Preventive pet healthcare

The old adage, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" certainly holds true when it comes to pet health. The cost of prevention is often a fraction of the cost of treating a disease or problem once it has become more advanced, and early diagnosis and treatment of developing problems or diseases can increase the likelihood of successful outcomes.

Preventive healthcare involves a multi-faceted approach that includes veterinary evaluation of your pet's overall health and risks of disease or other health problems. Based on the findings, your veterinarian will provide you with recommendations for your pet's nutrition, dental care, vaccinations and heartworm/flea/tick prevention, as well as recommendations specifically tailored to your pet's health status and risk factors.

Resources for pet owners

Resources for veterinarians

Clinic posters and client handouts:
AVMA members can download ready-to-use posters and client handouts to educate clients on a wide range of preventive healthcare topics, including vaccination, dental care, socialization, and much more.

Partners for Healthy Pets:
Partners for Healthy Pets provides a suite of tools that help veterinarians work with clients to improve the overall health of pets. This Practice Resources Toolbox can be used throughout the veterinary practice to help deliver preventive healthcare as effectively as possible. The tools include:

Guidelines: