It’s not a fun topic, but it’s an important one. We’re all so busy rushing around trying to take care of our little ones and their vast array of different medical needs. It’s tough sometimes to stop and think about our other loved ones — our pets. Getting them to the vet once a year for their booster shots and a well-visit is essential to keep them healthy and catching any chronic health problems early on in their life.

For the most part, your pet’s well-visit will cover similar things that other family members’ visits include. They take a look at their eyes, ears, and ask about any health concerns. Just like when you take your children to the pediatrician your pet will get booster shots needed to maintain their immunity to a wide variety of illnesses that can be life-threatening to your pet. Some of these ailments may even be able to spread to the rest of the family.

It’s tempting to assume your indoor pets are completely safe. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for most pets. Cats come into contact with rodents that sneak in. Depending on the cat they might even eat the intruders putting themselves at risk for whatever the rodent might be carrying. Dogs — even indoor ones — must go out to relieve themselves. Even if your backyard is the only place they go, other animals will intrude into that space when no one is out there.

If you’re concerned about the cost of medical care for your pet, there are plans out there that make it significantly less expensive and spread the cost out over a 12-month period. You can also obtain pet insurance as long as your pet doesn’t have a pre-existing condition and isn’t over a certain age. I would love to include more specifics on this, but every plan is different.

Getting well-visits for your pet every year and keeping up on their shots will significantly reduce their chances of becoming ill down the road with something that’s preventable. It only takes one day a year, and the benefits are well worth the cost and hassle. I know it’s tough to handle your pet’s medical care on top of everything else. It is better overall and will save you from preventable medical problems later in your pet’s life.