A Look at Serious Diseases in Pets - Reed Animal Hospital

It can be hard to know when your pet is ill because animals cannot tell their owners when something is wrong. Because of this, it is essential to take your dog or cat to your vet near San Jose for regular checkups and vaccinations to maintain your pet’s optimum health. It is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the kinds of things that can affect a cat or dog’s health.

Diseases Associated with Aging

As dogs and cats age, they can be at risk for a few diseases. Arthritis is a common affliction for older pets that affects their joints. It can be quite painful and keep them from moving around like they used to. A vet can diagnose arthritis in your pet and recommend treatments to help keep your pet comfortable and moving. Kidney disease affects many senior pets and requires blood work and treatment. Aging dogs and cats may also develop diabetes and become insulin-dependent. Your vet can help you develop a regimen for insulin shots, diet, and exercise to help manage your pet’s diabetes.

Diseases Associated with Lifestyle

Many of the diseases that cats and dogs suffer from are due to lifestyle factors. Dental diseases, such as gum disease, can seriously and adversely affect your pet’s health by contributing to heart or kidney conditions. Caring for your pet’s dental health, whether by brushing or adjusting diet, can help to prevent this. Obesity is another disease that is easily prevented, as long as you provide your pet with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Overweight pets are at a higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, and premature death, so ask your vet to recommend ways to help your dog or cat lose weight and stay as healthy as possible.

Preventable Diseases

Having your pet vaccinated can help to prevent many deadly diseases, such as rabies, parvovirus, and distemper. It is important to have your pets vaccinated against these diseases, as they can spread easily. Heartworm can be spread to cats and dogs by mosquitoes, but a monthly preventative can keep your pet’s heart free of these worms. Regular veterinarian check-ups will help to ensure that your pet is up to date on vaccinations and help detect any diseases that do develop early on.