5 Tips for Your Healthy Pet Resolution

If you haven’t made a New Years’ resolution yet, might we be so kind as to make a suggestion? As pet owners, we all care very deeply about our animal companions and their well-being, but there are a couple of important areas of pet health we tend to skip over. Our idea for a New Years’ resolution: Keeping Your Pet Extra Healthy This Year.

In this article, we are going to briefly cover five major areas in which most pet owners can improve. If you prioritize these tips, you could add a few years of good health to your pet’s overall lifespan. Don’t forget: a healthy pet is a happy pet!

1. Don’t Fall Behind on Medicine and Pest Preventatives

One of the easiest things you can do to keep your pet as healthy as possible is make sure you have a steady supply of pest preventatives. The world is full of tiny organisms, most of which are harmless, but it only takes a certain few to put our animal friends’ health on the line. In addition to causing irritation, fleas, ticks, and lice are transmitters of infectious diseases—some of which even have the potential to spread from animal to human! What’s more, many of these tiny pests like to hide near or inside houses, so even pets secluded to the home are in danger.

Heartworms are even more deadly! Transmitted by mosquito, these parasites work their way into an animal’s heart, where they will grow and develop into deadly parasites. Thankfully, most heartworm meds offer 30-day protection, which makes it easy to stay stocked up on supplies and maintain year-long protection. Giving your pet meds once a month is not much of a hassle.

Please bear in mind that parasites are a year-long threat, even in colder climates. Never assume you can take Fido and Fluffy off their meds simply because it’s snowing outside. For all you know, a few ticks and fleas crept into your warm, cozy house before the cold kicked in.

Be sure to consult your veterinarian and check out our selection of topical meds and pest preventatives. You can also use sprays and fogs to eliminate as many pests in or near your home as possible.

2. Pick up an Exercise Routine

Exercise is not only fun for pets—especially dogs—it is also essential to keep them in good shape. Too much lounging around is never good, for anyone. As your pet takes in the joys of walks, experiencing the world, they will maintain muscle health, keep their joints flexible, and experience mental stimulation to keep their minds active. If you are concerned about your pet becoming overweight, this is a great activity to take up.

Just be mindful of a few things:

Weather: If it’s too hot or cold, exercise for a shorter amount of time or put it off until better conditions arrive. You can also look into indoor activities.

Leash laws: Make sure you know the rules of your community regarding when and where animals should be leashed.

Safety: Some pets are unsure how to react around strangers. Never leave your pet unattended in public and be absolutely sure to warn passersby if your dog is uncomfortable around people.

Too much exercise: Never overwork your pet, regardless of their weight.

If you have any questions regarding how exercise can impact your pet’s condition, be sure to contact your vet.

3. Pick out Nutritious Meals

In a way, pet food is not much different from people food: some are much healthier for animals than others. Some brands are better for older pets than younger pets. Be sure to consult your veterinarian to find out which brands would be the most beneficial for your situation.

Also: cut down on sharing food from the table. Some of it is hazardous for pets to consume (chocolate, avocados, nuts, anything with onions and garlic, etc.) and a lot of it is simply not healthy for our animal friends even if it doesn’t pose any immediate danger to their health.

4. Dental Hygiene! It’s for Pets, Too!

Did you know that good dental hygiene can add up to five years to your pet’s lifespan? It is true: keeping your pet’s mouth healthy and clean prevents the abundance of harmful bacteria and hinders the spread of harmful diseases in your pet’s bloodstream. Thankfully, there are many solutions to this problem: toothbrushes especially designed for pets, healthy dental chews, nutritious brands of pet food (remember our #3 suggestion!) and a good, trustworthy cleaning by your veterinarian.

Check out our article on dental hygiene to learn more about how this practice can improve your pet’s health.

5. Regular Visits to the Vet

Ultimately, though, no one understands your pet’s health better than the veterinarian. If you ever have any questions regarding food, medicine, exercise, etc., contact your vet right away. Also, make sure to book an exam for your pet at least once a year. The sooner any problems with your pet’s condition are detected, the sooner the vet can find a solution.