Proactive pet care essential in low cash times

Simple preventative steps towards pet health care can help prevent expensive vet bills in the future, pet owners are reminded, as everyone continues to watch the pennies.

A regular health care routine helps to keep your pet healthy and happy and is more likely to avoid serious and costly health problems in the future, the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) advises. If an emergency happens, or a long term health problem develops, unwelcome costs can soon add up.

Three straightforward steps you can take are to ensure regular exercise for your pet, check and treat for fleas to avoid skin problems, and vaccinate against important diseases.

”Walking your dog is absolutely free and helps to avoid obesity and its potential consequences such as diabetes or joint problems – for both you and your pet,” says NOAH chief executive Phil Sketchley. “It’s also a great de-stressor for both canine and human mind.” NOAH advises that it’s not just dogs that need their exercise: all pets will live healthier, happier lives if they have appropriate exercise and stimulation for body and mind.

Left untreated, fleas can cause more than a simple itch – they can lead to serious skin problems that can be tricky – and costly – for a vet to deal with.

Vaccination is important to protect pets against some of the more serious health problems, including cat ‘flu in cats and parvovirus in dogs. Routine vaccination against preventable disease such as parvovirus is good practice for all dogs.

Yet with reports that more people are choosing to holiday in the UK, this may provide an opportunity to take your pet with you. But even though your dog is not going into kennels, it does not mean you can skip the booster vaccine because, if you do take your dog on holiday, it is likely to come into contact with other dogs. “It’s still important to keep your dog’s vaccines up-to-date if you are not putting your dog in kennels and are taking it away with you,” says Phil Sketchley. “Vets are reporting that vaccination rates are down. Yet there are parvovirus outbreaks throughout the UK – from the Highlands of Scotland to south west England. You don’t want to expose your dog to completely unnecessary risk by making what could prove to be a very false economy.”

NOAH adds that the best way to identify how best to keep your pet in good health is to seek specific advice from vets and pet care professionals. For help locating your nearest vet and pet shop, plus lots of other news and advice on looking after your pets, www.pethealthinfo.org.uk is a good ‘one stop shop’ for information.

One final note of advice is not to be tempted to ignore the renewal notice on your pet insurance, as it could well save you money in the long run. “You can never tell what’s around the corner. Insuring your pet leaves you financially equipped to deal with unexpected health problems,” Mr Sketchley adds.

Ends

26 June 2009

Notes for Editors

1. For further information contact Phil Sketchley or Alison Glennon at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131, or visit the NOAH website.

2. The National Office of Animal Health was formed on 1 January 1986 to represent UK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animal health products. The association has 31 corporate members and 10 associate members. In 2006 the NOAH sales survey showed a total market of £373.2m, around 90% of the total UK market.

3. The Pet Health Information website is a ‘one stop shop’ featuring a wealth of animal health information and advice to help owners and potential owners to make decisions about their pets’ healthcare.