Preventative Pet Health Care

Spaying/Neutering

Spaying your female pet can help prevent infections, some tumors, and cancers of the reproductive tract. Neutering your male pets will also prevent cancers and decrease the incidence of prostate problems.
 

Declawing cats

It's part of your cat's nature to sharpen its claws, so save your furniture and walls by providing a scratching post. For indoor cats, if you decide to declaw, consider declawing only the front feet, so if the cat gets outside it has some mechanism of defense. For outdoor cats, you can avoid declawing by keeping nails trimmed or using nail caps.
 

Vaccinations

Very young puppies and kittens are highly susceptible to infectious diseases. This is especially true as the natural immunity provided in their mothers' milk gradually wears off. The best way to protect your young animal companion against disease for the first few months of its life, is to make sure it receives a series of vaccinations, usually 3-4 weeks apart. For most puppies and kittens, the final vaccination in the series is administered when they are 12 to 16 weeks old.

Not all pets should be vaccinated with all vaccines just because these vaccines are available. What vaccines are appropriate depends on your pet's lifestyle, access to other animals, and travel to other geographic locations.

For many years, a set of annual vaccinations was considered normal and necessary for dogs and cats. Veterinarians have since learned that immunity triggered by some - but not all - vaccines provides protection beyond one year.

Although most pets respond well to vaccines, vaccination carries some risks. Most potential side effects are mild and short-lived, including fever, sluggishness, and reduced appetite. Pets may also experience temporary pain or subtle swelling at the site of vaccination. Although most adverse responses will resolve within a day or two, excessive pain, swelling, or listlessness should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian.

Remember that while vaccination is not without risk experts agree that widespread use of vaccines within the last century has prevented death and disease in millions of animals. Even though some formerly common diseases have now become uncommon, vaccination is still highly recommended because these serious disease agents continue to be present in the environment.
 

Dental Care

Dental care is an important part of your pet's preventive health care. It is estimated that by age three, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show some signs of gum disease. Bad breath is an early warning sign of gingivitis. Small dog breeds are more likely to develop tooth problems because their teeth are crowded into small mouths. Bad breathe, a yellow brown crust of tartar around the gum line, pain or bleeding when your pet eats may indicate the presence of gum disease.

The key to dental health is a dental care routine at home. 

Avoid over-restraining your pet and keep brushing sessions short and positive. A cat or small dog can be held in your lap. Praise and reassure your pet throughout the process

At first, dip a finger into beef bouillon for dogs or tuna water for cats. Rub the soaked finger gently over the pet's mouth and teeth.

Gradually, introduce gauze over the finger and gently scrub the teeth in a circular motion.

After a while, you can brush the teeth of your dog or cat using a soft toothbrush designed for pets or an ultra-soft brush designed for people. Don't use toothpaste designed for people because it could upset the animal's stomach
 

Be alert to changes

It is important to be aware of your pet's normal behavior, so you can recognize what is not normal. Consult your veterinarian if your pet shows any of the following signs:

• Abnormal discharge from the nose, eyes, or other body openings
• Abnormal behavior, sudden viciousness, or lethargy
• Abnormal lumps, limping, or difficulty getting up or lying down
• Loss of appetite, marked weight losses or gains, or excessive water consumption
• Difficult, abnormal, or uncontrolled waste elimination
• Excessive head shaking, scratching, and licking or biting any part of the body
• Dandruff, loss of hair, open sores, or a ragged or dull coat
• Bad breath or excessive tartar deposits on teeth