Visits to the vet are vital

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - With research indicating that pet owners don't take their furry friends to the vet regularly for checkups, Sedgefield Animal Matters (Sam) cofounder Kirsty Hofhuis says the importance thereof cannot be stressed enough.

A report released by Hill's Pet Nutrition SA, suggests that half of all pet parents don't visit the vet regularly for checkups or vaccinations and over a third of pet parents only visit the vet when their pet is showing visible injuries or illness.

Dr Barry Dallas, from Hill's, says this does not necessarily reflect a lack of love for our pets, but rather is a consequence of the busy lives we lead.

Dallas says these statistics are alarming as pets can be masters of disguise when it comes to hiding pain or illness. "They rely solely on us to look after them and besides providing good, nutritious food, affection, an enriching living environment, regular exercise and a safe and warm place to live, annual vet checkups should be a priority," he says.

"As humans we don't wait for something to go wrong before we take ourselves or family to the doctor – we go for regular checkups, cholesterol tests, etc. So why wait until something is seriously wrong before taking your pet to the vet?" says Dallas, adding, "Prevention is better than cure and it's much less stressful taking your dog or cat for their yearly checkup."

We live in a time when information is at our fingertips, literally at the click of a button you can find a "diagnosis" for a symptom. The same way people approach "Dr Google" to diagnose their own symptoms, pet parents are following suit when it comes to their pets.

Dallas says, "There is a lot of misinformation on the internet and looking at your pet's symptoms in isolation can be dangerous. The experience of a veterinarian allows for a holistic and comprehensive approach that can never be replaced."

While it's positive to note in the report that just over 50% of the respondents believe their pets' vaccinations are important and are diligent about having them done annually, 27% don't get them done on a yearly basis and, frighteningly, 20% haven't had their pets vaccinated since they were puppies or kittens.

Hofhuis says many cases that Sam deals with is due to pet owners not taking their pets to the vet. "If people just take their dogs and animals to the vet for consistent checkups, especially vaccinations, there would be a lot fewer animals that need rescuing," she said.

She also emphasises the importance of organisations such as Sam, Knysna Animal Welfare Society (Kaws), and Plettenberg Bay Animal Welfare Service (Paws), pointing out how big a role they play in giving communities options when it comes to taking care of their pets.

Sam committee members Sue Anderson, Dale Robertson, Chris Fletcher, and Kirsty Hofhuis.