The importance of preventive care for your pet in Jacksonville, FL

The health of your pet is at the heart of all that San Marco Animal Hospital in Jacksonville, FL, does. Yet, our team at San Marco Animal Hospital appreciates that budget plays an important consideration. Concerns over cost should never stand in the way of your furry loved one getting the care that he or she needs to stay happy and healthy.

One of the best ways to keep your wallet happy and your pet healthy, is to maintain all of those “run-of-the-mill” annual and routine visits. Just as preventive check-ups, screenings, and exams are vital to your health, preventive care is also vital to the health of your pet. These visits also support your financial wellness by catching problems early and treating them before they become a major financial burden or emergency. Consider this:

• Core puppy vaccines cost, on average, $75 to $100 (CareCredit)
• Medications to treat stomach and intestinal inflammation caused by parvovirus and/or gastroenteritis cost around $5,000 (Trupanion)

By doing all you can to prevent problems that require treatment, as well as early detection of problems, you keep more money in your pocket and more years with your pet. Moreover, you help your pet avoid the trauma and pain of conditions that may lead to a need for extensive treatment, and the risks that might be associated with invasive procedures. The joy and time you and your pet share is ultimately priceless, and we understand this. That is why at San Marco Animal Hospital we provide your furry baby with care that won’t break your bank.

Examples of preventive care available at San Marco Animal Hospital include:

• Grinding and clipping nails – Prevents nails overgrowing into the paw pad, from putting painful pressure on toe joints, compromising your pet’s natural alignment, and increasing his or her risk of injuries. Also helps prevent us people from getting unwanted and accidental scratch marks!
• Anal sac expression – When expressed properly, this can prevent anal glands from becoming impacted, infected and/or even ruptured. Dogs can also develop masses within the gland, so routine rectal palpation is important for early detection.
• Ear cleaning – Removes dirt, debris, and wax build-up; helps to prevent infections and check for other problems (such as polyps) within the ear canal.
• Vaccinations – Helps your pet’s immune system recognize diseases, fight off harmful invaders, and reduce the severity of illnesses (such as canine parvovirus and feline distemper)
• Microchipping – Electronic identification helps to reunite your pet with you should he or she ever unexpectedly get lost. Collars may break. Tags can be damaged or fall off. But, once registered, the microchip is a reliable way to trace your pet back to you. So, you can have a joyous reunion!
• Spay/neuter – Beyond responsible “popular control,” pets that aren’t spayed or neutered are at increased risk of developing serious medical conditions such as:
  • Mammary gland cancers, which can grow quite large to the point of rupture (opening) causing bleeding, infection, pain and ultimately can become untreatable
  • Pyometra, (an infection of the uterus) that can lead to septic shock and even death if left untreated (females)
  • Prostate enlargement, that can cause severe pain and lead to compression of the urethra. This can cause a medical emergency in which your pet cannot urinate (males)
• Routine blood work – A crucial part of annual “well” exams, routine blood work allows us to monitor your pet’s “normal” blood work values and screen for potential abnormalities. It also helps us detect diseases early, such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, or autoimmune diseases. Early detection of these abnormalities can be vital, but also much less expensive to treat if caught early.
• Parasite testing – Fleas and ticks, roundworms and hookworms, and a range of other parasites can carry serious diseases, some that are able to infect people too! These parasites are easily preventable and treatable, however if left unchecked, they can cause all sorts of health problems including anemia, weight loss and nutrition deficiencies.
• Routine dental cleaning – Scaling and polishing regularly assures your pet’s teeth and gums are healthy for comfortable chewing, early identification of tooth root abscesses and other problems before they also wreak havoc on overall health. As with humans, gum disease is associated with kidney, liver, and heart conditions.
• Heartworm Testing – In Florida, there is no mosquito season and unfortunately we have these pesky little bugs year round. Not only can mosquitoes carry infectious organisms to people, they can also carry infectious parasites to our dogs and cats, specifically heartworms. Heartworm prevention is inexpensive and easy to administer, however extremely painful and expensive to treat. Ask us about Proheart, an injection that eliminates the need for monthly oral heartworm medication and keeps your dog protected from heartworms for 6 months!

These and other types of preventive services more than pay for themselves, by maintaining your pet’s quality of life, avoiding traumatic and costly experiences as well as potentially eliminating the need for high-risk treatments. Call 904-516-9767 to to schedule your dog or cat’s visit with us at San Marco Animal Hospital in Jacksonville, FL. Don’t forget to ask about our wellness plans, which include all your pet’s yearly preventive care that allows for an affordable monthly payment, rather than all up front!