Every family likely has a calendar filled with activities and appointments, ranging from weekly sports practice to bi-annual dental cleanings. If there’s a pet in the family, they should have a spot on the calendar too.

The most important appointment for pets is their annual visit. According to Dr. Robert Hess Jr., owner of Winter Park Veterinary Hospital, pets age much faster than humans, so for a dog or cat, visiting the veterinarian annually is equivalent to a human going for a wellness check and blood work every five to seven years. 

“Every pet should be seen by a veterinarian on a yearly basis to monitor health, lifestyle and ensure your veterinary team can address any issues before they become a problem,” says Hess. “If detected early, 75% of common diseases in dogs and 63% of common diseases in cats can be prevented by dietary modifications alone over a one-year period.”

Preventive medicine is even more important when one considers that pets don’t always show us when they are in pain or might have an illness, and that goes for more than dogs and cats. “Exotics, small mammals and reptiles are notorious for hiding any symptoms until it is almost too late. This is an evolutionary behavior for survival in the wild,” he says.

“Wellness blood work when your pet is healthy is the only way to identify and treat these diseases early before they start to affect your pet’s health and happiness.”

By the time pet parents notice changes in their pet’s behavior or habits, the problem has already existed for a long time. Hess says to watch out for increases or decreases in drinking, urination or energy level. “Owners know their pets, so many times intuition is a good instinct to follow. Even if you can’t put your finger on it exactly, if something ‘seems’ wrong or different, it often is and it’s worth a visit to the vet.”

One of the biggest medical concerns among pets is obesity, says Hess, which needs to be addressed by diet and exercise. And just like humans, pets also get diabetes and have kidney disease, thyroid disease, heart disease and arthritis. “All of these issues can be treated and stand a better chance for long-term success the earlier they are detected,” he says.

In recent years, efforts have been made to improve the food we give our pets. Carole M. Brooks, founder and CEO of Pawsitively Pure Dog Food, headquartered in Longwood, launched the company in 2007 after a major pet food recall. She realized how influential a dog’s diet was to their health and longevity.

“The [commercial] dry food is carbohydrates loaded with minimal nutritional value. Since kibble is far from ideal pet nutrition, for optimal health feed your dog a minimally processed, high-quality animal protein, healthy fats, fiber, with low starch content,” she says.

“A growing body of research proves that lightly cooked diets are easier for dogs to digest, as well as shows positive microbiome changes and improved overall gut function.” 

Brooks says dog owners should always consult with their veterinarian before making any changes.

Innovations in pet health care are evolving just as quickly as human health care. “Modern veterinary practices use technology and treatment modalities very similar to human medicine,” says Hess. “For example, at Winter Park Veterinary Hospital, we utilize a CT scan for all our dental procedures to reduce the time our patients are under anesthesia and to get a more complete look at their anatomy. Laser therapy, acupuncture, nutrition, behavior medication and the use of pharmaceuticals to treat diseases like osteoarthritis and dermatological issues in pets have been game-changers in the last year. Today, we have an injection for dogs that helps reduce or eliminate the allergic response for four to six weeks. That level of relief for the patient and the pet parent is a game-changer, especially in Florida.”

Veterinary caregivers also realize the value in holistic care for pets and are responding with comprehensive services. “As pets become a more integral part of the American family, pet parents’ expectations of their veterinary care team have also evolved. Pet parents of today want to be able to care for all aspects of their pet’s life from wellness care, to socialization, to holistic options, to emergency medical care to life-threatening situations,” Hess says. “Veterinary professionals today are able to utilize amazing technology very similar to human medicine to help make our patients’ and pet parents’ lives better, while still providing the personal relationship missing in so much of human health care.”