Routine wellness care is an essential part of your pet’s health care plan and one of the most effective ways to ensure they live a long, healthy life. Our Animal Medical Center of Marquette team is devoted to keeping your pet happy and healthy, and we explain how these visits can protect your pet from several serious diseases.

Routine wellness care protects your pet from infectious diseases

During your pet’s wellness visit, our team will ensure they are up to date on their vaccinations, which are necessary to protect your four-legged friend from potentially life-threatening infectious diseases, such as rabies, parvovirus, distemper, adenovirus, feline herpesvirus-1, feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia. Depending on your pet’s lifestyle and disease risk, we may also suggest vaccines for protection against kennel cough, leptospirosis, Lyme disease, and feline leukemia virus (FeLV). 

Routine wellness care protects your pet from heartworm disease

Year-round heartworm prevention is necessary to protect your pet from these parasites that live in and damage the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of affected pets. Heartworms, which are spread when a mosquito bites, can severely damage your pet’s cardiovascular system, leading to heart failure or lung disease, if left untreated. 

The best defense against heartworm disease is prevention medications that are typically administered monthly and are available in oral and topical applications. Our team can administer injectables every 6 to 12 months if you have difficulty medicating your pet monthly. We also can help you determine the best heartworm prevention product for your four-legged friend. Regular testing for heartworms is also crucial to prevent infections, even for pets on preventives.

Routine wellness care protects your pet from dental disease

Dental disease, including gingivitis and periodontal disease, is common in pets, affecting most pets to some degree by the time they reach their third birthday. Dental disease can lead to tooth loss, pain, and infection, and can also affect other organs, such as the heart and kidneys, if bacteria from the mouth enter the bloodstream. 

Regular dental care, including brushing your pet’s teeth daily, providing dental chews, and scheduling professional dental cleanings, is crucial to prevent dental disease. Early detection and treatment can prevent more severe issues.

Routine wellness care protects your pet from obesity

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), obesity affects 59% of dogs and 61% of cats in the U.S. You may think that a little extra weight makes your pet cute and cuddly, but the additional pounds increase their risk for serious health problems, such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and arthritis. 

During your pet’s wellness visit, our team weighs your pet and assesses their body condition score (BCS) to determine if they are at a healthy weight. If they need to lose a few pounds, we can recommend a safe and effective weight loss strategy and help you monitor their progress. Other tips to keep your pet at a healthy weight include:

  • Calculate your pet’s daily caloric needs, considering their weight, BCS, age, activity level, and spay/neuter status.
  • Carefully measure your pet’s meal portions to avoid overfeeding.
  • Limit treats to no more than 10% of your pet’s daily caloric intake.
  • Ensure your pet gets adequate daily exercise.

Routine wellness care is a commitment to your pet’s long-term health and happiness. A proactive approach can protect your pet from many common and potentially life-threatening conditions and can also save you money on costly treatments. Contact our Fear Free and American Animal Hospital Association-accredited team at Animal Medical Center of Marquette to schedule your pet’s annual wellness visit.