Preventive health care encompasses a multitude of strategies to assure that pets maintain optimal health in their homes for as long as possible. While this care may be perceived as routine, unexciting, or mundane, these annual appointments are critical and can be some of the most enjoyable and rewarding facets of veterinary practice. More than just vaccines and fecal exams, exceptional preventive medicine requires a veterinarian to dig deep into the lifestyle of pet and owner to cater to the specific needs of that particular individual. We will discuss 10 typically overlooked aspects of preventive medicine that represent missed opportunities to make that pet’s life even better yet. 

Learning objectives:

·       To describe the barriers to optimal preventive medicine in dogs and cats

·       To justify the value of 10 specific preventive medicine recommendations