The lifetime of pets is also shorter than humans, and unfortunately, they go through chronic illnesses before they pass away. This is why we need to spend quality time with our pets, giving them the care and attention they need especially during the times when they need us the most. 

How To Take Care Of Your Pet 

Pet care is challenging, and you need help from the whole family in watching over your pets. Get them on board in terms of your pet's physical and medical needs so that everyone knows what to do even when you are not around. 

Make sure that your pet's living conditions are comfortable and are aligned with its natural habits and preferences. If necessary, make adjustments to your own house such as mini doors or stairs that will give them easier access to the other rooms, plus a comfortable sleeping area that is away from cold and humidity. 

Have a regular veterinarian who knows your pet's health record and medical history. This will make it easier to detect any abnormalities in your pet's condition, giving you better chances to get them treated at the onset of any illness or deterioration of their health. They may recommend pet supplements to take every day, or a change to their diet if they feel like this may be a reason for some issues they may be facing.

Take your time when choosing a veterinarian, and don't just go for the first one that you find. Similar to when you are looking for a doctor for yourself, it is important to find someone whom you are comfortable with. Of course, he should have a rapport with your pet as well.

Your veterinarian should also be able to explain to you any treatment procedure or medication that is prescribed for your pet. When needed, your vet should be able to administer compounded pet medication, which is a cocktail of different medicines that has been customized to fit your pet's specific condition. This helps minimize the possible risks and side effects that your pet may experience from taking the drugs.

Vet Visits For Your Pet

With a regular veterinarian on your team, it will be much easier to monitor your pet's health condition. But since you are the one spending the most time with your pet, you should also familiarize yourself with its medical care to keep it in top shape.

One of the first things you should know is the recommended check-up schedule for your pet. According to specialists, this largely depends on your pet's age. For the first four months after their birth, most pets need to be checked and vaccinated every four weeks to protect them from common animal infections. They may also need to be medicated to protect them from fleas, ticks, and other parasites.

At 6 months, you need to bring you pet back to the vet to be spayed or neutured. This is also a good time to gauge its development and see if it is growing normally. After this, you only need to visit once year, barring any sickness or abnormal behavior.  Your visit frequency increases to twice a year when your pet gets older, at about 7 years and above, to ensure that they get the protection and care they need for their old age. 

Aside from the regular check-ups, you also need to watch out for any signs of illness so you can bring your pet to the veterinarian immediately. One of the more common signs of illness in pets is a sudden change in habit or behavior, such as abnormal bathroom patterns, loss of appetite, irritation, or restlessness.

There are also physical signs that can indicate bad health conditions such as vomiting multiple times in a day, changes in breathing, coughing, unusual eye movements, dilated pupils, excessive shedding of fur, or bald patches. Any bumps or lumps in their body that were not there before should warrant a quick check-up as well.

Sometimes, your pet will exhibit obvious signs of pain like limping, whining, restrained movements, yelping, or flinching. These are symptoms that should not be taken lightly because most pets have a high pain tolerance and will normally not show it if they are feeling well. That is why when they do show pain, it could be an indication of a more serious condition. 

List down all your observations and share them with your veterinarian when you bring your pet to the clinic. This will help your vet diagnose the condition faster, then your pet can get the right treatment as soon as possible.