Even More Things Vet Techs (And Vets) Want Pet Owners to Know

If you haven't had a chance to read my first two in the series, you can check them out right here. Things Vet Techs (and Vets) Want Pet Owners to Know, and More Things Vet Techs (and Vets) Want Pet Owners to Know.

So, what else should I include in my list? Here are some more things that we want you to know. 

Though fat dogs and cats are extremely cute, it is not healthy for them. Overweight dogs and cats are more likely to have medical problems, such as diabetes and heart problems. The extra weight also makes it harder on them if they develop arthritis. They will struggle more to get around than those that are at a healthy weight.

Vomiting up hairballs is REALLY not normal. Though many people believe cats coughing up hairballs is normal, especially for those who over-groom themselves or are long-haired, the truth is that it isn't normal. If your cat vomits hairballs regularly, you should make sure to bring him or her in. Your cat may have allergies, which is causing him or her to groom too much, or your cat may also have a gastrointestinal problem that needs to be dealt with. 

Vaccines are not just a one-and-done deal! You would not believe the number of people who bring their pets in to be seen and think that they are up-to-date on vaccines. One kitten dose will not protect your cat for the rest of his or her life. Your pets are going to need multiple doses when they are young and then every one to three years for the rest of his or her life. 

That being said, preventative care is more cost-effective than taking care of the problem that may occur. Vaccines are cheap compared to the treatment of some of the diseases that your pet may get. Some of these, like Rabies, may be fatal if contracted, so you are going to want to make sure that your pet is well-protected. 

Many people also bulk at paying money for heartworm, flea, and tick medications. However, if your dog comes down with heartworms, it can be very expensive to treat. Your dog may not survive treatment either! Fleas and ticks carry plenty of diseases, such as Lyme disease, so you are going to want to make sure that your pet isn't at risk for these diseases. 

As more and more people are switching vets, it is important that your new veterinarian has as much information about your pet as possible. If you are switching veterinarians, you need to make sure that the new veterinarian has all of the records from your old veterinarian. This needs to be done before your appointment so that we aren't wasting your appointment time doing so. 

This may also save you money. If we don't see that your dog has had a heartworm test recently, we may require you to have one before we dispense any preventatives. If your pet is sick, we may recommend blood work that you may have already completed at your old veterinarian just a few days ago. Instead of repeating it, we may be able to do something different in order to come up with a proper diagnosis.

As veterinary professionals, we want your pets to have the best life possible. This means keeping them at a healthy weight and focusing on preventative medicine. Though you may think that it is just a waste of money, the truth is that it is a lot cheaper than the disease. Some diseases aren't curable, making it even more important to get that Rabies vaccine and keep your pets on flea and tick preventative.

Don't want to miss any? Here is the full list from the series:

Things Vet Techs (and Vets) Want Pet Owners to Know

More Things Vet Techs (and Vets) Want Pet Owners to Know

Missed the first series? You can check them out here:

The original: Things Vet Techs (And Vets) Are Tired of Hearing

The second part: More Things Vet Techs (And Vets) Are Tired of Hearing

The third part: Even More Things Vet Techs (And Vets) Are Tired of Hearing

The last one (I think): Some More Things Vet Techs (And Vets) Are Tired of Hearing

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Previously published on Medium and/or Newsbreak.