Please schedule an

appointment with your 

veterinarian to discuss any 

questions or concerns!

Routine veterinary preventive care is essential for our pets.

 Your Veterinary Treatment Facility can help!

Preventive Health

http://phc.amedd.army.mil

1-800-222-9698

APHC Animal Health

This information brochure was written by Army 

Veterinary Services personnel and published by the 

Army Public Health Center to inform and educate 

Service members, beneficiaries, and retirees about 

Animal Health. Comments or questions regarding 

content can be directed to ARMY-VSPublications@

mail.mil. Locate your local Veterinary Treatment 

Facility at https://tiny.army.mil/r/JG66r/VTFs

Approved for public release, 

distribution unlimited. 

TA-392-0217

Oral Health

Oral health is often overlooked in our pets. While 

some signs of dental disease can be easily noted, 

such as a fractured tooth, bad breath, or difficulty 

eating, signs of oral pain can often be hidden. 

Dental Care Starts at Home

Bacteria and food particles result in plaque, or 

a film, forming on the teeth. If left on the tooth 

surface, plaque hardens to tartar. Regular teeth 

brushing can remove plaque.

• Routinely brush your pet’s teeth using a 

toothpaste that is specifically designed for pets, 

as human toothpaste can be toxic. 

• Gradually introduce your pet to teeth brushing 

until you are brushing each day. 

When to Involve Your Veterinarian

Once tartar has built up on the teeth, a dental 

cleaning by a veterinary professional with your pet 

under general anesthesia is required to remove the 

tartar. Many pets require a yearly dental cleaning 

to remove tartar buildup and extract any diseased 

teeth. In addition to routine care at home, discuss 

options for dental treatment with your veterinarian. 

DOGS CATS POCKET BIRDS PETS RABBITS HORSES REPTILES /

AMPHIBIANS

Army Public Health Center Animal Health

 Veterinary

preventive care
Treatment:

Treating Heartworm disease is a costly and lengthy 

undertaking. Dogs must undergo an extended 

period of strict exercise restriction and monitoring 

by the owner and veterinarian. Treatment can also 

be dangerous as it causes mature worms to die and 

break apart which can block the blood flow to the 

lungs.

Parasites

Pets can be infected with both external and 

intestinal parasites. Your veterinarian can examine 

your pet and test for parasites during an annual 

visit. 

External Parasites

The most common external parasites include fleas 

and ticks. Fleas can cause your pet to be miserable 

and can also result in an infestation of your home! 

In addition to being a nuisance, fleas can transmit 

diseases to people (murine typhus, cat scratch 

disease, plague, and tularemia). Ticks can also 

transmit serious diseases to you and your pet, 

including Lyme disease, Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp., 

tularemia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Intestinal Parasites

Hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms are 

a few common intestinal parasites. Intestinal 

parasites can cause diarrhea, weight loss, and a 

dull hair coat. Some intestinal parasites, including 

roundworms and hookworms, can be transmitted 

from animals to people, especially young children. 

There are many products available for parasite 

prevention. Talk with your veterinarian to 

determine which product will work best for your 

pet. 

Vaccines

Many diseases that cause pets to become 

extremely sick or even die are easily prevented with 

a series of vaccines. Your veterinarian will create the 

proper vaccination schedule for your pet based on 

local laws and your pet’s age, risk factors, previous 

immunizations, and lifestyle.

Core vaccines are recommended for pets of all 

ages and lifestyles. 

Core vaccines for dogs include:

• Rabies virus: A viral disease that causes brain 

inflammation in mammals. Once an animal is 

infected, the disease is always fatal.

• Distemper virus: Highly contagious and can 

affect the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, 

brain, and spinal cord.

• Parvovirus: Common in unvaccinated puppies 

and causes extreme vomiting, diarrhea, and 

dehydration. If the disease is not managed 

quickly, it can result in death.

• Hepatitis virus: An acute liver infection in dogs 

caused by canine adenovirus type-1 (CAV-1).

Core vaccines for cats include:

• Panleukopenia virus (feline parvovirus): Attacks 

the intestinal lining and causes severe vomiting, 

diarrhea and dehydration.

• Calicivirus: Causes upper respiratory tract 

infections.

• Herpes virus: Causes upper respiratory tract 

infections.

• Rabies virus: A viral disease that causes brain 

inflammation in mammals. Once an animal is 

infected, the disease is always fatal. 

Non-core vaccines are available for pets and are 

administered based on geographic location and 

lifestyle. 

Talk with your veterinarian to determine if your dog 

should receive the following non-core vaccines:

• Bordetella (kennel cough)

• Canine influenza virus 

• Leptospira

• Lyme disease 

Your veterinarian can also help you determine if 

your cat should receive the following vaccines:

• Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) 

• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). 

Routine preventive care is essential to keeping your 

pet healthy and promoting longevity. As many 

people know, it is important to feed your pet a 

healthy diet appropriate for their life-stage and 

provide routine exercise to help them maintain 

physical and mental fitness. However, addressing 

your pet’s overall health and wellness starts with 

a thorough annual veterinary exam, which should 

include tests for preventing disease and identifying 

possible parasites. 

Heartworm Disease

Heartworm disease is a disease spread by 

mosquitos. It is found in all 50 states and globally 

in all climate zones. When an infected mosquito 

bites, it deposits larva (microfilaria) under the 

pet’s skin, which can grow to an adult worm 

that then migrates to the blood vessels of the 

lungs and heart. If left untreated this can lead 

to chronic disease and possibly the loss of your 

pet. Regardless of your geographic location, the 

American Heartworm Society recommends yearround heartworm prevention for both dogs and 

cats.

Testing and Prevention:

It is essential to have your dog tested for 

Heartworm disease yearly and administer an 

approved preventative. Heartworm preventatives 

kill the microfilaria that infected mosquitoes 

deposit under the skin, and many preventatives 

are also effective against intestinal parasites. 

Heartworm preventatives are safer for your pet and 

far less expensive than treatment. 

Cats can also be infected with heartworms. Annual 

testing is not required, but monthly heartworm 

preventatives are strongly advised. 

Symptoms of Heartworm Disease:

Oftentimes, symptoms are not visible until the 

disease has advanced and significant damage has 

occurred. Common symptoms include:

• Coughing

• Exercise intolerance

• Sudden death 

Addressing your 

pet’s overall 

health and 

wellness starts 

with a thorough 

annual veterinary 

exam.