Through a good routine of frequent check-ups at a veterinary clinic, it is possible to improve the health and well-being of pets that visit veterinary professionals on a regular basis.
In this article, we will talk about what preventive veterinary medicine consists of, what its main benefits are, and share some tips to improve follow-up after patient visits.
What Is Veterinary Preventive Medicine?
Preventive medicine aims to maintain the health and well-being of animals through early diagnoses. In other words, it requires a proactive and conscious approach on the part of those involved, which improves the pet’s quality of life and maintains a high degree of health.
Routine examinations and check-ups are an important part of this, along with epidemiology, pathology screenings, etc. Protocols can be set up for patient visits based on individualised requirements.
Because it is proactive, this type of medicine is usually more pleasant for the patient. Thanks to its application, the animal often does not suffer the discomfort caused by diseases. However, it may be necessary to make clients aware of the importance of preventive veterinary medicine. Also, how it can help them avoid advanced diseases or serious complications. This not only has a negative impact on the health of the animal, but also comes with increased medical costs.
Applying preventive medicine is simple, but it is necessary to be consistent and follow the indications of a professional veterinarian. The most traditional way to apply it is through a follow-up after vaccination, deworming, etc. and ensuring good nutrition and regular exercise.
This type of routine is not only relevant to protect the health of patients. It is also necessary to maintain human health, especially when it comes to preventing parasites or diseases that can be contagious and can be transferred from pets to humans. Nowadays, the idea of “one health”, widespread. This refers to the fact that human health and animal health are intertwined and linked to the ecosystem in which they converge.
Main Benefits of Investing in Veterinary Preventive Medicine
The main benefit is the improvement in the patient’s quality of life. Thanks to the prevention of diseases and to maintaining healthy habits, the animal can live a life with fewer diseases and ailments. As we mentioned, these benefits also extend to the well-being of people, since the contagion of certain diseases is avoided.
Moreover, applying preventive medicine also has a positive impact on the client’s pocket, since it is often possible to avoid a major, complicated disease. However, it is sometimes difficult for clients to see this, as their pets avoid serious disease thanks to prevention.
What are the benefits for a veterinary clinic? For professionals, it also has some advantages. First of all, it is easier to plan the number of regular visits you will receive from your patients, which in turn makes it possible to cover the basic expenses of the clinic.
In conclusion, it is also possible to follow the evolution of the patient’s health in detail and to detect any harmful trend, thanks to the large amount of data in the patient’s medical history.
A Cornerstone of Animal Health
In short, veterinary preventive medicine has become a fundamental pillar of patient health.
Thanks to the use of eHealth and wireless devices, it is becoming easier and easier to optimise check-up processes and to get valuable data. For example, the veterinarian can place a multiparametric harness, such as Dinbeat UNO, on the patient while they are in the waiting room, so that it starts to collect data that can later be evaluated during the appointment.
However, as this is a proactive and not a reactive action, it is more difficult to raise awareness among clients to book their appointments on a regular basis. Even so, we encourage veterinary professionals to continue to bet on preventive medicine, both to take advantage of the economic benefits and to improve the animal’s quality of life.
