The goal of a pet wellness program is to prevent or minimize disease or injury, improve your pet's quality of life, and help your pet enjoy a healthy life for as long as possible

Six-month exams make sense.

Pets age seven times faster on average than people do. Most pets are adults by age 2, middle-aged by 4, and by age 7, many dogs, particularly larger breeds, are seniors. Because pets age so rapidly, health problems can occur in a short amount of time.

Twice-a-year wellness exams provide two key benefits. First, they allow your veterinarian to diagnose, treat and prevent health problems before they become serious. Second, wellness exams are a great opportunity for you to ask the veterinary team about pet behavior, nutrition, flea and tick control, and other issues on a regular basis.

Twice-a-year wellness exams can and do save lives.

Your Pet Wellness IQ
STUDY GUIDE

• Pets age faster, on average, than people. Most are adults
by age 2, “seniors” by age 7. That means major health
changes can occur in a very short amount of time.

• Your pet’s behavior, lifestyle, travel history, and other
factors can all impact their susceptibility to certain
diseases and health threats.

• Zoonotic diseases (“zoonoses”) are diseases pets and
humans can share. Lyme disease, leptospirosis, giardia,
rabies, ringworm and other diseases can cause serious
problems for both your pet and your family.

• Zoonoses can be minimized by frequent hand-washing,
tick checks, flea and mosquito control, avoiding “pet
kisses,” using care when cleaning litter boxes and
other precautions.

• Pets should not be allowed to drink from puddles or
standing water, or to come in contact with other animals’
urine or stool.

• Behavioral changes in pets can be early signs of illness.
Cats are particularly skilled at hiding symptoms.

• Heartworm infection is a preventable, mosquito-borne
disease that eventually affects multiple organs in dogs and
cats. Found in every state, the disease is fatal if untreated.

• Dental disease, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease,
arthritis and cancer are among the conditions that can
worsen in your pet within a short amount of time.
Twice-a-year wellness exams can
help your veterinarian diagnose,
treat or even prevent such problems.

• Risk Assessment Exams –
performed by your veterinarian –
provide valuable information
about the specific disease
threats most relevant for
your pet.

Pet Wellness IQ “Quick Quiz”

1. What are zoonoses?

A. Olfactory organs of hippos, monkeys, lions and
other zoo animals
B. Diseases that can infect both pets & humans
C. Like“pig noses”, funny faces kids make at one another
D. Things to avoid when you visit the zoo

2. Bringing your pet to see your veterinarian at
least twice a year is a good idea because

A. It gives your pet another chance to ride in the car
B. They can see their favorite veterinary
technician more often
C. It helps your veterinarian diagnose, treat or
prevent health problems
D. You can never have enough“good behavior”stickers

3. Cats and dogs that frequently go outdoors

A. Are friendlier
B. Are more susceptible to disease
C. Aren’t being fed enough
D. Are always loved by their neighbors

4. Lyme disease is caused by

A. Eating too much citrus fruit
B. Vitamin C deficiency
C. A bacterial infection spread by tick bites
D. Wearing unfashionable green clothing

5. Fleas may be found

A. Only on pets that live outdoors
B. Only on pets that live in messy homes
C. Even on the cleanest pets
D. Only at the circus

6. What do raccoons, squirrels and skunks
have in common?

A. They make terrific pets
B. They’re all official state animals
C. They’re all potential carriers of leptospirosis
D. They are always rabid

7. What parts of the U.S. have had dogs
diagnosed with heartworm?

A. The Southeast only
B. The Southeast and Southwest only
C. Alaska and Hawaii only
D. All 50 states

8. Most pets reach adulthood at what age?

A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 7 years

9. Cats should be brought to the veterinarian

A. Only when they are obviously sick
B. Whenever other pets in the house are going
C. Twice a year for a wellness exam
D. Every day

10.Diagnosing diseases in cats can be
tougher because

A. Their owners don’t love them enough
B. They are not as intelligent as dogs
C. They are noted for hiding symptoms
D. There are no effective feline vaccines

To see how you did, ask your
veterinarian or visit the Pet Wellness
IQ Test at www.NPWM.com