Kate Freeman Encourages Preventative Care, Recommends Regular Vet Visits

PRESCOTT, Ariz., April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Conference of the American Animal Hospital Association shed light on a number of issues regarding the veterinary industry. One of these issues, which has proven to be a hot topic since before the recession of 2008, is the decline in veterinary office visits. For the first time in several years, this topic carried an enthusiastic note, as office visits are up from 2010. Nonetheless, many veterinarians still find preventative care to be frequently overlooked.

An article posted by the Chicago Tribune recaps the aforementioned conference, which attracted over 1,200 veterinary professionals during mid-March. The director, Dr. Michael Cavanaugh, was extremely pleased to report a two percent increase in office visits for dogs and a half a percent increase in office visits for cats. While this is certainly good news to the veterinary community, Dr. Cavanaugh knows that more work to raise awareness about the importance of preventative care lies ahead.

"We're nowhere near where pets should be to get the preventative care they need," reported Dr. Cavanaugh. "Still, this is a sign we may finally be turning a trend around."

The trend to which he refers is the aforementioned decline in pet visits, which began before the economy took a turn for the worse. Because of this lack of preventative care, instances of common diseases have increased. As a result, more and more pets are becoming ill with conditions that could easily be avoided. This issue, in addition to causing the death of pets, limits their quality of life.

"Preventative medicine is an essential component of excellent care for our four-legged family members," commented veterinarian Kate Freeman. "This includes monthly heartworm prevention as well as scheduling annual or biannual veterinary visits as part of a regular check-up."

Kate Freeman, DVM, and other veterinary professionals recommend following a preventative care plan that is tailored to individual pet needs. Many pets require no more than one trip to the veterinarian's office each year, during which they are screened for heartworms and other health issues while given a thorough exam. Some dogs, though, may require biannual examinations, such as those that are older or have known health conditions. Such prevention can save the lives of pets by avoiding the development of common diseases.

ABOUT:

Kate Freeman, DVM, works at a leading educational institution as a veterinary resident. She devotes a great deal of time and energy to working with a diverse list of organizations, all of which create a positive impact on the veterinary industry and its role in today's society. Part of this work entails traveling to rural locations and administering assistance to local clinics. While championing these efforts, Kate Freeman, DVM, continues to provide high quality care to the animals that she treats on a daily basis.

SOURCE Kate Freeman, DVM