How To Protect Pets From Disease Risks (NAPSA)—One of the best ways pet owners can protect their pets is through twice-ayear wellness exams, including a disease-risk assessment from their veterinarian. “All cats and dogs, including indoor pets, are at some level of risk,” says Gregory Hammer, DVM andpresident of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). “Fortunately, disease risks can be reduced through better education, regular wellness exams and disease-risk assessment from a veterinarian.” To help pet owners understand their pet’s disease risks— and what they can do to protect them—the AVMA and Fort Dodge Animal Health have sponsored the National Pet Wellness “Being A Pet Is Risky Business” campaign. Pets can be exposed to disease- causing organisms in common areas such as parks, backyards and even inside the home. These organismscan bespreadby: Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes * Wildlife Other pets, even if they appear healthy Drinking from puddles or standing water * Contact with another animal’s urine or stools People—on hands, clothing or shoes. Tokenit a ized disease prevention program, including vaccinations, that’s right for your pet. The veterinarian may also rec- ~~ i < . A risk assessment can help your veterinarian recommend ways to reduce disease risks that your pet may be exposedto. Risk assessment helps veterinarians determine the diseases each pet may be exposed to and the best way to prevent them. The assessment begins with a veterinarian or veterinary technician asking a variety of questions about the pet’s behavior, lifestyle, travel history and other factors. Questions include: Does your pet go outdoors unsupervised? Is there wildlife in your area? * Does your pet have the opportunity to drink from puddles or ponds? * Do you own more than one pet? Based on the answers, the vet- erinarian develops an individual- ommend other ways to reduce disease risks such as flea and tick control, heartworm prevention or increased supervision when your pet is outdoors. At-risk pets can be protected from many common yet deadly diseases such as leptospirosis, Lyme disease, feline leukemia virus, calicivirus, giardia and rabies when pet owners schedule a wellness exam with their veterinarian twice a year. Seeing the veterinarian twice a year is important because pets age much faster than people do. By age 2, most pets are already adults. By age 7, many pets are entering their senior years. And, because dogs and cats age so rapidly, major health changes can occur in a short period of time. That’s one reason twice-a-year wellness exams help with prevention. It’s much easier to prevent disease or treat early than to treat once it becomes serious. Nearly 15,000 veterinary clinics participate in the National Pet Wellness campaign. More information about pet wellness, disease risk assessment and prevention is available at www.NPWM.com.
