Taking care of your pet is a lot of work…and it’s worth every second.
Pets warm our soul. They provide us with laughter and fond memories, keeping us company during lonely nights and always lending an ear when we need someone to talk to. What happens when you need to look into a sudden health issue? While it can be tempting to do a dog heartworm test at home, veterinarians are equipped with the very best technology and medical expertise to give you a definitive answer if your pet’s health takes a surprise dip.
Here’s what you should know when you find yourself in need of veterinary laboratory equipment.
Pet Facts
What do you know about pets in the United States? You likely are familiar with the popularity of cats and dogs, if you don’t already own a few of both yourself. There are over 80 million dogs in the country as we know it, right alongside a whopping 95 million cats. Americans are also nothing if not extremely dedicated to the art of owning an animal. According to PetFinder.com, their poll revealed over 60% of dog owners and around 55% of cat owners will give their pets presents for Christmas. Clinical diagnostics laboratory equipment are some of the best gifts you can give your pet, ensuring their solid health year-round.
Dogs
Dogs are some of our most stalwart companions. When they get sick, your first instinct is to get to the root of the problem. Heartworm is a common, yet easily fixed disease, especially if you reach out to experts equipped with the very best veterinary laboratory equipment. Infected dogs can have up to 30 worms or more in both their heart and lungs, making it hard for them to breathe, run or keep food down. Thankfully, puppies under seven months of age can be started on a heartworm prevention plan to avoid an occurrence like this. Remember to get them tested six months after your first visit, then again six months later.
Cats
What about your cat? Although they can get similar diseases, they often show different symptoms that can be easily misinterpreted if you’re more familiar with dogs. Whereas dogs with heartworm disease can have quite a few before they start showing signs of illness, a cat needs only one or two before they start displaying the telltale signs. These include throwing up, unexplained lethargy and difficulty breathing. Other illnesses cats can accrue are skin conditions, ticks and fleas. Contract lab services recommend you bring your cat in every year, regardless of whether or not they’ve been sick recently.
Horses
Over two million people in the United States own horses. Just like dogs and cats display different signs of illness, horses have their own unique traits you need to keep track of. Horses are known as ‘inapparent carriers’. This means they show no overt signs of being ill until they’re at a very serious state, which can make it hard to give them the care they need. A particularly deadly illness is equine infectious anemia (also known as the EIAV). How bad is it? A mere one-fifth of a teaspoon during a feverish episode contains enough of the virus to infect over 10,000 horses. Veterinary laboratory equipment is essential to making sure you don’t lose your close friend unexpectedly.
Visiting The Vet
From heartworm to horsefly viruses, it seems there’s always a reason to drop by your local veterinarian and ask for a check-up. Today one million dogs are estimated to be heartworm positive. This treatment can cost up to $1,000, a hefty sum for people already on a budget with bills, food and student loans. Consider investing in a monthly preventative bargain to save on cash while not compromising your pets’ health. There are pet insurance plans you can either buy outright or customize for your dog or cat, giving you the peace-of-mind necessary to usher in the rest of the year in style.
Taking care of your pet is a lot of work…but it’s certainly easier with the aid of veterinary laboratory equipment.
More like this blog.