This holiday season, one of the best gifts you can give your pet is the gift of health.
Local veterinarians have expert advice on preventative health care for your pet from vaccines to dental care and grooming tips that lead to optimum health for your pet.
Vaccinating your pet is one of the easiest ways to help your pet live a long and healthy life. The vaccinations help prepare your pet’s immune system to fight off diseases.
“There are core vaccines every pet should have,” said Dr. Stacey Wright of Antioch Veterinary Hospitals. “They include rabies, the distemper combination for dogs – also known as DHPP – and the FVRCP for cats.”
The FVRCP vaccine for cats offers protection against three feline viruses: rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia, while the DHPP vaccination for dogs helps prevent distemper, hepatitis, parvo and parainfluenza.
While many other vaccines are offered, Wright recommends pet owners choose what fits with their pet’s lifestyle.
“If your dog goes hiking, he or she should get the rattlesnake vaccine,” said Wright. “If your dog is often near water, the leptospirosis vaccine is important, and if your dog goes to the groomer, dog park or a boarding facility, he or she should get the Bordetella vaccine.”
Dr. Tucker Avra, of Brentwood Family Pet Care, recommends additional vaccines for high-risk pets.
“Other vaccines that are administered to high-risk pets are the Lyme disease vaccine and the canine influenza vaccine,” said Avra. “The influenza vaccine is required at certain boarding facilities, including Disneyland, and the Lyme vaccine should be administered to dogs in high-tick areas, although yearlong flea and tick prevention is still strongly recommended.”
After giving your pet’s immunity a boost, pet owners should discuss their pet’s diet with their veterinarian, including choosing healthy food options.
“Choosing a pet food can be difficult because of differing opinions, understanding labels and often misleading marketing,” said Avra. “It’s best to pick a pet food that is tailored to their specific lifestyle (maintenance versus growth) and has gone through AAFCO (Association of American Food Control Officials) food trials.”
If your pet is experiencing diarrhea, vomiting or weight gain on a specific food, it is best to talk to your veterinarian.
Reading pet-food labels isn’t always the most accurate way to choose a food option for your pet.
“Pet-food companies are legally allowed to change the ingredients in food as much as they want for up to six months,” said Wright. “This means the list of ingredients may or may not be accurate.”
According to Wright, the order of the ingredients listed on pet-food labels is based on the weight of the ingredients before it goes into processing.
“This means that if an ingredient weights a lot, like corn, which has a lot of water, it will be listed first, but it isn’t necessarily the most dense thing in the product,” said Wright.
Finally, both Avra and Wright recommend that pet owners do not have to avoid giving their pet’s grains.
“The large majority of dogs with food allergies are allergic to beef or chicken, not grain,” said Avra. “The grain-free claim is mainly used for marketing purposes by food companies to entice pet owners to buy their product. In fact, when a food is grain-free, it means there is more starch in the diet which can lead to obesity.”
Wright also suggests that pet owners keep an eye on the amount of calcium in food, which can be hard on the kidneys over time. The optimal level is .5 to .75 percent.
Your veterinarian can help you choose food that has the best health benefits for your pet.
Grooming your pet is another important component to their health.
Your pet’s teeth should be brushed as often as possible, ideally every day. There are specific toothbrushes designed for making the job easier.
Clipping your pet’s nails is also important. Pet owners should evaluate their pet’s nails periodically to look for problems and see if they need trimming.
“Neglecting your dog’s or cat’s toenails can lead to painful ingrown claws or a nail that gets ripped off after getting caught on fabric or a bush,” said Avra. “Long toenails can also make it difficult for them to walk.”
When it comes to bathing, less is sometimes more.
“I usually recommend bathing no more than monthly since frequent bathing can dry out the skin and coat,” said Wright. “The exception is when a pet has a particular skin condition that requires medicated baths. Then the frequency is up to the veterinarian’s discretion.”
Finally, routine check-ups, including annual examinations, help keep your pet at optimum health.
Brentwood Family Pet Care is located at 4421 A Balfour Road, in Brentwood. For more information, call 925-240-7387 or visit http://ift.tt/2z9RvNa.
The Antioch Veterinary Hospitals are located at 5151 Deer Valley Road and 1432 W. 10th St., in Antioch. For more information, call 925-350-8938 or visit www.antiochvet.com.
