WELLNESS CARE
(TO LIVE BETTER, HAPPIER, HEALTHIER, AND LONGER)

Your Special Friend

We hope that you recognize and believe your dog and/or cat is a special companion and an important member of your family. He/she depends on you for nearly everything. And, he/she deserves a high level of care, according to your ability.

Dogs & Cats Cannot Talk

• Most of us forget about this, but please remember that your dog and cat cannot talk. Think about that for a moment - really think about it. Dare to play some mental role reversal here - you be your dog or cat. He/she be you. Just because your dog or cat 'appears' normal (to you - someone who does not speak dog or cat language), this does not in any way make it so. The lack of crying, lameness, lethargy, or diminished appetite does not necessarily mean a well cat or dog.
• You must observe your pet carefully. Remember that perception and reality often are not the same. And try not to assume.

 Preventive Care

• We believe passionately in preventive care. It makes so very much sense. In human medicine, in study after study, preventive care has been shown to be very much effective. No question. Slam dunk. Well, we are learning the very same thing seems to be so with dogs and carts. Big surprise!
• This is a big issue. Prevent. Prevention. Prevent. Learn to understand and believe that preventive health care (just like preventive human health care) is best for both your dog and cat and for you (and less expensive and less problematic in the long run).
• Learn to anticipate and prevent problems. Embrace warmly the concept of preventive feline & canine health care
• But - preventive care requires effort & attention on your par. It just cannot be done without you!
  

Water

• fresh & changed as needed
• virtually always available  
• bowl washed at least once a day
• did you know that many cats love those waterfall water fountains - try one

Feeding

• feed a measured amount and feed same measured amount each day
• feed adult dogs only once daily
• adult cats feed a divided amount twice daily; free choice feeding can lead to being overweight

 Housing

• provide appropriate and adequate housing
• the majority of dogs and cats (perhaps not all) probably prefer to live inside and be with you

Cat Litter Box (LB)

• this is maybe the biggest of the biggies of preventive care issues for overall cat wellness – but most pressing concern is cat urologic health (bladder infections & kidney disease)
• place LB in proper location(s) – i.e. near to where cat is
• use good litter (not all the same)
• scoop box (clumpable litter) or change box (clay litter) at least twice daily
• cats really want & they do need & they really must have a clean LB (all the time)
• see section on Litter Box Maintenance

 The Overweight Condition

• huge issue ('huge' issue - get it?)
• A recent study in dogs showed that 50% of dogs in America are overweight or obese. A national study has not yet been done for cats, but many cats are now overweight also. 
• the overweight condition in dogs - mainly musculoskeletal disorders (problems of the knee, hip, and lumbar spine) and breathing problems (especially in short nosed breeds).
• the overweight condition in cats – diabetes, liver disease, musculoskeletal disorders, lethargy, & decreased activity.
• appropriate weight is not so hard to maintain; see sections on Food & Feeding above
• overweight dogs & cats need low-calorie food.

Heartworm Disease Prevention

• This disease, passed by mosquitoes, occurs worldwide and is virtually 100% preventable.
• testing & medication to prevent
  
• many folks do this 12 months per year so that they do not forget & hence start too late and/or finish too soon
• other folks give this in the warm weather
• test yearly at Annual Visit (inexpensive, easy, & effective)
  

Pet Insurance

• it is becoming increasingly more popular in the U.S.
  
• an important consideration
• we highly recommend pet insurance
  
• our recommendation is Trupanion pet insurance
  
• see section on Pet Insurance
  

Tick Disease

• issue of real concern
  
• we used to say & speak of Lyme disease. No more. Now it’s tick disease – currently 5 diseases
  
• Hunterdon County has more than its share of tick disease
  
• vaccinate yearly against Lyme Disease
  
• use a veterinary recommended tick control product 12 months per year
  
• need both Lyme vaccination & tick control product for maximal protection
  
• we now also test yearly for tick disease at the Annual Visit
  
• ticks – no redeeming values – avoid & prevent
  
• see section on Tick Disease
  

 Fecal Examination

• easy & inexpensive
• at least once yearly to rule out internal parasites

 Dental Care

• issue of considerable concern – see section on Dental Disease
• 80% of all dogs & 70% of all cats by 2 years of age are affected with dental (periodontal) disease
• dogs & cats with high quality dental care (home & veterinary) and 'clean mouths' have fewer health problems, a higher quality of life, and they can live linger (less kidney disease)
• veterinary visits & cleanings as needed
• feed dry food (our view – not all agree)
• daily teeth cleaning – only 20 seconds/day - use our gauze or infant facecloth
  or small brush or whatever -but use something!
  

 Use Your Telephone

• call us if you have a question or problem
• the only silly question is the one you did not ask
• remember - you are your pet’s communicator

Office Appointment

• If you suspect a problem with your dog or cat, schedule an office consultation to see us
• If you need to discuss, review, or explore a problem or concern with your cat or dog, schedule an  office consultation to see us
• easy, usually effective, information packed, usually of good value, and often fun.

Senior Care & Issues

• this is a whole area
• with better care, our cats & dogs are living longer
• this increased longevity is a good thing - but along with it comes a new layer of needs, issues, responsibilities, and costs.
• again – very important reason to limit your number of dogs & cats 
• foods – may change
• exercise – will change
• house soiling issues may arise
• veterinary visits, care, & diagnostics may increase
• medications – arthritis, heart, kidney disease
• thoughts to ponder

Flea & Tick Prevention

• important, effective, and safe
• You can now choose to have no fleas on your dog or cat, now or in the future. But with ticks you can only very much decrease their number.
• fleas are much less of a concern these days (but a concern nevertheless)
• ticks are much more of a concern these days
• veterinary prescription products may be superior - more reliable, safer, and more effective
• tick products are 12 months per year

 Consider To Limit Your Pet Number To One or Two Or Maybe Three

• Controversial – but someone needs to say it. We ought to consider having no more than one, or perhaps two, or maybe even three dogs and/or cats. You may be the exception, but this probably applies to most of us.
• most of us do not have the time, effort, nor financial resources to care well for more than this number
• The finances for food, housing, toys, products, boarding & kenneling, veterinary services (preventive, diagnostic, dental, and illness), flea/tick products, and heartworm preventive medication are very real. For most of us these discretionary finances are finite, and they do not allow us to care well for more than one or two dogs or cats.
• Please think long and hard before you choose to exceed the number one or two. At least think about it.

 Love, Time, Care, & Affection

• Oral indications of how much we love our pet are nice to hear. But they are just words. We cannot spend this currency at the supermarket.
• Please, please, please - spend time with your dog and cat multiple times each day and every day. We are their whole, entire world. Think about it.
• Talk to your dog and cat. Hug, pet, kiss, tousle, play with, and love your pet. Spend time together. Have fun together. It is good for the both of you