Winkler Veterinarians are reminding pet owners of the importance of yearly check-ups.

According to Winkler Veterinarian Dr. Jenesa Banman, these wellness visits allow vets to identify potential health complications, and update an animal's medications or vaccinations.

Dr. Jenesa Banman.

 

"I think vaccines are essential; it's one of the easiest and probably one of the best ways to protect our pet's health. The diseases we vaccinate our pets against are severe diseases, and they could have short and long-term consequences."

Banman says these appointments allow you to express any concerns for your pet's wellbeing and a chance for vets to look over your pet's blood work. This blood work can give insight into the overall health of the animal says Banman, alerting vets to potential health problems before symptoms are apparent.

For dogs, vaccinations Winkler vet clinic gives are for rabies, distemper virus, parainfluenza, canine adenovirus, parvovirus, Lyme disease, and for dogs exposed to other dogs, an annual bordetella vaccine. Cats receive vaccinations for rabies, panleukopenia, calicivirus, rhinotracheitis, and feline leukemia.

Banman says vaccinating our pets isn`t only for their wellbeing, but our`s as well.

"The rabies vaccination is important, the rabies virus isn`t extremely common in pets, but many of our pets like to explore, and they have a much higher risk of making contact with wild animals than we can. Because of the seriousness of the disease of rabies virus in people, rabies vaccines should be given to our pets."

Parasites are another reason to bring your pets in for a check-up says Banman, and although they can't vaccinate for parasites, you can give your pet medications to protect them from worms, fleas and ticks, and by proxy, reduce your exposure to parasites as well.

Banman notes if owners have any questions about their pet's health, or have a un-conventional pet, they should contact their local veterinarian and ask what diseases their animal is at risk of and what vaccinations they should receive.