New Year’s Resolution For You & Your Pet

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So, you’ve set the standards high and made a plan for your New Year resolution’s health and happiness, but have you considered your furry friends in your 2019 year plans as well? Here are a few tips that will help you AND your beloved pet enjoy all the new year has to bring:

Maintain a Healthy Weight. Exercise is good for both you and your pet, so make a pledge to extend your daily walks and/or increase frequency in them. Remember, the majority of American pets are overweight to obese! This increases their chances of developing arthritis, diabetes, skin diseases, degenerative diseases and cancer to name a few. Monitor portion sizes and keep treats to no more than ten percent of total calorie intake per day incorporating fresh fruit and veggies versus high calorie, packaged treats.

Financially plan for preventative and emergency care. We never like to think about accidental or negative things happening to our pets, but the reality is that most pet owners seek emergency care at least once with their animals due to trauma, illness, or sudden injury. These costs to the vet can quickly add up and even put some people in financial ultimatums. Since most people don’t have health insurance for their pet, it is vital for pet owners to set aside some funds for those “rainy day” costs. This helps in preventing to have to make sudden important medical decisions based solely on costs.

Vow to upgrade nutrition and supplements. We may choose to eat fewer candy bars and pizzas, while substituting more salads, fruits and veggies, but our pets can benefit from similar types of changes too. Cheap foods may taste good, but in the long run will cost the same or even more in medical expenses due to poor health. Choosing to upgrade to a higher-quality diet has many benefits on your pets mental and physical health. Aside from food, incorporating supplements like CBD oil and Fish oil, can help sustain your pets health and provide them with the proper nutrients to sustain a healthy life.

Microchipping. Most vet clinics and shelters have the means to quickly and inexpensively implant an identification chip in a pet. This can be especially helpful if or when your pet gets lost and loses their collar/ identification tags. Microchips greatly increase the chances of finding their way back to you. It works by acting as a means of permanent identification. The microchip company has your contact information on file, and when your pet is found and scanned by a vet or a shelter, they can find a way to reach you.

Regular Check-ups. We humans can usually tell if something is a little “off” in our bodies. Animals are usually more subtle when they start to feel ill. Regular check-ups can help detect a problem early on and thus increase their chances of successful treatments should something abnormal be detected. Staying up to date on vaccines will also sustain good health in your pet.

Adopt Don’t Shop! If you’re thinking about adding a new furry face to your clan, consider adoption from a local shelter or rescue, or through an online service such as www.petfinder.com. If you are looking for a specific breed, there are rescue groups who cater to them and can easily be found and contacted. Shelters are always full with adoptable pets of all ages and personalities. By avoiding the pet store puppies, you also do your part to discourage “puppy mill” type breeders and support to end such cruelty and greed.