We all like to cut costs, but cutting out your pet’s annual wellness exams should never be stopped. It costs less to have a check-up than to treat a disease. The earlier a disease is detected, the more chance your pet has of survival. Comprehensive check-ups include blood work, fecal exams, as well as a hands-on exam. Glastonbury Animal Hospital of Glastonbury, CT, lists what diseases can be spotted in their earliest stages during health exams.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease not only leads to bad breath, great pain and tooth loss, but it can also lead to heart disease, as well as problems with the kidneys and liver. Ask our veterinarian about preventative care for your pet’s teeth, including how to brush your pet’s teeth and what treats you can give to improve your pet’s dental health.
Heartworm Disease
When suffering from potentially lethal heartworm disease, the first symptom a pet has is a low, constant cough. However, health exams that include blood work can check for heartworms before your pet even starts coughing. The sooner heartworms can be treated, the easier it is on your pet’s heart. Ask our veterinarian about heartworm pet disease prevention medication. This medication also prevents many other kinds of worms.
Kidney Disease
Getting a urinalysis as part of a comprehensive check-up is especially important for older dogs and cats since they are prone to kidney disease. Abnormal contents in the urine are the first signs of kidney disease in pets. Getting early treatment can help slow down the progress of kidney disease.
Giardiasis
Dogs and cats can pick up a microscopic parasite called giardia, which causes giardiasis. This disease causes bad-smelling diarrhea, vomiting and weight loss. It’s especially deadly in kittens and puppies since they dehydrate so rapidly. Dogs, cats, puppies and kittens can have giardia without showing any symptoms. Giardia and many other parasites can be detected with a fecal exam.
Cancer
Many pets grow lumps and bumps throughout their lives. Most of them are benign. Some are so small that they go undetected by pet owners. Pets may show no other signs of cancer other than growing these strange bumps. However, sometimes strange lumps and bumps can signal the start of skin cancer. Your vet needs to see and feel the bumps to determine if they should be biopsied to look for cancer. Removing cancerous tumors when they are small often prevents cancer from spreading to the rest of the body.
Still Have Questions?
If you still have questions about the benefits of compressive pet wellness exams and live in the Glastonbury, CT, area, contact Glastonbury Animal Hospital at (860) 633-8394 to make an appointment today.