HOW TO KEEP HEALTHY LIFESTYLE OF YOUR PETS
Good health is equally important for dogs as it is for humans. As a pet owner, you want to ensure a long life for your dog. Staying healthy is a key for long life of your dog. Follow these simple tips for keeping the health of your dog on right path:
Healthy Body—–
Having a healthy body usually, begins with what you eat (same things for pets). Like humans, dogs and cats can be overweight – and can suffer from multiple maladies based on carrying around this extra weight. Here are some statistics from a 2014 study on pets and weight:
52.7% of dogs are either overweight or obese (estimate)
57.9% of cats are eight overweight or obese (estimate)
Some problems that can be caused by being overweight:
• Osteoarthritis
• Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• Heart and Respiratory Disease
• Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injury
• Kidney Disease
• Many Forms of Cancer
• Decreased life expectancy (up to 2.5 years)
Here are some tips for keeping the healthy lifestyle of pets
- TAKE YOUR PET TO THE VETERINARIAN REGULARLY.
All pets, including both dogs and cats, require regular veterinary care. However, veterinary care goes far beyond routine vaccinations, even though those are important. A routine examination by your veterinarian can uncover health issues of which you are unaware. In many cases, an early diagnosis improves the chances of successful treatment. Early diagnosis is also likely to be less costly for you than waiting until your pet’s illness has become advanced and serious before attempting treatment. - Establish a Grooming Routine
Grooming is not just about maintaining your pet’s level of cleanliness, and it is not just about keeping your pet “good-looking.” Grooming is also about maintaining their physical health. Hair brushing, ear cleaning, and nail trimming are all important things you should add to your pet’s regular grooming regimen. Even cats, despite their ability to self-groom, will occasionally need assistance. Got questions? Consult your veterinarian.
- Practice Good Oral Hygiene
“Dental disease is a common problem in our pets and can lead to a variety of health issues .It is estimated that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over the age of 3 years suffer from some degree of periodontal disease, an inflammation of some or all of a tooth’s deep supporting structures. This can lead to gingivitis, bad breath and a host of other dental issues. Avoid these problems by brushing your pet’s teeth, scheduling regular dental checkups, and using dental diets and treats.
- Exercise and Play Regularly
Big or small, young or old, our pets need to exercise daily. Without physical activity, your dog or cat will become bored, frustrated and even unhealthy — leading to issues such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Consult a veterinarian to devise the safest routine for your dog or cat, especially with senior or overweight pets. Additional forms of daily activity can include swimming, a game of fetch or chase the toy mouse and mental exercise such as food puzzles.
- Buy Quality Pet Food
“What you feed your pet has a tremendous impact on their health. Choose quality pet food and avoid issues with obesity — an epidemic problem among pets — by feeding your dog or cat the right amount.” Not sure which pet food is the best or what is the right amount? Consult your veterinarian to choose a high quality, complete and balanced food that meets your pet’s specific life stage and health needs.
Pets that are overweight are at risk for a myriad of health issues. Obesity is the number one nutritional disease seen in pets currently and studies have shown that being overweight or obese can shorten a dog or cat’s life span by as much as two years. Why? Being overweight or obese puts your pet at risk for joint disease, heart disease and diabetes, among other things.
- DO NOT ALLOW YOUR PET TO ROAM UNSUPERVISED.
Allowing your dog or cat to roam free may seem like you’re doing your pet a favor. However, pets that roam are susceptible to a number of dangers, including automobile accidents, predation, exposure to contagious diseases, exposure to poisons, and more. Additionally, allowing your pet to roam unsupervised may alienate your neighbors should your pet ever “relieve” him- or herself in their lawn or dig up their garden.
- Give your dog a constant supply of fresh water. Dogs need lots of fresh water for the body to properly work and digest food. The water should be clean and fresh, so change the water at least once a day. Clean the water bowl or bucket with dish soap and water every once. Rinse and dry the container before refilling with fresh water.
• Bacteria and algae can grow in the bowl, especially during warm weather. - Socialize your dog. Once he’s gotten all his important first vaccinations, socialize him. This means carefully introducing him to people, other animals and dogs, and situations outside the immediate home environment. Getting used to riding in the car, walking around the neighborhood and dog parks are great ways to introduce him to people and other dogs.
• As long as the dog isn’t scared or threatened he will get used to these situations. The more unique social situations you expose your dog to when he’s young, the better. - Consider spaying or neutering your dog.
Spaying or neutering your dog can reduce some behavioral problems and decrease the chance of certain tumors and infections. If you spay or neuter your dog, you won’t need to worry about caring for or placing unwanted puppies.
• Microchipping is also encouraged in case your dog ever becomes lost.
Compiled & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
Image-Courtesy-Google
Reference-On Request.
