Although health and wellbeing of animals and people should not be limited to a single month, veterinarians and veterinary associations have chosen to designate October as Pet Wellness Month. Pet Wellness Month is celebrated in many veterinary hospitals with fund raisers, open houses, or other initiatives used to raise awareness of pet owners about the importance of health maintenance in animals, and the importance of animals in human lives.
Animals age at a much faster rate than humans, and most veterinarians now recommend that pets receive at least one general health examination per year. Middle-aged to senior pets should be examined twice a year, or more often if they have been diagnosed with certain illnesses. Wellness examinations, including diagnostic testing such as blood or urine analysis, radiographs, and electrocardiograms may pick up subtle changes that are early warning signs of disease.
Since animals are unable to tell us ‘where it hurts’ or if they just don’t feel ‘quite right’, it is up to the client to be an astute observer and report unusual habits or findings to their veterinarian. Veterinarians are trained to interpret the results of wellness testing, along with the pet’s behavior, lifestyle and travel history, and results of the physical examination, and formulate the most appropriate treatment plan for the individual pet.
In order to assist your veterinary team in treating your animal, you should be prepared to answer some important questions, such as:
The answers to these questions can provide us with vital clues as to your animal’s health and wellbeing. In many cases, early detection and treatment of sub-clinical disease can lead to a longer and better life for the pets that we love and care for.
