Visiting The Vet

What does it mean to be a responsible pet owner?

Our pets rely on us to take care of them and keep them safe. They can’t talk, so it’s our job to be a responsible pet owner and give them what they need to be happy and healthy. Part of being a responsible pet owner is keeping your pet healthy by taking them to the vet.You need to take your pet to the vet for yearly checkups and whenever it’s sick. To make sure your pet stays healthy you’ll want to keep up to date on the following things:

• Vaccinations – The rabies vaccination is the most important, but you’ll want to talk to your vet about which shots your pet needs. The rabies vaccination is required by law.
• Heartworm Prevention – Heartworm is easy to prevent, but very difficult and costly to cure. Dogs, cats, ferrets, and other mammals get heartworms from being bitten by an infected mosquito. There’s no way to tell if the mosquito is infected. An animal only needs to be bitten one time from an infected mosquito to get heartworms. The best way to prevent heartworms is to protect your pet with a heartworm preventive used year round as directed by your veterinarian.
• Flea and Tick Prevention – Fleas and ticks are nasty little insects that can cause a lot of itching and other health problems. They bite and feed on human blood and your pet’s blood. Fleas can infest your house and make everyone very uncomfortable. Ticks can cause serious diseases like Lyme disease that can be fatal if not treated. You can prevent fleas and ticks with a preventative treatment as directed by your veterinarian.
• Fecal Examination – Our pets can have internal parasites and worms that live inside their bodies and make them very sick. In many cases, you would never know that your pet had these parasites living inside them. When you take your pet to the vet for their yearly exam, they will perform a fecal examination where they examine their poop under a microscope to look for parasite eggs.

Homeless animals are a major concern and a problem in every community. Overpopulation is a very sad and expensive problem. Another important part of being a responsible pet owner is making sure your pet doesn’t end up having litters of unwanted puppies or kittens that end up without homes or at the shelter. It’s important to have your dog and cat spayed or neutered by your veterinarian.

Having a pet is a big responsibility. Our pets rely on us to take care of them and keep them safe. “How to Be a Responsible Pet Owner” shows how to love and respect your pet. Teach your kids what it really means to be a pet owner.

Don’t miss other posts in the “How to Be a Responsible Pet Owner” blog series: Part 1 – Feeding Your Pet, Part 2 – Car Safety, and Part 3 – Exercise and Safety.