Why Regular Vet Visits Matter for Healthy Pets #GetHealthyHappy

I can't imagine missing an annual checkup, for either me or my dog.  It's just something we've always done and something I automatically schedule each year.

Yet, according to a recent petMD poll, nearly 2 in 10 pet owners hadn't visited their vet for a routine checkup in the past year.

Dr. Ashley Gallagher, vet at the Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, D.C., says that's a big deal… because missing even one yearly exam for your pet is roughly equivalent to you going five years between checkups!

And that means lots of missed opportunities to spot potential problems at their onset, which can help prevent them from getting worse. And while you might be tempted to save some money now by skipping an appointment, regular vet visits can potentially help you save money in the long run.

We enjoy good dog walks and hikes! So it's important that Rocco and I
both stay mobile and healthy! 

That's why we visited our vet right away, when I noticed Rocco had acquired a strange skip in his step. And since we had kept on schedule with our yearly visits, our vet was already familiar with Rocco's normal behavior.

We were able to rule out the need for any surgery thankfully, but we did seek some laser therapy and swim therapy to help keep Rocco in tip top shape for the agility season. 

Rocco enjoys swim therapy to help improve his range of motion

Preventative care and healthy pets

Did you know that emergency and illness vet visits can be $50 - $200 more expensive than a routine visit? The American Pet Products Association’s National Pet Owner Survey for 2013-14 found that dog owners reported routine visits average $231, emergency visits $314 and illness visits $364.

Preventative health care may not only help save money, but it can help keep your pets heather for the long haul. Vets can give you advice on proper nutrition to keep your pet at a healthy weight, advice to maintain good dental health and more. 

Enter to win $100 toward a vet checkup!

To help you enjoy the benefits of annual checkups, Hill’s Science Diet is giving away $100 toward a vet checkup, every day for 90 days! Simply go to http://blogp.ws/1w2TSJJ  and fill out the short form with your information and you will be entered for a chance to win.

NOTE: Once you click on the link, above, click on: "This way for healthy, happy dogs" OR "This way for healthy, happy cats". Then, click on the yellow box that says: "Enter to win $100 toward your next vet visit." That will take you to the entry form for the $100 giveaway. 

Why regular vet visits matter #GetHealthyHappy & #win $100 toward your next vet checkup from @HillsPet ! #giveaway http://t.co/8ZzeroYIIH
— Diane Silver (@ToDogWithLove) August 25, 2014

This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® Healthier Pets. Happier Lives.™, but To Dog With Love only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.