Prevention is key to a healthy pet

Don’t wait until your pet is sick to bring them to the veterinarian. Ginny Anderson, a veterinary assistant at East Central Veterinarians, stresses the importance of preventative healthcare, such as annual examinations, parasite control, routine vaccinations and dental care. Spaying and neutering is also key to a healthy pet. The optimal age to spay and neuter is five to six months.

“Puppies don’t get just one vaccination and then they’re done for life,” Anderson noted. They need a series of vaccinations. Puppies are susceptible to parvovirus, which can be prevented with vaccinations. Dogs should also have a physical examination every year. Which vaccinations are needed (such as distemper, lyme or rabies) is determined by the veterinarian and individualized for each dog’s needs. Similarly, for cats, schedule an appointment for a physical examination. At that time, discuss which vaccinations your pet needs. If the pet has any health concerns, the veterinarian will discuss them with the owner and make recommendations.

ECV is pleased to announce that Dr. Amy Anderson has joined Dr. Mary Olson and Dr. Galen Brelie as a co-owner. Dr. Anderson has been with ECV since 2000. She enjoys all aspects of small animal medicine and surgery, especially behavior. She offers puppy socialization classes at the clinic when time allows.

To schedule an appointment at East Central Veterinary, call the Cambridge office at 763-689-4604 or the Mora office at 320-679-4197. For more information, browse www.eastcentralveterinarians.com. In Cambridge, hours are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In Mora, hours are Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon.

TIPS FROM THE PROS

• Socialize your dogs and cats so they can cope with being around other animals. This will not only be a benefit when you bring your animal into the veterinarian, but also if you decide to add another pet to the family.

• Don’t feed your dog table food. Instead, invest in a good, name-brand food. Table foods have more salt and fats in them and can cause diarrhea. Table foods as treats can also add extra pounds to your pet.

• Put your dog through obedience training. A better behaved dog is more enjoyable.