Five Things Your Vet Wishes You Knew About Your Pet
We love animals. That’s why we’re in the business we’re in. We like to build relationships with our pets, and with their owners, so we can see these animals thrive and live their best life. But sometimes even the most well-meaning pet parents don’t always do what’s best for their pet. As a veterinarian in Saint Francisville, LA, we see it as our duty to educate pet owners on how to best care for the pets they love. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of five things we wish you knew about your pet.
How to tell when your pet is in pain
Animals can’t tell you when they are feeling lousy. Most pet owners expect their pet to cry or whimper when in pain, but this is rarely how it works. Instead, pets usually try to do things to avoid the pain, such as curling up or sleeping a lot. If you notice your pet acting abnormally or seeming fatigued or even depressed, this may be a sign that he is in pain.
Human medicine is for humans
If you weren’t feeling well, you wouldn’t take your dog’s medicine—you don’t know what kind of affect it might have on your body. The same principle works in reverse. Painkillers such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen were not designed for animals, and can be life threatening. Please be sure to talk to your vet if you think your dog needs any vitamins or other medications.
Human food is for humans
Most pet owners now know that chocolate is toxic to most animals, but there are a lot of other “people foods” that can be dangerous to your pet. Onions can cause health problems for your pet, and the artificial sweeteners found in a lot of foods can cause liver disease. And while some human foods may be safe for some animals, they can be very dangerous for others. To be safe, it’s best to keep the human food for the humans and the pet food for the pet.
Your pet’s dental health is important
Unfortunately, even some of the best pet owners tend to ignore their pets’ dental health—and, unfortunately, your pet will not show signs of dental disease until it is often too late. It’s important that you have your pet’s teeth checked regularly and follow your vet’s instructions for dental care.
Don’t wait to talk to your vet
People often wait until their pet is showing severe symptoms before calling their vet, and by then your pet may have been suffering for a long time or, in the worst-case scenario, we may not even be able to help. If you notice anything abnormal about your pet’s behavior, don’t wait to talk to your vet. Better safe than sorry!
If you want to learn more about what you can do to ensure your pet stays healthy and happy, come see us at St. Francisville Animal Hospital. We’d love to get to know you and your pet and become your trusted veterinarian in Saint Francisville, LA!
Categorised in: Dog Health