Owning a pet can be the one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, but it comes with responsibilities. Ensuring your pets are happy and healthy by regular veterinarian visits and maintaining preventative measures will help them live long and fulfilling lives.  

Preventing illness means that your pet not only lives a long and happier life, but it saves on significant medical bills later in life.  

The checklist below covers areas of regular treatment and checks for both cats and dogs. 

Preventive Health Care Checklist for Your Pets 

1. Flea and tick prevention method for your dogs and cats 

Fleas and ticks can be intense to manage, particularly if you have a flea infestation your house. If you’re searching for ways to prevent and manage fleas and ticks, we have a blog on everything you should know about flea and tick treatments.  

It’s important that you find a preventative method that works for you to keep your pets healthy and safe.  

2. Worms

There are different species of worms that can infect your pet and cause severe harm. A deadly parasite is heartworm which is mainly located in Queensland and the NSW northern rivers because of the wet and humid conditions. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquito bites and lives in the heart of your pet, this can be fatal to their health so it’s important to make sure your pet is on some sort of heartworm prevention.  

Other worm infestations can be equally as deadly to your pet's wellbeing so make sure you are giving a regular worming tablet throughout the year. 

3. Vaccinations 

Vaccinations against deadly diseases for your pet is a necessary part of their health care. Puppy and kitten core vaccinations are just as essential as baby vaccinations and will help prevent life threatening diseases. It is generally recommended that your pets receive a booster vaccination every year depending on your geographical location as this depicts what diseases are in the area. If you have any concerns, it’s always best to speak with your veterinarian for advice. We have an in-depth article about why you should get your pet vaccinated and the schedule of vaccinations for your pet that you should be following. 

4. Dental Care

Dental care is something that is often overlooked when it comes to caring for our pets. The statistics for the dental disease are quite high with over 80% of dogs having periodontal ease by the time they are 3 years old and over 60% of cats over the age of 4. Starting young with a good dental routine is a great way to get your pet used to brushing their teeth and checking their mouth for any dental issues. Implementing preventative measures is a great way to ensure proper dental care for pets. By giving them chew toys, dental chews such as OraVet and dental kits so, you can brush your pets' teeth regularly to prevent build-up. Every time you see your veterinarian your pet should have their teeth and mouth examined as part of their routine check-up.   

5. Grooming and hygiene 

Grooming your dog or cat is an essential part of being a pet parent, from clipping their nails, trimming fur, brushing their coat and giving them a bath. Depending on the breed of your pet you may require professional grooming services. Or if you’re comfortable you might want to try grooming your pet at home  

6. Nutrition 

Proper nutrition is probably one of the most important steps in the health and happiness of your pet. Just like our own nutritional needs dogs and cats have their own and research has shown that pets who have good nutrition live longer and have fewer health problems. A high-quality food that suits your pets' needs will be best suited. There are a lot of different brands too choose from and factors to consider based on your pet's life stage and health requirements. For example, puppies have different nutritional needs to adult dogs so feeding a high-quality puppy food such as Royal Canin Puppy helps support your puppy’s natural defences thanks to a complex of antioxidants and helps support digestive health and a balance in intestinal flora. 

7. Exercise 

Regular exercise for your pet is necessary for their weight management and mental health.  Regular exercise also provides healthy circulation and digestive care. Some breeds require more exercise than others so it’s important to do your research before you adopt a pet into your family. 

8. Wellness Screening and testing 

Even healthy pets should be regularly examined by a veterinarian at least once a year, preferably twice a year depending on health conditions and age. Physical exams and blood work can detect heart murmurs, enlarged lymph nodes, skin conditions, tumours or other problems.  

We offer Wellness Plans to ensure that vaccines, flea and tick medication and worming preventatives are never forgotten and support for affordable preventative health care assessments from our PetPA experts.

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