Get Set with your Vet
Overall, pet health begins with your choice in veterinarian. “My number one tip is to find a vet you trust who’s open to discussing your concerns about things regarding pet care that you’ve heard or seen online,” says Katie Berlin, DVM, an Associate Veterinarian with Shiloh Veterinary Hospital. “There’s so much information out there and a lot of it is well-intentioned, but just not accurate. Vets do what we do because we love your pets too and want them to be healthy.”
Parasite Prevention
Protecting your pet from parasites is one of the best ways to protect and nurture your pet’s health, says Dr. Berlin. “In Central PA, it’s not a matter of if a dog will be exposed to Lyme, it’s a matter of when. The vaccines are extremely helpful but true protection means tick control as well. Ticks hibernate in the cold, but they will come out even in 40 degrees, so prevention is a year-round necessity in this area.”
Healthy Hearts
Dr. Berlin strongly recommends heartworm preventative as well. “Heartworm prevention is absolutely needed even though our incidence of heartworm is low here in Central PA. It’s not zero—we see a handful of heartworm positive dogs in each of our hospitals every year—and treatment is risky and expensive. Importantly, the monthly heartworm preventative also deworms pets monthly for hookworms and roundworms, which can be passed to humans.”
Quality Flea Prevention Is the Cat’s Meow
Protecting your pets against parasites applies to cat owners as well. In fact, Dr. Berlin recommends parasite prevention for all feline patients. “Cats can get fleas even if they live indoors with no dogs in the house because fleas can hitch a ride on you.” And she recommends obtaining all preventatives from a veterinarian rather than a discount store. “Cheaper products are not usually as effective and sometimes not as safe,” Berlin says.
Furry Fringe Benefits
Pets boost our health! According to the Centers for Disease Controls (CDC), studies show that our pets positively affect our own human health in many ways—by decreasing our blood pressure, cholesterol levels and feelings of loneliness; and by increasing our exercise levels, outdoor activities, and socialization. Simply put, our furry friends can lower our stress and bring health and happiness to our lives.
