Your local veterinary practice can provide not only pet health care but therapeutic services for pets. Veterinarians suggest that older dogs and cats be brought in twice a year for a checkup. And if you have a kitten or a puppy, you’ll need to schedule a visit every three to four weeks for vaccines until he or she is 16 weeks old.

Grooming and therapeutic bathing services are an option for the busy owner who doesn’t have time to do the job. And a pet dermatologist can address any persistent skin conditions that are making your pet uncomfortable.

Dogs are a part of some 46,300,000 households, and 38,900,000 of them own cats. We owe it to our pets to educate ourselves regarding their needs and how best to meet them.

It’s important that every adult dog get at least one walk every day. Puppies require much less exercise. In fact, over-exercising a growing puppy can cause it to become overtired and even do damage to its developing joints. That can bring on early canine arthritis. Ideally, you should provide just five minutes exercise up to twice a day for each month of age until a puppy is fully grown.

Don’t overfeed your pet. They need far fewer calories than you might think. A small, inactive dog can do quite well with 185 to 370 per day. And a ten-pound cat requires only 240 to 350 daily. Your veterinarian can recommend a feeding regimen that’s tailored to your cat or dog’s age, weight and lifestyle.

Statistics show that about 80% of dogs and 70% of cats will begin to show signs of dental disease by the time they’re three years old. That can mean abscesses, loose teeth, and chronic pain that may not be obvious to us. Our dogs and cats often don’t let us know when they’re not feeling up to par. So providing regular therapeutic services for pets can help to make their lives more comfortable.

Don’t wait until there’s an emergencey. Check with your local veterinarian or pet hospital to see what therapeutic services for pets are available to you.