5 things to know to help your pet live a healthier life

(BPT) - Pets are part of the family, so it's important to practice preventative care to support their well-being and help them live long, healthy lives. Just like people, pets can be affected by chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and allergies. That's why it's always good to stay informed and be proactive to help avoid or at least delay the onset of chronic conditions in pets. Here's 5 things to know about caring for your pet:

More pets have allergies: Cats and dogs are more prone to certain conditions now than they have been in the past. For example, over the past 10 years there's been a 30 percent increase in environmental allergy cases in dogs and an 11 percent increase in cats, according to the 2018 Banfield Pet Health Report.

Pets can have chronic conditions: Pets are also more prone to being overweight, and the number of obesity cases is rising. One in three pets is overweight and the numbers are growing. While you can make sure your pet exercises and eats a nutritionally balanced diet, there are many health conditions you have no control over. Just like us humans, pets can develop chronic diseases such as arthritis, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and thyroid disease.

Pets need annual checkups too: Investing in preventative care is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your pet is healthy. Annual checkups allow your vet to screen for issues and provide insight on any concerns.

Pets' chronic conditions are manageable: If your pet has a chronic condition that needs treatment, don't panic. You may have to make some lifestyle adjustments to your pet's diet or daily exercise routine, but these changes are usually manageable and well worth it for your pet's health.

Pet prescriptions may be available at your local pharmacy: If you need prescription medications to treat your pet's chronic conditions, look for alternatives that could save you money. Many of the same prescriptions we use to treat our chronic conditions are also used to treat pets, just at a different dosage. That means you can take advantage of the deep discounts offered with the Inside Rx Pets card which can be used in more than 40,000 pharmacies and offer savings on commonly prescribed medications such as insulin and antibiotics. More information is available at InsideRx.com/pets.

Taking preventative measures for your pets' health will help save costs in the long run, just like it does with people. What's more, it will help ensure that your favorite furry family members are by your side for many years to come.