Why Your Pets Should Regularly See a Veterinarian in Phoenix

But my pet's healthy! Why do I need to bring it in for a checkup every year? At North Central Animal Hospital we hear that question all the time. Once your kitten or puppy has gotten its vaccines and been spayed or neutered, the importance of regular veterinary care is less obvious, especially if a pet is otherwise healthy. The problem is in thinking that the veterinarian is someone who cares for sick pets. While that's undoubtedly true, our doctor's more important role is in preventive care. Taking care of medical problems before they become large issues will not only make your pet's life easier and less painful, it can save you time and office fees at the same time.

Veterinarian in Phoenix Advises on Regular Visits

The best time to take your pet for a regular checkup is when it's healthy and feeling good. This gives our doctor a chance to establish a normal baseline for your dog or cat. If you ever have a pet emergency, it's useful for us to know what's normal for your pet for the best comparison. In addition, regular veterinary exams look for many issues that may affect a pet's quality of life:

• Tooth and mouth problems can affect eating, digestion, and your pet's entire metabolism. We'll look for loose, missing, or broken teeth, swollen or reddening gums, problems with the tongue, and any abnormal smells. We can also advise you on tooth and gum care for your pet at home.
• We'll inspect your pet's feet, checking for problems with pads and inspecting the claws. If the claws are too long, we can clip them safely to a more manageable length.
• Our inspection of your pet's skin, fur, and underlying body can unearth a host of problems such as parasites, rashes, skin diseases, tumors, and other medical problems.

Much like a visit to your doctor, when you take your pet to the veterinarian you'll probably have questions you've been wondering about for a while. It's best to write them down so you remember them in the office. What's the most important question you've got about your pet's health care?