How often should you bring your pet to the vet? While you might presume the answer to be “only when my pets are unwell”, you might be surprised to learn this isn’t the case.

Kavindaran Krisnasamy, veterinarian and scientific communications manager at pet food and research company Royal Canin, encourages pet owners to bring their furkids to the animal doctor even when they’re healthy, as regular checks and assessments can prevent diseases and illness.

“Royal Canin launched the ‘Take Your Pet to the Vet’ campaign in 2016 after we discovered from our survey that a significant number of pet owners, especially cat owners, do not bring their pets to the vet,” he tells FMT.

“There seems to be a lack of awareness of the importance of regular veterinary visits,” says the 31-year-old owner of five cats and a senior poodle.

According to Kavin, the frequency of vet visits depends on the life stage of one’s pet.

“Puppies and kittens should be brought to the vet three to five times a year, as their immune systems have not been fully developed, making them more susceptible to diseases.

“The vet will assess if the puppy or kitten is gaining weight healthily and check for symptoms,” he says, adding that the necessary vaccinations, as well as internal and external parasite control medication, will be administered.

For adult pets, a visit to the vet once or twice a year is sufficient. But once they have reached the senior stage – about seven years and above, on average – dogs and cats should be brought to the doctor’s to three times a year for regular assessment.

“As they get older, there’s a higher chance of being ill, and our goal here is not to wait for that to happen,” Kavin says.

He says all pets, regardless of breed, are equally at risk of common infections, although certain breeds may be predisposed to certain diseases.

“Most of these conditions are manageable with the help of a veterinarian,” he stresses.

There are also several things pet owners, especially cat people, can do to make vet visits a more pleasant experience. Kavin recommends making the cat carrier part of the furniture at home, so the cat is free to go in and out of it as it wishes.

“If you stow the carrier away and bring it out only when it’s time to go to the vet, it’s going to be a struggle to get your cat into it, especially if it associates the carrier with an unpleasant experience,” he explains.

As changes in the environment can cause stress for a cat, a clinic’s waiting area, colour scheme, ambiance and noise levels are also important to ensure an enjoyable experience at the vet.

Pets and the pandemic

During the various lockdowns in Malaysia and around the world, many people have decided to adopt pets, which is beneficial for both human and animal as pets provide companionship, while the dog or cat is given food, shelter, and presumably a loving home.

But Kavin notes that people must be able to commit to their pets in the long-term, not just when they are stuck at home.

“Owners have to ensure their pets receive the same amount of care and affection even after they resume their busy post-pandemic lives.”

One person who has adopted animals during lockdown is Kavin’s friend Anderson Pang, who rescued two stray female mixed-breed puppies.

“Yoshi and Bokki have brought so much happiness into our lives during the movement control order,” says the 30-year-old, who explains that he and his family had already decided to get a pet but couldn’t do so due to the various restrictions.

In May, they found Yoshi – which means “lucky” in Japanese – by the roadside in their housing area. “She was very weak, had no appetite and could barely walk, and her skin was infected with maggots,” Anderson recalls.

His friends and family had differing opinions on how best to look after her, so he decided to bring Yoshi to the vet to get the best care and treatment.

A month later, he rescued Bokki when she came up to him for food and named her after “Tteokbokki”, a Korean rice cake.

Anderson jokes that the responsibilities that come with taking care of the puppies will help them transition to eventual parenthood.

“We have to feed them on time, bathe them and take them for evening walks – it’s like being their mum and dad,” laughs Anderson, who is based in Johor Bahru.

He says the dogs have certainly kept them busy and on their toes during lockdown, for which he is grateful.

“We’ll definitely miss them a lot once we have to go back to the office,” he says, adding that the puppies will be looked after by his family members at home.

Royal Canin’s ‘Take Your Pet to the Vet’ campaign runs until Nov 30. For more information, visit its website and follow Royal Canin on Instagram and Facebook.