By now, most US pet owners are familiar with the idea of shared care. A pet owner is informed of all relevant details regarding an upcoming procedure or medical treatment. They are allowed to agree or disagree with whatever the veterinarian proposes.
Some clients feel this works well and prefer to be more involved in their pet’s healthcare; however, many people are happy to leave the decision-making to their veterinarian. There is another option that may be more beneficial for them: Pet wellness consultation.
Why Would You Want Wellness Care?
Wellness care is very similar to traditional veterinary medicine, but with one significant difference: it is not concerned with diagnosing or treating medical conditions. In wellness care, the focus is on preventing health problems from occurring in the first place.
The approach can save you money in veterinary bills and decrease the stress associated with visits. Here’s a breakdown of six critical areas that wellness care will focus on following.
1) Nutrition
Wellness care will help you create a diet appropriate for your pet’s age, lifestyle, and health condition. Nutrition is a crucial component of preventing disease and promoting long life.
You can also talk to your vet about the benefits of alternative treatments and supplements like CBD in pet wellness consultations. In recent years, CBD has gained much media attention for its wide range of health benefits. It may help your pet combat several diseases, and a wellness consultation can help make you the right choices.
2) Exercise
Wellness care involves a comprehensive fitness plan customized to suit your pet’s individual needs. It includes advice on types of exercise, how often they should do it, and even when they can take time off if necessary. The goal is always to keep your dog or cat as healthy as possible so that they can live a long and active life.
3) Prevention
One of the goals of wellness care is to prevent diseases in the first place by minimizing exposure to potential health risks. This includes things like reducing your pet’s stress, where you live, what toys they play with, and how much time they spend outside. You’ll also want to ask your regular vet about how important it is (or not) to vaccinate for certain diseases.
4) Medical Risks
It’s impossible to predict your dog’s or other pet will get sick, but wellness care can help minimize the risk of anything serious occurring. For example, you may talk with your vet about how often to schedule checkups or how long you should plan on keeping your pet on heartworm medication.
5) Behavior
Perhaps the most crucial benefit of wellness care is that it can help keep your pet happy and healthy in multiple ways. This includes proper training, enrichment, socialization, and behavior modification protocols if necessary. Even the best-behaved pet can benefit from a little extra help in this area.
6) Dental
Like people, dogs, cats, and other pets need regular dental care to keep their teeth and gums healthy. Wellness care includes a complete oral examination at least once a year and professional cleaning as needed. This can help prevent bad breath, gum disease, and even heart problems down the road.
What’s Next?
If you decide that wellness care is right for your pet, all you need to do after consulting with your veterinarian is ask for a complete list of which services are covered under your plan. Keeping track of what’s included in your plan can be challenging, so ask your vet to help you out.
Most importantly, remember that wellness care is a partnership between you and your vet. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach – it’s tailored to your pet’s specific needs. So make sure to keep an open line of communication with your veterinarian and work together to keep your dogs or other pets in the best possible health.
Featured image: Unsplash (Alvan Nee).
