Looking after a pet involves various duties. In the same way, humans need a lot of care; cats and dogs also need a lot of care. Sadly, the level of care pets need may lead owners to disregard some parts of their health and wellness. Due to these overlooked habits, veterinarians see some pet problems more often than others. If you want your pets to enjoy lengthy and healthy lives, you should focus on these 5 crucial aspects of pet care.
Overlooked Pet Illness
Are you familiar with the most common pet health problems that go ignored? A pet’s quality of life and lifespan can be significantly impacted by any of these problems. Don’t forget to include them on your list of things to keep an eye on.
1. Weight
In the USA, 54% of canines and cats are overweight. The same significant repercussions apply to pets as to humans. Overweight pets are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart, and respiratory problems, cranial cruciate ligament injuries, kidney problems, and various cancers. A pet’s life can be reduced by up to 2.5 years if obese. As part of your pet’s annual health checkup, your veterinarian will evaluate your pet’s weight and guide you in developing a weight loss strategy if necessary. Learn more about proper pet health care here.
2. Dental Care
By age 3, around 80% of pets have oral disease. Major effects might result if dental health issues are not resolved. Painful chewing and tooth loss can come from loosening the soft tissues around teeth. Bacteria from the gums and mouth can spread to vital organs like the heart, kidneys, and liver. To avoid the problem, bring your pet in for routine examinations and follow your vet’s directions pertaining to dental hygiene.
3. Water Intake
One essential day-to-day activity may be keeping track of your pet’s water consumption. Changes (increased or decreased water intake) can be a sign of many illnesses, including kidney disease, diabetes, high thyroid hormone, lower urinary issues such as bladder infections, high calcium, liver disease, systemic infections, Cushing’s disorder, and many more things. Immediately after you see this symptom, call your veterinarian so they can look for a more major problem. Monitor your dog’s water intake because dehydration in dogs can lead to serious problems
4. Ear Infections
Among the most typical issues, your veterinarian experiences is an external ear infection, or “otitis externa.” Its cause might be parasitic, microbial, fungal, or allergic. Among the signs and symptoms are:
- Shaking the head
- Scratching the ears
- Emits an unpleasant odor
- Discharge abnormally
- Ear inflammation
- Holding the head or ear in a weird position
Even though ear infections are usually not serious, they can be very uncomfortable and must be treated by your veterinarian right after they are discovered.
5. Lumps and Bumps
Seeing a swelling or bulge on a pet’s body is a pet owner’s worst nightmare. They can be triggered by anything from minor bumps to more severe issues requiring in-depth screening, ultrasound for pets, and surgical treatment. However, specialists have found one problem that gets insufficient awareness: the relevance of inspecting a pet’s skin for lumps and bumps, given that they could be signs of cancer.
You must be able to establish a treatment plan for your pet very quickly if you give it some time. As a liable pet owner, be sure you’re not ignoring any parts of your pet’s health and wellness. If you want to provide the best possible care for your pets, do not forget these 5 frequently disregarded aspects of vet medicine. It would make your pets pleased if you gave them more care.