Every year, you and your pet visit The Gentle Vet for your pet’s routine wellness care. Nothing seems out of the ordinary, but what’s taking place is anything but ordinary. That’s because right before your eyes, your pet’s routine wellness care is providing life-saving and life-enhancing benefits by preventing many common pet health conditions.

Here’s a quick look at routine wellness care and five health conditions that can be prevented.

What is routine veterinary wellness care?

Routine wellness care is a set of preventive measures that help keep your pet in optimal health. The typical wellness visit may include: 

  • Physical exam — The veterinarian checks your pet from head to tail, looking for signs of health problems.
  • Vaccinations — Vaccines create and support a strong immune defense against transmissible diseases, including rabies.
  • Parasite prevention and screenings — Fleas, ticks, intestinal parasites, and heartworms cause pets illness and discomfort. Routine screening tests detect parasitic diseases, while preventive products repel or kill parasites before they can harm your pet.
  • Oral health exam — The veterinarian will evaluate your pet’s teeth and gums for dental disease signs.
  • Blood work —  Regular blood work helps monitor your pet’s overall health and detect hidden illnesses.
  • Body condition assessment —  Monitoring your pet’s weight and body condition helps prevent obesity and related health issues.

5 Pet health problems that can be prevented with routine wellness care

Routine wellness care may not look exciting, but each aspect of your pet’s care at The Gentle Vet builds a powerful defense against life-altering pet diseases and illnesses. Here are five common conditions that routine wellness care can easily prevent.

  1. Obesity — Obesity is a serious health problem for dogs and cats that impacts more than their appearance. Excess weight can lead to joint problems and increase your pet’s risk for diabetes, cancer, and heart and kidney disease. Regular veterinary visits help monitor your pet’s body condition and provide guidance on proper nutrition and exercise.
  2. Dental disease — Dental disease is the most common preventable condition in dogs and cats, affecting as many as 80% of dogs and 70% of cats by 2 years of age. Dental disease occurs when plaque bacteria move below the gum line, triggering inflammation, discomfort, and decay. Left untreated, severe dental disease can lead to tooth loss and organ damage, but routine wellness care, including dental exams, cleanings under anesthesia, and dedicated at-home care, can effectively prevent or halt this common and debilitating condition.
  3. Heartworm disease — Dogs and cats are vulnerable to heartworm disease, a potentially fatal condition transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Routine wellness care includes annual heartworm testing for dogs and annual physical exams and year-round heartworm preventives for dogs and cats, which can ensure your pet is protected against this devastating, yet preventable, disease.
  4. Parasitic infections and infestations — Fleas, ticks, and worms are common parasites that can make your pet sick and cause itching, skin infections, and other health issues. Routine wellness care involves parasite prevention treatments and checks to keep your pet free from these unwanted visitors. Parasitic issues must be addressed early to avoid complications.

  5. Infectious diseases (i.e., vaccine-preventable diseases) — Vaccines protect your pet from many serious and potentially deadly diseases by creating an appropriate immune response. Appropriate vaccination—including boosters—ensures a reliable defense against common viruses and infections, including:
    • Rabies
    • Parvovirus 
    • Distemper in dogs 
    • Influenza in dogs
    • Feline panleukopenia in cats
    • Feline leukemia in cats

Your pet’s veterinarian will create a personal vaccination protocol for your pet based on their health, age, and exposure risks, which they will review at each wellness visit. This ensures peak protection at all times, while minimizing any risks associated with overvaccination.

Routine wellness care may seem ordinary, but the benefits for your pet are extraordinary. Through these small yet consistent efforts, you and your pet’s care team at The Gentle Vet are ensuring their lifelong health, safety, and well-being. Don’t let preventable diseases or conditions steal time with your precious pet—contact us to ensure their routine wellness care is up to date.