A New Year For Your Pet’s Health

The start of the new year motivates many of us to set new goals and gain a fresh start for the upcoming year. Although, setting a resolution to make personal changes is often easier said than done whether we set the bar too high for ourselves or lose motivation along the way. What if we made resolutions with our pets? This New Year, try making some changes to improve your pet’s health and happiness. Happy, healthy pets can only help to make happy and healthy owners!

More Time For Playtime

Make a simple resolution to set aside dedicated time to play with your dog or cat. Use a classic favorite or try a new toy to keep them interested. Playtime is not only fun and stimulating but also gives your pet the positive social attention from you. Playtime is also a good way to get them up and moving, especially for indoor cats.

Tricks & Training

Challenge your dog or cat by teaching them a new trick or start some training. Sharpen up on obedience skills, join a training class, or work on some behavior problems. Teaching a new skill or practicing a learned one is a good way to keep your dog or cat’s brain active and promote mental health. Reward them on a job well done with positive reinforcements like training treats.

Don’t Skip the Vet

Scheduling your dog or cat for their yearly exams is essential to keep them healthy and happy. Prevention is the best medicine. Regular exams allow your veterinarian to detect any potential diseases, which are easier to manage when caught early. If your pet already has a medical condition, check-ups are vital to ensure your pet’s condition is being managed and allow your vet to adjust any treatments. You may need to visit your veterinarian more frequently if your pet is taking prescription medications or treatments like insulin injections or fluid therapy. 

Stay On Schedule with Preventatives

Mark your calendar, set your phone reminders, and place your post-its to keep on schedule with flea & tick, dewormers, and heartworm preventatives. These medications are only effective for a specific amount of time so it’s important to give them on time. Skipping or delaying doses can leave your dog or cat unprotected from heartworm disease, intestinal parasites, fleas, ticks, mites, and other parasite infections. While being uncomfortable, these infections also pose a significant risk to your dog or cat’s health. And heartworm disease treatment is not currently available for cats. Learn more.

Keep Those Pearly Whites

Make a resolution to practice regular oral hygiene habits with your dog or cat. Dental care is often overlooked but it plays a large role in your pet’s overall health. Dental conditions like periodontal disease can cause inflamed gums and lead to painful tooth extractions. Regular cleanings and oral exams by your veterinarian paired with good home hygiene habits will keep your pet’s teeth in top condition. Accomplished with patience and pet toothpaste, daily brushing is one of the best ways to prevent plaque and tartar buildup. Dental chews, water additives, and dental diets are also very beneficial for dental care at home.

Healthy Diet

One of the most common resolutions for people is to start a healthy diet, make this one for your pet too!  Always talk with your veterinarian about your pet’s current food and seek their advice before changing your dog or cat to a new food. Making sure your pet’s diet fits their nutritional needs is a great way to keep them healthy. Animals that are working and activities require different nutrition than young and growing or senior aged animals. Some medical issues require special therapeutic diets to help manage their condition.

Grooming

Grooming your dog or cat is a great way to bond with your pet and keep them looking and feeling great. Brushing removes excess fur, reduces shedding inside your house, and distributes the natural oils of the skin. This can be a calming and productive activity for both you and your pet. Your pet will love the extra attention. It also allows you the chance to look over your pet’s body to check for any skin problems. Time for some new tools? Check out the furbliss grooming brush.

 

Have you made a New Year’s pet resolution? Leave us a comment below!

 

October is National Pet Wellness Month

Halloween is right around the corner, meaning little ghosts, zombies, and vampires will be out and about. You know what’s really scary? Skipping an annual wellness exam with your pet’s veterinarian! Getting an annual wellness exam for your pet is important for the same reason that regular checkups are essential for humans – they help to find problems before they start. They can also help to identify conditions and illnesses early on, when chances for treatment and cure are often times dramatically better.

To stress the significance of health care for pets, VetRxDirect joined the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and other prominent veterinary groups in promoting National Pet Wellness Month in October. But the importance of wellness exams doesn’t end with the month.

Pet Wellness Month
The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends pet owners schedule examinations twice a year as well as regular wellness screenings including urinalysis, blood count, blood chemistry, thyroid hormone testing, and parasite and heartworm checks. If it’s been more than six months since your pet’s last checkup, schedule a wellness visit with your pet’s veterinarian today.

To celebrate and help raise awareness of the importance of pet wellness, we’re offering a limited time 15% OFF coupon with the code WELLNESS for use at our online store.* Hurry! This coupon expires Halloween at Midnight.

Time for a Check Up!

kitten_examWhen was the last time your cat or dog got a health check up? If it’s been more than a year, you’re overdue for a trip to the vet.  October is National Pet Wellness Month, so it’s the perfect time to focus on your pet’s health.

Here at VetRxDirect, we really support the relationship between pet owners, their pets, and veterinarians. Your veterinarian knows what’s best for your pet. Annual exams for your pet help ensure that your veterinarian can make informed, ongoing decisions about your pet’s medical care.

Just like humans, dogs and cats need regular medical care to help maintain good health.  And skipping annual check ups is more detrimental to pets. Think about it — each human year equals about seven dog years, so when you skip your dog’s annual appointment, it’s like missing seven check ups.

What are the benefits of regular veterinarian check ups?

Healthier pets – You’ll always have the right type and dosage of maintenance medications — like heartworm, flea and tick preventatives — as your pet grows up.

Save money in the long run – Yearly exams are more likely to catch medical problems before they become serious and require costly medications and treatments.

Special care for senior pets – As your dog or cat ages, check-ups become even more important because older pets face more medical issues. Your pet’s veterinarian is your best resource for recommendations on medications and supplements that keep senior pets healthy and comfortable in their golden years.

Don’t wait – make a vet appointment for your pet today! And if we can help with anything from supplements to supplies, just let us know.

We’ll be here for you pet’s medication needs,

Wes