2023-07-20 20:52:09
63% of Spanish households have a dog as a pet. However, only 55% were previously informed about the care they require
Advances in veterinary medicine have allowed us to improve both the quality and the life expectancy of our pets.
Periodic check-ups, deworming and vaccinations are the pillars, not only of medicine, but also of the early detection of diseases
63% of Spanish households have a dog as a pet. However, only 55% of these were informed in advance about the care they require, the economic investment of having an animal, the time they need to care for, the character of the pet or the diseases they may suffer depending on the breed, according to the 1st AniCura Animal Welfare Survey.
Along with regular visits to the vet, it is essential to offer a good quality of life to our dog through care, the time spent on it or the conditions in which it lives. In this way, life expectancy and quality of life increase, which also depends on factors such as race, weight, diet, lifestyle or size, since, as a general rule, the larger the size, the lower the life expectancy.
“Advances in veterinary medicine have made it possible to prolong life expectancy and improve its quality. Earlier and more accurate diagnoses of diseases or problems that lead to disease are being made,” explains José Gómez, Medical Manager of AniCura Iberia. “Medicines, foods and products focused on improving living conditions are constantly advancing, as are research lines for diseases such as osteoarthritis, which mainly affects the hip, elbow, knee and spine joints, or cancer, such as osteosarcomas or lymphomas”.
Periodic visits to the vet are essential in preventive medicine
More and more caregivers are interested in making regular visits to the vet with their dog for checkups in order to prevent the development and spread of diseases, which can be treated with early diagnosis. According to the data provided by AniCura’s I Animal Welfare Survey, 39.2% of Spaniards take their dog to the vet once or twice a year, while 28.3% do so only when necessary.
One of the pillars of preventive medicine are reviews, especially important in breeds predisposed to certain pathologies. For example, X-rays rule out hip dysplasia in breeds like the German Shepherd or Mastiff. “We should be aware that a prompt visit to the veterinarian can lead us to control a problem that otherwise could become serious. By this I do not mean that we are fearful, but rather cautious and consult the vet in case of any unusual symptoms that make us suspicious in order to solve it quickly”, adds Vicente Ribes, Practice Manager of AniCura Marina Alta Veterinary Center.
On the other hand, vaccines, from 45 days of age, offer a high degree of protection against fatal diseases such as distemper, parvovirus, canine viral hepatitis, rabies or leptospirosis, which are caused by viruses and bacteria present in the environment or in other infected animals.
Finally, deworming is necessary to maintain the well-being of dogs, since the streets and parks are environments where external parasites such as fleas, ticks, lice and mosquitoes can be found. Likewise, we must not forget about internal or intestinal parasites such as tapeworms and worms, so it is recommended to visit the vet every three months to provide adequate preventive treatment. This aspect is especially important due to the close coexistence of our pets with family members, since many of the parasitic diseases are shared between humans and dogs (zoonosis). A correct deworming of our pets is one of the fundamental aspects of the WHO program “One Health, since the health care of people, animals and the environment are closely related.
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