Vet’s wish list: Ways to keep pets healthy

While you may already take your pets to the vet regularly, here are three health tips that vets encourage all pet parents to follow:

– Start an oral hygiene regimen. Brushing your pet’s teeth regularly can help prevent tartar buildup.

– Get your pets spayed or neutered at the appropriate age. This action will reduce your pets’ risk from contracting cancers and infections and increase their life expectancy.

– Stick to a monthly parasite preventive. Heartworm infection is transmitted through mosquitoes, so it’s easier to prevent rather than treat. Plus, heartworm treatments can be hard on a pet’s body and costly for owners.

– Dr. Rizal Lopez, SPCA Tampa Bay Veterinary Center