Spring Health Care for Pets: Chronic Illness Flare-Ups, Routine Check-Ups, and Vaccination Schedules

Pets suffering from chronic illnesses typically experience flare-ups twice a year. Spring is one of the critical periods when this can happen — and during this season, symptoms may worsen even more sharply than in the fall.

There are three main factors contributing to springtime flare-ups:

• Vitamin deficiency in the body.
• Weakened immunity after winter.
• Cool and unstable weather conditions.

How can you help your pet cope with these unpleasant symptoms, and when should you visit a veterinarian? Find out in this Animal Clinic article.

Which Diseases Tend to Flare Up in Spring?

In spring, issues related to the nervous system, cardiovascular system, digestive tract, and musculoskeletal system often become more pronounced.

If your pet suffers from urolithiasis, arthritis, arthrosis, joint dysplasia, chronic gastroenteritis, kidney failure, or other health problems, spring is a good time for the first veterinary visit of the year.

A routine check-up will help assess your pet’s health, and a specialist can provide preventive advice, which may include medication recommendations, dietary adjustments, and tailored exercise routines.

Vaccinations According to the Individual Schedule

Spring is a good time to review your pet’s vaccination schedule and check if it’s time for their next dose.

Annual vaccinations are essential to strengthen the animal’s immune defenses against dangerous infections.

If your pet has never been vaccinated, spring is the ideal season to start, as warming temperatures increase the risk of infections from ticks, fleas, rabies, and more.

The vaccination schedule looks as follows:

• Cats: First vaccination at 6–8 weeks old. The second dose follows 3–4 weeks later. Afterward, annual boosters are needed.
• Dogs: First vaccination at 4–8 weeks old. The second dose after 3–4 weeks. Then, annual boosters are necessary.

Our specialists recommend sticking to the vaccination schedule because vaccines lose their protective effectiveness after approximately 12 months.

Before vaccination, a full health check and parasite deworming should be performed — vaccinations are only administered to healthy animals.

In spring, it’s especially important to be attentive to your pet’s health.

At Animal Clinic, our veterinarians will quickly perform diagnostics, prescribe medications to alleviate chronic condition symptoms, advise on proper deworming and parasite control, and provide high-quality, effective vaccinations.

Schedule your appointment today!