Get Your New Pet Proper Veterinary Care With These Steps
When you get a new pet, you make a commitment to look out for its well-being. One of the ways you can be a responsible pet owner is by getting your new animal the veterinary care it needs. Don't wait until after you bring your new dog or cat home to start researching veterinarians. You'll want to be prepared in case any unexpected situations arise. Here are three things you should do to ensure your new pet has proper veterinary care:
1. Decide where you'll take your new pet to the vet.
Find a veterinarian for your pet as soon as you decide to adopt. When searching for a vet, you'll want to consider the distance from the vet's office to your home. If your pet has an emergency, it'll be easier to get your pet quick medical treatment if you don't have to drive too far. An animal hospital is an excellent place to get your dog or cat all the veterinary care they need. Animals hospitals handle emergencies, but that's not all they do. Many vets run their daily practices out of animal hospitals. Animal hospitals are convenient for busy pet owners since lab work can typically be done in-house.
2. Schedule a spay or neuter appointment.
Spaying or neutering your pet is the responsible thing to do. Having your pet fixed will ensure you never have to deal with an unwanted litter of puppies or kittens. It also protects your pet against deadly diseases like breast cancer and testicular cancer. When you call the animal hospital to schedule your pet's first wellness check, take the time to schedule a spay or neuter appointment as well. Male animals can be neutered when they are only a few weeks old, but vets sometimes like to wait until female animals are at least a few months old.
3. Give your pet's veterinarian their current medical records.
Whether you purchased your new pet from a breeder or adopted them from an animal shelter, you should receive medical records detailing the treatments your pet has received. Your pet's medical records are important because they let the veterinarian know which shots, if any, your pet has already had. Your veterinarian will be better able to treat your pet when they have as much information as possible. Your pet's records will be kept on file at the animal hospital if you make it your pet's primary place of care.
To learn more, contact an animal hospital like Center-Sinai Animal Hospital.
