•April 9, 2025•

In April, all the veterinarians in the state of Illinois are celebrating Healthy Pet Month. As part of this celebration, Kaskaskia Valley Animal Hospital would like to recognize the important role that the Pet Owner-Veterinary Bond plays in the wellness of your pets. This includes the gratitude we have for our many clients and their pets, as well as our thanks to our entire staff for the responsibility they bear to ensure the quality of care for your animal. The oath of ensuring your pet is healthy takes a multi-faceted approach. These can include preventative care such as wellness exams, vaccines, parasiticides, dental exams and cleanings, or emergent medical treatment and care for those with unexpected illnesses. The importance of the relationship veterinarians share with their patients and pet owners is paramount in ensuring the best outcomes of the health of any companion animal. 

The health and wellness of your pet can be accomplished in many different ways. Preventative health screening such as annual wellness exams, necessary vaccines, and heartworm testing are a great start to maintaining the health and wellness of your pet. The safety and efficacy of these vaccines are so remarkable that we rarely see many of the diseases we vaccinate for. Parvo virus and Leptospirosis, as well as Distemper are still very much present in the wild canid and raccoon populations. This poses challenges for the complete eradication of these diseases, unlike the success we have had in our human counterparts.

    Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.