How to save money with preventative healthcare
Although our vets might treat conditions such as diabetes, obesity and parvovirus every day, did you know that conditions like these are often preventable?
Just like humans, unhealthy pets are more susceptible to a range of other medical conditions and often have a lower quality of life. Not only are these conditions bad for your pet, but they are also bad for your pocket!
The simplest way pet owners can give their pets a chance of a long, illness-free life is by keeping them as healthy as possible, and it will save money as well!
Top 5 tips
This includes getting your pet microchipped and neutered, and making sure they stay up to date with vaccinations and flea and worm treatments.
Parasite control (flea, tick and worm prevention) is a particularly important part of caring for a pet. Parasites pose a range of risks to our pets - some can transmit fatal diseases, whilst others can cause major discomfort. Some parasites can also affect human health. There are a number of different options available, so make sure to speak to a vet about the best anti-parasitic treatments on offer.
Vaccinations are also a really important part of preventative health care. A vaccination appointment is more than an injection – it is a thorough medical exam: your vet is trained to spot the early signs of medical issues, meaning treatment or management can be started as soon as possible, therefore reducing the risk of it becoming more serious (and potentially more costly)!
The best way to stay on top of your pet’s preventative health care is through one of our Health Plans: these provide a clear and structured approach to giving your pet the best possible care, and they also help spread the cost of preventative treatments throughout the year. Some Health Plans can also be paid for up front, meaning your pet’s preventative health care is covered for the whole year in one go!
Making sure you are feeding the most appropriate diet is an important part of supporting your pet’s health. Their nutritional needs are affected by species, breed, exercise levels, weight, life stage, overall health and whether they have been neutered. Their diet might change several times during their life.
If you have any concerns about your pet’s diet, or even if you just want to ensure your four-legged friend stays as healthy as possible, stop by your local Pets at Home store for a free nutrition consultation or speak to your vet.
Just as you look after your own teeth to prevent plaque and dental disease, you must also care for your pet’s teeth.
Dental disease is uncomfortable, even painful, for our pets and treatment generally requires a general anaesthetic with your pet spending a day at the clinic. Thankfully, there’s plenty you can do to reduce the chances of your pet needing dental treatment.
Ensuring your pet gets enough exercise is important for both their physical and their mental wellbeing.
Cats need either outdoor access and/or opportunities to climb and play indoors.
Dogs should be walked every day. A good mental exercise for dogs is scent work: it’s mentally taxing for your dog, improves the bond between you both and it’s also great fun!
Grooming your pet does more than just help them to look good: it’s great for bonding and it’s also a form of massage, encouraging circulation and distributing natural oils through the skin and coat.
Grooming allows you to check for lumps and bumps and keep an eye out for parasites such as fleas and ticks.
This is important for all pets, but especially for rabbits, as matted and knotted fur can not only irritate the skin, but can lead to flystrike which is often fatal.
Health Plans to keep your pet healthy
At Vets4Pets we offer a range of Health Plans that make essential routine treatments more affordable. You'll save money on things like annual vaccinations, flea and worm treatment and routine health check-ups.
Read more expert pet advice
From healthy diets to preventing fleas, find free and helpful pet health and training advice to care for your pet.