5 Common Pet Health Problems and How to Prevent Them

Here at East Sacramento Veterinary Center, we love spreading the word about the importance of preventive care. But we know that pet health issues can happen despite those annual wellness appointments. That’s part of preventive care, after all—it doesn’t just help your pet avoid health issues. It also helps us catch them early if your pet does develop them. So, what are the most common pet health problems to look out for? 

Here are 5 common conditions we see at our clinic.  

1. Obesity

When Fido shuffles up to the dinner table and begs for a piece of meat from your roast beef sandwich, it’s almost impossible to resist. 

We know the pain of denying your beloved pet a treat. But too many treats can lead your pet to pack extra pounds. And when your dog or cat has excess weight to carry around, all sorts of diseases can develop. These include arthritis, heart disease, and kidney disease—which just so happen to be some of the most common pet health problems we treat. 

Feeding your pet a nutritious, balanced diet and making sure he gets to exercise every day can help fend off obesity. 

2. Arthritis

Caused by inflammation and the wearing down of your pet’s joints, arthritis is no fun to live with. This pet health issue leads to joint pain, stiffness, and a reduced ability to dash around the yard and play. 

There are many reasons our furry friends develop arthritis. Obesity, body shape, injuries, and too much high-impact exercise can all play a part. Giving your pet a balanced diet and joint supplements can help. You should also limit how much high-impact exercise your dog does. 

At East Sacramento Veterinary Center, we offer routine arthritis screenings to stay ahead of this painful condition. 

3. Heart Disease

Senior pets have a higher risk of developing heart disease. So do pets with obesity, poor nutrition, genetic defects, and the dreaded heartworm disease. If your pet fits into any of these boxes, schedule an appointment with our caring veterinary team. We offer preventive measures and screenings that can help us manage your pet’s risk of heart complications. 

And make sure to give your pet her heartworm prevention medication. Bring her in for a heartworm screening every year, too. The earlier we catch heartworm, the better her prognosis. 

4. Kidney Disease

With kidney disease, your cat or dog’s kidneys can’t filter toxins out through their urine as they should. Balancing the amount of water in their body becomes a challenge, too. 

Chronic kidney disease develops over time and offers only the slightest of signs, and the causes behind it are multifaceted. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and routine screening for kidney disease can help us stay ahead of this common health condition. 

5. Allergies and Skin Problems

If your dog can’t stop scratching or your cat won’t stop licking, your pet might be dealing with allergies. Just like humans, pets can be allergic to a whole bevy of things. Pollen? Check. Dust mites? Check. Mold? Check. 

Allergies often show up as skin problems. Keep an eye out for excessive scratching, hotspots, hair loss, and other signs of discomfort. We’ll help you get to the bottom of what’s pestering your pet’s skin!

If you’d like to learn more about these issues and how we treat them, call us at (916) 737-5670.  

We’re here for you and your furry family members!