Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital 2009 / Healthy Homebodies

Healthy Homebodies

by Shannon M. Pecora, M.A.

Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital

Rabies can be passed from infected bats. Heartworms come from carrier mosquitoes. Ticks can give us Lyme disease. So we know that we need to protect our dogs from exposure during hikes or camping trips, meaning that we schedule semi-annual veterinary exams, maintain their vaccinations, and use preventative products. But even “couch potato” dogs and indoor-only cats are at risk, so they need regular veterinary care as well.

Your pet’s daily schedule might be mainly comprised of meals and naps, and he might seem wholly content with that lifestyle. However, we really should not encourage inactivity. Physical and mental fitness are just as important for them as for us, and routine vet exams can help determine if an underlying medical condition is the cause of the inactivity. The veterinarian can recommend appropriate treatments, medications, diet changes, supplements, or exercise regimens as needed. Follow-up visits can then help you monitor your pet’s progress and make adjustments accordingly.

Also, even if your pet rarely ventures beyond your own backyard, those bats, mosquitoes, and ticks can unfortunately still pose a threat. We’ve all heard stories of bats trapped in residential attics. We’ve swatted at mosquitoes in our kitchens. We’ve hopped in the shower after working in the yard and discovered that we’ve brought in a few stow-away ticks. Or, have you ever stepped in doggie doo just before entering your house? Have you ever seen your pet eat a cricket (potential roundworm carriers) in your basement? Ever notice that your cat likes to hop up in your bed just after walking through, using, and digging around in the litter box? Creepy, but true—there are countless ways for even the most sheltered pets to contract and spread diseases, infections, and parasites. And when you consider that just one heartworm can be fatal to your cat, or that your entire family can suffer from hookworm infestation, the value of regular and preventive veterinary care becomes clear.

While lifestyle can dictate certain aspects of veterinary care, it is not the deciding factor in the actual need for care. We should see our own physicians routinely, whether we are avid outdoorsmen or easy-going homebodies, and such is the case for our pets. Personalized healthcare is an asset that we can offer our pets so they can live the best lives possible—no matter what activities fill up those lives.