As a responsible pet owner, you want to do everything you can to keep your furry friend healthy and happy. One of the best ways to do this is by taking steps to prevent disease transmission. Did you know that many diseases can be spread from pets to humans? While our Animal Hospital in McAllen TX is trained to prevent pets from contracting diseases in the hospital, there are also steps you can take at home to protect your pets and your human family members.
Wash Your Hands
Washing your hands is a simple yet effective way to prevent the spread of disease. Always wash or sanitize your hands after:
- Changing cat litter or cleaning the fish tank
- Handling pet food or treats (dry, canned, and especially raw)
- Petting animals (especially chickens, reptiles, and farm animals)
Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Don’t forget to clean those often-missed areas like the thumbs, fingertips, and between the fingers!
Pay Attention to Hand Hygiene
When washing your hands, ensure every area is cleaned thoroughly. Pay particular attention to the areas that are most often missed, including the thumbs, fingertips, and between the fingers.
Get Coughing Pets Checked Out ASAP
Coughing is not normal for dogs or cats. If your pet is coughing, it’s essential to have them checked by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Coughing can be a sign of various diseases, including:
- Asthma
- Heart failure
- Canine influenza
- Heartworm disease
- Canine infectious respiratory disease
Protect Your Pets Against Disease
Talk to your veterinarian about vaccinations and preventing infections from wildlife or other animals. You can follow this general guideline on when to vaccine:
Puppies:
- Start core vaccines at 6-8 weeks (DHPP).
- Continue with boosters every 2-4 weeks until 16 weeks.
- Rabies vaccination at 14-16 weeks.
- Annual boosters or as recommended by your vet.
Kittens:
- Start core vaccines at 6-8 weeks (FVRCP).
- Continue with boosters every 2-4 weeks until 16 weeks.
- Rabies vaccination at 12-16 weeks.
- Annual boosters or as recommended by your vet.
Dogs:
- Annual booster for core vaccines (DHPP, Rabies).
- Optional vaccines based on lifestyle (Bordetella, Leptospirosis, Lyme).
- Regular health checks to assess vaccine needs.
Cats:
- Annual booster for core vaccines (FVRCP, Rabies).
- Optional vaccines based on lifestyle (FeLV).
- Regular health checks to assess vaccine needs.
Use Antibiotics Appropriately
When your veterinarian prescribes antibiotics for your pet, be sure to complete the full course of treatment. Stopping treatment too soon can lead to antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
Animal Hospital in Mcallen TX
At Valley Animal Hospital in McAllen TX, we’re proud of the exceptional care we provide to our furry friends and their human families. But don’t just take our word for it! Our satisfied customers have shared their wonderful experiences with us, praising our compassionate team, state-of-the-art facilities, and commitment to delivering the best possible outcomes. Take a look at what some of our happy clients have to say about their experiences with us.
