NORFOLK, Neb. - Local veterinarians are sharing advice for pet owners, new and old.

The pandemic caused pet adoption rates to peak, as many people were stuck at home with time to kill, but now those new pet owners are back to work, and that relationship is becoming more challenging.

Veterinarians in northeast Nebraska are encouraging people to keep your pet's health a priority as it is National Pet Wellness Month.

"Today we had ear-mites, fleas, congestive heart failure..." said Dr. Brad Johnson, Practice Owner and Veterinarian at Norfolk's Veterinary Clinic. "...all of those would've been preventable had they been taken care of earlier."

Doctors at Norfolk's Veterinary Clinic said being a proactive pet owner is key to keeping your pups healthy.

The average number of new pets per practice rose more than 50 percent in March to July last year.

"Most of our new pets that came in during the pandemic were by established owners," said Dr. Johnson.

Meanwhile, other owners are taking their first steps.

"For new pet owners, I'd really like to encourage them to dedicate some time to train their pet," said Dr. Pedersen, Owner and Veterinarian of Westside Family Pet Clinic.

Dr. Pedersen said he has seen many owners looking to re-home their pups recently.

"I attribute a lot of that to just some training or not being able to spend time with their pet."

Dr. Pedersen said when getting a dog you are more like a parent than a friend, which can be hard to balance.

"Some people figure it out and they learn to dedicate that time or some people they just say well their dog has too much energy and that's not a very good excuse," said Dr. Pedersen.

Whether you are a new or old pet owner, vets are encouraging you to know your options.

"Just don't think yourself limited," said Dr. Pedersen.

"Get established with a veterinarian team that you like and that you trust and become a team with them and they're going to help keep your pet healthy," said Dr. Johnson.