Routine Care Guide for Pets

Annual check for adult pets, twice a year for seniors or those with chronic conditions. Not when sick — precisely when they look fine. The goal is to catch problems before they become visible.

During a visit, the vet usually checks: temperature, pulse, eyes, ears, teeth, mouth, skin, coat, abdominal palpation (feeling for lumps or organ enlargement), and heart-lung auscultation with a stethoscope. Plus a body condition score — underweight, ideal, or obese. Discussion about feeding, behaviour, BM/urine frequency, and what you have noticed recently.

Home examination is often more accurate for cats and dogs that stress at the clinic — vital signs are much more representative when the pet is not panicking. You can also show directly your cat's bed, food, or the corner it avoids.

Core vaccines for cats (Tricat / Tetracat — protecting against panleukopenia, calicivirus, rhinotracheitis, and Tetracat includes chlamydia) and for dogs (DHPP or DHPPi/L4 — distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, plus leptospirosis for outdoor dogs) are non-negotiable. Rabies matters if the pet is taken outdoors or interacts with other animals.

Initial vaccine series for kittens and puppies typically runs 2–3 rounds 3–4 weeks apart starting at 6–8 weeks of age. After the series, annual boosters follow the chosen protocol. For rabbits, myxomatosis vaccination is recommended if they meet other rabbits.

The schedule depends on vaccine type, age, and lifestyle. We have a full guide on a separate pillar — including what Tricat vs Tetracat means, when rabies is essential, and common myths around annual vaccines.

Grooming is not only about bathing or trimming fur. The things often skipped are the small routines: nail trims, ear cleaning, tooth brushing, and coat brushing. Easy to ignore for months — then the problems show up at once.

Nail trim — indoor cats and dogs need regular trimming (typically every 2–4 weeks depending on activity). Overgrown nails can curl into the paw pad, alter gait, and for senior pets with joint issues, worsen arthritis.

Ears — weekly check for dark debris (possible ear mites), bad odour (possible infection), or scratches from excessive scratching. Clean with a pet-specific ear cleaner if needed — avoid cotton buds deep inside, they can damage the eardrum.

Teeth — plaque builds into tartar, leads to gum infection (gingivitis), and bacteria can enter the bloodstream and reach the heart and kidneys. Ideally brush teeth 2–3× a week with pet-specific toothpaste. For cats refusing brushing, dental treats or gels exist — ask which actually work.

Coat — regular brushing (daily for long-haired breeds, weekly for short-haired) helps prevent hairballs in cats, removes shedding fur, distributes natural oils, and lets you spot fleas or skin lumps early.

External parasites (fleas, ticks, mites) and internal ones (tapeworm, roundworm, heartworm) are largely preventable with routine preventive medication. The cost of treating severe cases far exceeds monthly prevention.

Fleas and ticks — options vary: monthly spot-on, anti-flea collars, oral tablets. Which works depends on the pet and skin reaction. Dogs that walk in grassy or garden areas need tick protection because ticks carry serious diseases (ehrlichiosis, babesiosis).

Worms — general protocol: dewormer every 3 months for adult pets, more often for kittens/puppies (start at 2–3 weeks of age, every 2 weeks until 12 weeks, then 3-monthly). Outdoor pets or those eating raw need shorter intervals.

Heartworm — increasingly seen in Indonesian dogs, especially in humid mosquito-prone areas. Monthly prevention (oral tablet or annual injection) is far cheaper and safer than treating an active case, which carries significant risk.

Product choice and dosing depend on weight, species, and environmental exposure. We help pick what fits during a visit or via WhatsApp consultation.

The decision to neuter is yours — we do not push. But we discuss it openly so the decision rests on full information, not momentary emotion.

Benefits: in female cats and dogs, spaying before the first heat lowers mammary tumour risk and eliminates pyometra risk (uterine infection, often emergency cases in seniors). In males, castration lowers testicular tumour risk, reduces urine spraying, and usually calms the pet (less aggression with other animals).

Timing remains a discussion — considerations depend on breed (large breed dogs have research suggesting later neutering until bone growth completes benefits joints), health status, and lifestyle. We do not have a one-size-fits-all answer — discuss specifics in consultation.

Post-neuter recovery is typically 7–10 days. During this time the pet wears an e-collar (cone) to avoid licking the wound, jumping is limited, and bandage changes or wound checks happen routinely. We offer post-op home care so recovery is calmer.

Food is one of the most impactful daily decisions for long-term health. Unfortunately, options on the Indonesian market are many — from raw food to premium kibble to standard kibble to homemade — and there is no universal answer.

What matters as a baseline: use quality food with clear ingredient labels (protein, fat, fibre, ash), match life stage (kitten/puppy differ from adult differ from senior), watch portions (overfeeding is more common than underfeeding in urban households), and keep clean water always available.

Cats — obligate carnivores. They cannot be vegan; they need taurine from animal sources. Avoid cheap kibble with corn or wheat as the main ingredient and minimal animal protein.

Dogs — more flexible omnivores, but still need animal protein as the main source. Specific sensitivities (itchy skin, loose stool, frequent ear infections) often hint at food allergy or intolerance — needs elimination diet trial under vet guidance.

Exotic pets (rabbits, hamsters, reptiles) — needs are species-specific, and many new owners feed something inappropriate (e.g., adult rabbits given mostly pellets when their diet should be hay-dominant). Species-specific consultation matters.

Cats are considered seniors from age 10, dogs typically from 7 (large breed dogs earlier, around 6). At this stage routine care needs adjustment — not just "do the same in smaller doses".

Checkup frequency rises from once to twice a year. Basic blood and urine tests are recommended annually to catch kidney issues early (most common in senior cats), liver problems, or diabetes — all conditions that present subtly at first and only become obvious once already advanced.

Food shifts to senior diets (easier to digest, lower phosphorus to support kidneys, omega fatty acids for joints). Environment adapts: lower-walled litter boxes so older cats do not have to jump, ramps or short stairs to the sofa for arthritic senior dogs, softer bedding.

Signs owners often write off as "well, they are old" but actually can be addressed: gradual weight loss, drinking more, urinating more, less active, occasionally confused. Not all of these are "just old age" — many can be treated or managed so quality of life stays good.