As a pet owner, you hope that the only time you will ever have to take your pet to the Dumfries Animal Hospital is for a routine checkup. When sitting at the Veterinarians Stafford VA residents often wonder why the other pets are there, read on below for a few of the top reasons that pets visit vets.
Skin Allergies and Urinary Tract Diseases
According to statistics, these problems are at the top of the list as to why pets visit vets. When sitting at the Veterinarians Stafford VA residents are often there for these reasons. Skin allergies topped the list for dog visits, while urinary tract diseases topped the list for cats. The average cost of treating the dogs was $187, while treating the cats topped out at $422.
Ear Infections and Dogs
The second most common reason for a dog to be at the vet was an ear infection. Sometimes, skin allergies and ear infections in dogs go hand in hand. It seems that some dogs have a lot of hair in their ears, which can easily cause their ears to collect moisture, resulting in an ear infection.
Skin allergies can cause your dog to scratch at their ears nonstop, which produces bacteria that leads to an infection. If you notice your dog scratching at his ears a lot, it is best to see your vet right away.
Hyperthyroidism and Cats
Hyperthyroidism is the second leading cause of cats being at the vet’s office. This condition can be life threatening for cats, and usually presents itself, as the cat gets older. If your cat eats constantly, but is still losing weight, then you will need to have him checked by the vet as soon as possible.
Dental Problems and Arthritis
Arthritis and dental problems in both cats and dogs ranked high on the list. People really don’t think about having their pets teeth cleaned on a regular basis. However, it is just as important for them to have regular checkups, as it is for you. Arthritis also seems to be on the rise with dogs as well as cats.