10 Cost-Saving Tips For Your Pet's Healthcare

Cutting expenses is on everyone’s mind these days. While we can cut back movie nights and nail treatments, we can’t stop providing for our pets. On average a dog costs $800 - $1,200 per year and a cat costs around $500 - $800: and that’s just for the basics of food and healthcare, without the fancy boutique items and grooming. While pet food and cat litter remain fixed expenses, there are steps that you can take to reduce the amount of money that you spend on your pet’s health. By planning ahead you can lower the chances of having to pay costly veterinary bills. Making prevention of problems your goal will not only save you money but it will also keep your pet happier and healthier.
1. Vaccinations. New infectious diseases are on the rise and veterinarians have found that staying current on vaccinations is a far less expensive way of protecting your pet than treating an illness which could have been prevented. Discuss with your vet which vaccinations are necessary as well as the frequency with which future vaccinations need to be administered. Highly contagious and potentially fatal diseases are part of core vaccines. Additional vaccine selection depends on your pet’s lifestyle, how often he’s outdoors, exposure to other animals, and and life stage, and are not uniform for all pets
2. Parasite Protection. Heartworm occurs when a mosquito bites an animal that has been infected, gets the worm larvae in its blood and then goes on to bite a healthy animal. While this disease is more common in states outside the Rocky Mountains, it has found its way into our Utah ecosystem. It is extremely debilitating and can be fatal if left untreated. There are a number of safe, effective heartworm medicines for both dogs and cats that also protect agains other intestinal parasites that can be transmitted to people. However, while over-the-counter products may be less costly, thay can be dangerous and less effective. Talk to your vet about the best products for your pet. By preventing worms from infecting your pet you can avoid expensive x-rays, bloodwork, and injections for your pet, your children and yourself.
3. Dental Care. Just like you, your pet’s mouth needs to be kept clean every day. Oral care is extremely important in your pet. Infected gums and tartar can lead to more serious infections throughout the body. Invest in specially formulated toothpaste for your pet in addition to a diet that promotes good dental health. There are also gels and rinses that can be used to aid the cleaning process. Look for safe chew toys that rid your dog’s teeth of plaque build-up. Make it a point at your next visit to the vet to ask about dental care so that you are equipped to do it at home. That way you can prevent expensive and painful extractions and infections down the line.
4. Exercise & Diet. Like humans, cats and dogs are also experiencing an obesity epidemic. In 2007, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention found that 43% of dogs and 53% of cats were overweight. Even 1-2 extra pounds in a small pet is equivalent to an extra 20-30 pounds for you and me. Also like us, increased weight leads to heart disease, diabetes and a number of other ailments. While it’s easy to show our pets love by giving them an extra treat, think twice before you do. A fat pet is most likely unhappy and unhealthy. With regular exercise and a well rounded diet, you can prevent weight-related illnesses and give your animal a better quality of life. Don’t skimp on quality by choosing bargan foods. Select the highest quality food you can afford. Your veterinarian can help you make sense of pet food labels. Check your local paper and even your vet for money saving coupons and frequent buyer programs.
5. Pet Insurance. While you may have trouble securing your own insurance, pet insurance has become increasingly available. By paying a small monthly fee, pet owners can get coverage for costly procedures, medications and visits to the vet. There are a variety of different plans out there so do some research to find one that’s right for you. Many plans have premiums and co-pays, and may have restrictions for particular breeds or require that you go to a certain veterinarian. Greater technology in veterinary medicine also means higher costs. Insurance is a practical way to pay for most of the treatments that your pet may require in the future.
6. Wellness Exams. Do not forgo the yearly exam for your pet if you want to save some money and you think your pal is healthy. Animals age more rapidly than humans and often do not outwardly show signs of illness until the later stages of the disease. Use the visit to ask questions about the latest in treatments, nutrition and dental health so that you are in the know. Many illnesses are treatable if caught early on, so save yourself and your pet the pain and suffering and make that trip to the doctor.
7. Spay/Neuter. All pets should be spayed or neutered when they are young; however, it’s never too late to have the procedure done if your pet has not been fixed. Having this done not only prevents unwanted pregnancies in your pet but it also ensures a great chance of reproductive health. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 50% of all breast tumors in dogs and greater than 85% of all breast tumors in cats are malignant. Spaying your pet when young greatly reduces the chances of mammary gland cancer and other illnesses that afflict the reproductive system, as well as helps prevent many behavior problems.
8. Prevent Accidents. Whether ridding your house of poisonous plants or foods that are harmful to animals, take the time to make your home pet-friendly. Also, think about new items that are brought in on a daily basis. Don’t leave your medications or cleaning products lying around. Be cognizant of open doors and broken fences to prevent runaways and car accidents. Use baby gates to keep animals off of new furniture or a light colored rug. Move vases and antiques out of reach. While you can’t avert all disasters you can minimize the risks by preparing a safe environment for your animal companion.
9. Know Your Pet. Be familiar with your breed and your specific pet. If you know that your pet is prone to joint problems, discuss with your vet ways to prevent or delay the onset of arthritis. There may be a particular diet or certain medicines that will help your pet live without pain and prevent a more serious and costly illness in the future. Think about your pet’s routines. If you can tell that certain times of year or certain behaviors are typical when your pet is unwell, take action before the ailment is full-blown.
10. Give Love. An enjoyable and easy way to nurture the health and well being of your pet is through love and attention. A pet that is loved is more likely to be well behaved and less destructive. The more time you spend with your pet, the more easily you can determine when something is wrong with his health. Taking your dog to the park or giving your cat an extra cuddle is also free!!

Oral Home Care

Latest Product Available: OraVet
Bad breath may be a sign of bacteria attacking your petʼs teeth and gums. Make sure you are taking your petʼs bad breath seriously.
The Family Pet Hospital is now offering a breakthrough product called OraVet. While other products may remove plaque and tartar, OraVet is the first plaque prevention system. It significantly reduces plaque and tartar formation by creating an invisible barrier that helps prevent bacteria from attaching to your pet's teeth. This breakthrough approach to oral healthcare begins in the hospital when Dr. Madsen applies the OraVet Barrier Sealant after your pet's dental cleaning. It continues at home when you apply the OraVet Plaque Prevention Gel weekly to your pet's teeth and gum line. The OraVet system helps to reduce plaque buildup and calculus formation on your petʼs teeth between dental cleanings.
Our role at the Family Pet Hospital is to recommend a dental cleaning for your pet once a year, which would include an application of OraVet barrier sealant to the newly cleaned teeth. In order to maintain adequate protection against periodontal disease it is recommended that you follow-up weekly with the at home OraVet applications. The at-home process is simple and easy. OraVet is tasteless and you should have no problem applying it to your dogʼs teeth.
"The American Animal Hospital Association recommends applying an anti-plaque substance, such as a sealant, as an essential step in dental cleaning. That's why applying OraVet sealant is standard procedure for every dental prophy in our clinic. OraVet allows our clients to keep up with their pet's oral hygiene after they leave the clinic. The once-a-week home care component is easy, and clients tell us that their dogs respond well."
Thomas A Carpenter, DVM, President 2007, American Animal Hospital Association
Please contact the Family Pet Hospital to set up your complimentary dental check with a nurse today or if you have any questions please feel free to contact us.
Family Pet Hospital
448 North 1600 West
Mapleton, UT 84664

VIN Buddies

West Vancouver veterinarian Cathy Wilkie, Animal Medical Hospital
Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia veterinarian Walter Britt Schaffeld, Animal Medical Center
Toronto, Ontario veterinarian Allen Gignac, Yorkville Animal Hospital
Morgantown, WV veterinarian Steve Zucker, Animal Medical Center
Colchester, CT veterinarian Janet Ford, DVM, Paw Prints Animal Hospital
Addison, TX veterinarian David Landers, Brookhaven Pet Hospital
Plymouth, MA veterinarian Norm Stillman, Court Street Animal Hospital
China Grove, NC veterinarian Scott R Vaughan, DVM, China Grove Animal Hospital
Adelaide veterinarian Mark Reeve, Tea Tree Gully Veterinary Hospital
Clinton Township, MI Hardev Saini, veterinarian, Great Lakes Animal Hospital
Baltimore, MD veterinarian Sue Reiter, Rosedale Animal Hospital
Nanuet, NY veterinarian Michael Goldmann Nanuet Animal Hospital
Cincinnati, OH veterinarian Richard Seaman, Madeira Veterinary Hospital
Garden City Park, NY veterinarian Keith Niesenbaum, Crawford Dog and Cat Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey veterinarian Akif Demerel, Istanbul Veterinary Polyclinic
Saanichton, BC Canada veterinarian Nick Shaw, Shaw Pet and Equine Hospitals
Brooklyn, NY veterinarian Jo Ann Greenberg, Atlantic Animal Care
Chilliwack, BC Canada veterinarian Josephine Banyard, Little Mountain Veterinary Clinic
Sioux Falls, SD veterinarian Angie Anderson, Heather Ridge Pet Hospital
Stuart, FL veterinarian Gary Zinderman, Animal Health and Healing Center
Jacksonville, FL veterinarian Barbara Kempf, Parkway Animal Hospital
Nashua New Hampshire veterinarian Richard McAroy, Lowell Road Veterinary Center
Greenlawn , New York veterinarian Jeff Garretson, Greenlawn Animal Hospital
Sunnyside, NY veterinarian Stuart Goldenberg Sunnyside Pet HealthCare Center
Pensacola, FL veterinarian Shelly Ashley, Cordova Animal Medical Center

What is pet wellness?

At Family Pet Hospital we will treat your pets as though they were our own. This includes doing all that we can to prevent or minimize injury or disease. We seek to help your pets enjoy the best quality of life and to help them live a healthy lifestyle.

Pet wellness includes a thorough physical examination done every six months, routine health screenings, ongoing communication between yourself and the veterinarian, and a risk assessment for the pet’s individual lifestyle.

Why do pets need an exam every six months?

Dr. Marty Becker, a veterinarian and spokesperson for National Pet Wellness Month, discusses in an interview how our pets age at a more rapid rate than we do as humans.

“On average, most dogs and cats reach adulthood by age two... By age four, many pets are entering middle age. And by age seven, most dogs, particularly large breeds, are entering their senior years.”

“Because dogs and cats age seven times faster, on average, than people, significant health changes can occur in a short amount of time. And, the risks of cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, heart disease, metabolic problems and other serious conditions all increase with age.

Many pet owners are not aware that taking a dog or cat to the veterinarian once a year is the same as a person seeing their doctor or dentist once every seven years, says Dr. Becker. He recommends pets have a wellness exam every six months so that veterinarians have the opportunity to detect, treat or, ideally, prevent problems before they become life-threatening.

"Prevention is the real goal of twice-a-year wellness exams," says Dr. Becker. "When veterinarians see a pet on a regular basis, they can help pets avoid some preventable illnesses and diseases. Plus, a pet will never have to suffer from pain that could be treated or prevented by the veterinarian."

Dr. Becker’s full interview can be found at:
http://www.npwm.com/pdf/Q&AwithDr.Becker.pdf

How old is my pet?

You can estimate your pet’s age by clicking on the link below:
http://www.npwm.com/petagecalculator.htm

Pet wellness screenings check for a variety of potential diseases. These screenings are usually accompanied by an individualized risk assessment of your pet's environment - where you live, emerging disease risks in your community, your pet's interaction with other pets and wildlife, travel plans, and other lifestyle considerations.
Pet wellness exams help your veterinarian determine a proper prevention program, including a vaccination schedule tailored specifically for your pet. By using personalized pet health protocols, veterinarians can pinpoint specific preventive health care needs for your pet.

Here is a list of some of the most important health screenings for cats and dogs. Dr. Madsen may recommend additional tests depending on your pet's health history and other factors.

Adult dogs (1-6 years) Additional exams for senior dogs (7+ years)

Vaccinations Osteoarthritis check
Parasite screen (fecal sample) Chest radiograph
Heartworm test Thyroid check
Dental health
Blood panel (CBC)
Chemistry panel
Urinalysis

Adult cats (1-6 years) Additional exams for senior cats (7+ years)

Vaccinations Osteoarthritis check
Parasite screen (fecal sample) Renal (kidney) disease screen
Heartworm test Thyroid check
Dental health Blood pressure check
Blood panel (CBC)
Chemistry panel
Urinalysis

Remember that your pet is worth it! They deserve the best care. Please call the Family Pet Hospital to set up your pet’s six month wellness exam.