Many people consider their pets to be members of their family. If that’s the case for you, it’s important to find a veterinarian that can provide expert care for your pet by focusing on the whole animal, not just on illnesses or injuries that might pop up along the way. With the right vet, your pet can receive the utmost in care through all stages of their life. Each stage of your pet’s life needs special care and attention.

Dr. Ricci Kelso and Dr. Maryann Nelson, Doctors of Veterinary Medicine at Le Sueur Veterinary Services and Belle Plaine Animal Hospital, specialize in small animal care. They’ve put together these three important tips to keep in mind as your pet goes through each stage of life:

• Pay special attention in the early months. When pets are in their early stages of life, they have extra special needs. Puppies and kittens need a specialized diet to provide them with the necessary nutrition they need to grow and develop. They need several physical examinations and vaccinations during the first few months to ensure they’re maintaining excellent health and growing properly.

• Spay or neuter. With very few exceptions, all young pets should be spayed or neutered to prevent any medical or behavioral problems that may occur later in life. Laser surgery is a great option for this type of operation; it’s more effective and less invasive than other surgery methods, and greatly reduces the amount of pain the animals experience.

• Schedule annual exams. After the first year, nutrition and behavior are still extremely important as your pet continues to grow and develop. An annual physical exam is necessary to check for and prevent many diseases that can harm your pet – heartworm disease, fleas, internal parasites, and Lyme disease to name a few. As your pet gets older, teeth become a major concern as well as lumps and bumps that your pet may develop.

Be sure to choose a veterinarian who will provide superior lifelong care to your pets for a healthier and more sustainable life.