October is National Pet Wellness Month. In veterinary medicine, the term wellness is sometimes used as an umbrella term, encompassing many aspects of your pet’s physical and emotional well-being. However, it also often refers to basic preventative care. While the semantics may be debatable, one thing that is certain is that keeping up on your pet’s wellness care needs is crucial, and can have a massive impact on not only their health, but also their happiness and overall quality of life. A local Ellicott City, MD vet discusses pet wellness in this article.
Why Is Wellness Important?
Wellness impacts nearly every facet of your pet’s life. After all, Fluffy and Fido won’t be very happy if they don’t feel good! Wellness care can extend your pet’s life, reduce behavioral issues, and even save you money in the long run. Keeping up with wellness exams also allows you to track your pet’s health, and often reveals developing medical problems before symptoms arise. Early treatment and detection can make a huge difference. After all, it’s cheaper and easier to prevent illnesses than it is to treat them!
What Falls Under Wellness Care?
A wellness exam is very similar to a physical for humans. Your vet will check your pet over, listen to their breathing and heartbeat, look at their eyes and ears, assess their body condition, and look for lumps, bumps, bruises, or other abnormalities. Typically, any vaccines that are needed or due for boosters would be administered during these exams. (We also often throw in purrs and cuddles for good measure.) Your pet’s wellness care needs will change over the course of their life. Follow your vet’s recommended appointment schedule.
Improving Your Pet’s Wellness
Providing good care will go a long way towards keeping your furry pal healthy and well. If your four-legged friend is healthy and up-to-date on everything, give yourself (and them) a pat on the back. That said, there’s often room for improvement. Breed research can make a big difference. You may also want to consider a wellness plan, particularly if you have a kitten or puppy. Last but not least, it’s important to keep a close eye on Fido and Fluffy, and watch for any signs of illness or injury. If you notice anything off, contact your vet right away.
Do you have questions about your pet’s health or care? Do you need to schedule a wellness exam? Contact us, your local Ellicott City, MD pet hospital, today!
