Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli made important warnings regarding pet care, vaccination, obesity, parasite treatment, and coat care. Emphasizing that vaccination programs should not be disrupted, Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli stated that disruptions due to economic reasons could lead to the emergence of infectious diseases, adding, "Routine care that is not performed can result in high costs for pet owners."
Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli, Responsible Manager of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Experimental Research Unit (ÜSKÜDAB), shared important details to be considered in pet care.
A furry friend brings lifelong commitment…
Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli stated that pet ownership begins with appropriate animal care tips, adding, "When you acquire a furry friend, you must understand that you are committing to an additional family member for life. Know that your pet is dependent on you for its health and care. The unconditional love and happiness that pets bring to our lives outweigh the additional responsibilities that come with bringing a furry baby into your home."
A health check-up at least once or twice a year is essential!
Çevreli warned, "Veterinary visits are part of pet care. Regular visits to the vet when needed are the responsibility of the pet owner." She explained that due to the shorter lifespan of dogs and cats compared to humans, they should undergo a health check-up at least once or twice a year, and when the pet is young, it should visit its veterinarian more frequently, depending on the vaccination schedule.
Treats can cause obesity!
Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli, stating that regular veterinary check-ups are essential for the healthy development of pets, said, "Do not forget to give your pets an adequate amount of food in their care. Obesity can result from overfeeding a pet or giving it too many treats, which can lead to heart failure, kidney problems, and other health issues. Your pet will remain healthy with the availability of clean drinking water."
Life-saving benefits of vaccines proven
Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli also reminded that vaccination is one of the most common veterinary procedures performed in small animal practices, and stated, "In the last 50 years, vaccines have been proven to have life-saving benefits with minimal associated risk. Vaccination programs have not only played an important role in preventing infectious diseases but have also helped support the early diagnosis and treatment of other diseases by encouraging regular clinical examinations throughout the animal's life."
Vaccinations should not be disrupted due to economic reasons!
Çevreli also addressed disruptions in vaccination due to economic reasons, and said, "For economic reasons; if the number of vaccinated pets decreases, our four-legged friends can cause the emergence of infectious diseases and even the transmission of some diseases to humans, leading to a deterioration of environmental health."
Both internal and external parasite treatment should not be neglected!
Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli emphasized the need for both internal and external parasite treatment in pets, and stated, "External and internal parasites can cause significant pathologies in pets if left untreated. It is recommended that pets be treated at regular intervals against both internal (e.g., worms) and external (e.g., fleas, ticks, mites) parasites, taking into account their individual living conditions. These treatments are advised because they enhance animal health and welfare and help minimize risks to human health in cases of zoonotic infections (transmitted from animals to humans)."
Cats and dogs should receive regular coat care…
Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli also noted that the condition of dog and cat coats is affected by factors such as genetics, environmental conditions, nutrition, health issues, and grooming, and warned, "Dogs and cats have various coat lengths and textures developed from climate conditions as well as human intervention through selective breeding practices. Pets that do not receive regular grooming can be itchy, smelly, matted, and the pet may feel miserable. Pet owners complain about common problems with pet fur, such as shedding, matting, or hairballs, which can be common in cats. Regular weekly grooming (more often for long-haired or heavily coated pets) requires gently brushing and combing pets in the direction of their fur growth. Our pets' skin is different from humans', so animal-specific products should be used for skin care."
Undone routine care can lead to high costs!
Veterinarian Burcu Çevreli also stated that the regular vaccination protocol and the vaccines to be used should be determined within the veterinarian-patient relationship, and provided information, saying, "The decision should be determined based on factors such as the individual animal's health status, its age and the potential effects of antibodies transferred from its mother, specific disease and environmental risks for the animal, and the duration of immunity of available vaccines. When puppies and kittens are born, they are generally protected from infections by their mother's milk, provided they are regularly vaccinated. However, as this protection only lasts for a few weeks, they need regular vaccinations from an early age. Older pets also need protection as their immunity may decrease. You should protect your pet from the risk of infections that may come from the street until its vaccinations are complete. Undone routine care can also lead to a high cost for pet owners."