as arthritis.  Data shows that an ideal weight pet will live on average two years longer as compared to its obese littermate.  Since pet owner’s control their cat or dog’s feedings, lifespan is directly influenced by an owner’s ability to regulate calories and provide adequate exercise.

There are many resources available for pet owners to help their pet’s lose weight. The first step is to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to set a goal weight for your pet, calculate their calories needed for safe weight loss and create a weight loss plan.

There are many tools available to help pet owners achieve their pet’s weight loss goals. Talk to your veterinarian about what works best for your pet.

Regular Home and Professional dental Care-Add 4 years of Pet Life

Dental Care – Improving lifespan by up to 4 years!

Regular oral care and keeping a pet’s mouth healthy has been documented to add 4 years to their lifespan.  Dental disease causes more than just oral pain and infection; it also impacts your pet’s organs, such as heart, liver and kidneys.  Daily home dental care with products approved by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral health Council), will help keep your pet’s mouth healthy. This can include daily brushing, using a chew or water additive.  Besides home care, pets also need professional dental cleanings, just like humans who go to the dentist. Your veterinarian will examine your pet’s mouth during their wellness exam and indicate when a dental cleaning is necessary.

Preventative Care/Annual Wellness Visits

Your veterinarian is available for more than just taking care of sick pets, he or she is your pet’s partner in preventative medicine.  Yearly exams for pets under 7 years of age and twice yearly exams for pets over 7 years of age can identify problems before they become severe.  Part of the wellness visit should include bloodwork to screen major organ functions such as your pet’s liver and kidneys.  Any program to keep your pet healthy will include administering appropriate vaccinations, deworming and using products to prevent common illnesses such as Lyme disease.

For more information on dental cleaning please visit https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dental-cleaning-in-dogs. Interested in learning more able pet Obesity? Please visit our other blog post at https://www.zimmvet.com/blog/pet-obesity/

Disclaimer:  This written content is meant to be educational and is not medical advice.  Always consult a veterinarian about medical advice for your pet.