Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Pets

5 ways to keep your pet away from the vet

A vet's advice. - by Laura Barry
  • 20 Jul 2018

Pet ownership comes with both positive and negative aspects. On one hand, we love their little personalities and the happiness they bring us. On the other hand, no one likes cleaning up pet poop or paying for large vet bills. It’s important to be a responsible pet owner, so we asked Dr Cherlene Lee, veterinarian and owner of Sydney’s My Vet Animal Hospital, for some simple, practical tips to keep your pet in purr-fect condition. This is her advice.

1. Keep their vaccinations up to date

Set reminders in your calendar so you know when your pets’ next vaccination is due, They are essential for protecting against nasty and deadly diseases such as parvovirus and kennel cough in dogs, and Feline Panleukopaenia, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (also known as feline AIDS) and FeLV (Feline Leukaemia Virus) in cats.

kitten getting vaccination at the vet
Getty

2. They are what they eat

A complete and balanced diet that provides all the nutrients your pet needs is the best way to keep them healthy. This can be easily done by choosing a pet food that meets the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards and passes the AAFCO feeding trial tests. Try to stick to feeding your pet with about 90% good quality dry food and 10% treats such as cooked chicken breast, and you should have a fur-baby with good teeth, good weight, and good poop!

Puppy sitting in food bowl
Getty

3. Eliminate pests

Ensure your pet is wormed and protected from fleas. It will help keep your pets – and even you, as some worms in pets can be transferred to their human owners – in top shape. A lot of dog owners get confused by heartworm and intestinal worms. Intestinal worms are mainly transmitted through ingesting infected faeces, heartworm is transmitted via mosquitoes. Since these two are completely different, you will need to worm your dog for both. For cat owners, a combination of spot-ons and worming tablets will ensure your kitty cat is fully protected from tummy worms and fleas.

Kitten in bath with wet head
Getty

4. Treat any toilet troubles

This may sound gross, but you should know what your pet’s pee and poo look like. Make a mental note on how often they are doing numbers one and two. Any changes in the shape, colour or consistency could be an early indicator of something more serious. If your pet has diarrhea it’s best to bring them to the vet immediately as they can lose a lot of water and get very sick, very quickly. For example, diseases like Haemorrhagic Gastroenteritis can be very aggressive in

dog and cat outside on grass
Getty

5.Do a DIY health check

We may often feel like our pets can communicate with us and let us know exactly how they are feeling, but unfortunately we can’t understand what every ‘woof’ or ‘meow’ means. So, you should always try to pick up signs of illness early. For example, I bathe my dog and cat every two weeks and use that time to run a quick health check on them at home. Things you should be aware of include:

  • Teeth – any gingivitis, tartar/plaque build up
  • Eyes – any abnormalities including cloudiness
  • Ears – any discharge or foul smell
  • Skin – any redness/pimple like lesions including any lumps or bumps
  • Weight check
  • Energy levels or change in behaviour, e.g. lethargy, inappetence
Sleeping kitten with toy mouse
Getty

You might also like:

6 ways to help your dog live longer

4 questions to ask yourself before adopting a rescue pet

How to look after your pets skin in winter 

  • Pets
  • Better Life
Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

5 of the most common health problems for pets

5 of the most common health problems for pets

How to prepare your pooch for the great outdoors this summer

How to prepare your pooch for the great outdoors this summer

Trick to keeping ants out of your pet's food bowl

Trick to keeping ants out of your pet's food bowl

8 ways pets can boost your health and wellbeing

8 ways pets can boost your health and wellbeing

{headline}

{headline}

Your complete guide to becoming a vet in Australia

Your complete guide to becoming a vet in Australia

How to do a pet health check at home

How to do a pet health check at home

This DIY pet-treat recipe is vet-approved

This DIY pet-treat recipe is vet-approved

{headline}

{headline}

How to spot anxiety in your cat

How to spot anxiety in your cat

How to look after your pet's skin in winter

How to look after your pet's skin in winter

Why you shouldn't let your cat sleep in bed with you

Why you shouldn't let your cat sleep in bed with you

How to stop your dog jumping up on people

How to stop your dog jumping up on people

2 reasons why you shouldn't bury a pet in the backyard

2 reasons why you shouldn't bury a pet in the backyard

Nigerian dwarf goats

Nigerian dwarf goats

How to stop your dog barking in the car

How to stop your dog barking in the car

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Shop This Offer
Treat yourself to a subscription