Alarm Over Economy's

Impact on Pet Health

An ounce of prevention is not only worth a pound of cure, but lots of saved money for pet owners. That’s the message veterinarians are trying to get out as the economy takes a bigger and bigger toll on the health of our four-legged friends. 

Nationwide, we’re definitely seeing the number of visits to vets down, but the emergency clinics are doing a lot better. People are putting off preventive care, and when the animal does have an issue, they put it off, hoping it will go away. Then, at one or two in the morning, it hasn’t gone away, and suddenly it’s an emergency. 

BUT CARING FOR A SICK PET CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE, WHILE A LITTLE PREVENTION CAN SAVE PET OWNERS A BUNDLE DOWN THE ROAD, AND KEEP THEIR PETS HEALTHIER? 

Yes, it is expensive, so we’re trying to get the message out that, for the cost of a weekly visit to Starbucks, you can provide flea, tick and heart worm protection for your pet. If you let that go, it can cost you thousands in the future

CONDUCT ROUTINE CHECKS ON YOUR PET AT HOME. HOW DO YOU DO THAT? 

You want to conduct simple, routine checks that won’t cost you a dime. Learn to run your hands over your pet’s fur, and look for lumps or bumps. You’ll be able to detect ticks or fleas; you’ll see if your pet’s skin is a bit dry, meaning he or she might need to add a little more fatty acids to his or her diet. Check the animal’s teeth. Dental disease occurs in 85 percent of pets, but if you pick it up early, you might have to spend a little money to get it treated. You think dogs are supposed to have bad breath, but if it’s too bad, it could be a sign of developing dental disease. If you leave it, it could cost a lot more. Unusual bumps should be reported to your vet. It won’t necessarily be a malignant tumor, but it could be a cyst. And, one thing people may not remember to do: Check your pet’s ears. They can get ear infections. An infected ear smells like Fritos. Just by petting your animal, you can discover a lot of issues. 

FLEA AND TICK PREVENTION, ALONG WITH HEART WORM PREVENTION, IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS THEY CAN CAUSE LATER ON. 

Flea and tick medication, which you’ll have to apply maybe once every couple of weeks, or once a month, will cost you very little. But if you do that, you won’t have to deal with the consequences. Fleas are annoying for your pet and your family. Ticks are much more dangerous. Ticks cause Lyme disease in humans, and in pets, and that can cost you thousands to treat, and it might kill your pet or cause irreparable damage that will stay with the pet for life. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes, and it only takes one mosquito bite for your pet to get heartworm. We’re seeing heartworm spreading rapidly throughout the U.S., especially in the Southeast, along the Mississippi River, and along the East Coast. It can cost you anywhere from two or three dollars to seven or eight dollars a month for prevention. It can cost more than $1,000 to treat if your pet gets it. 

FINALLY,  DON’T ALLOW YOUR PET TO GET TOO FAT. 

As in humans, obesity is a huge problem for pets. One of the big problems is that we show our pets we love them with food. We do the same thing with our children. But you have to remember that, with a pet, it’s not the amount of food you give them, it’s the act of giving that’s important to them. If you have a treat for them, you can cut it into 10 pieces and hand them little pieces when you want to, and it will mean as much to them as giving them the whole treat. So, feed your pet twice a day, and don’t leave the bowl on the floor. Don’t necessarily go by what it says on the bag, to determine the amount you should feed your pet. It all goes according to lifestyle. We should cut down on what we feed our pets by about one-third. 

And exercise, exercise, exercise! Get into a routine of physical activity with your pet, whether it’s running around the yard, taking him to the park, or just taking her out for a good walk once or twice a day. It’s good for you, and it’s good for them. If you have a cat, set something up in the house with their toys that gives them a way to exercise.