Our pets can be some of the most important friends in our lives. They can’t speak to us to tell us what they need, so every pet owner should be familiar with the basics of how to care for pets before they care for one. Here are 10 tips on how to keep your pet healthy and happy, now and in the future.
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1. Provide a good diet
You should find a vet near you to ask about the best diet for your pet. There are so many options available that it might be overwhelming to choose, so talking to a professional can ensure you make the right decision about what to feed your furry friend.
2. Maintain a healthy weight
Just like people shouldn’t be overweight, pets also need to stay at a healthy weight to have overall good health. The best way to do this is by learning about your pet’s breed and finding out what a healthy weight for him or her is.
3. Supervise playtime
Dogs and cats are playful animals, and they can sometimes get into messes if they’re left alone. If you’re going to be out of the house and you want to leave a young pet home, you should either put them in a cage or make sure there aren’t any dangerous choking hazards around.
4. Learn about oral health
Pets need to have healthy teeth too, and this is easy to forget about (unless your pet has bad breath!). You can go to a pet store to see what options they have for oral hygiene for pets. Your cat or dog might not like when you brush their teeth, but it’s good for their long term health.
5. Get regular exercise
This is important to more active animals as well as sedentary ones, and if your pet doesn’t like to move around a lot, try to find some activities that get them moving. Exercise is an important component of maintaining a healthy weight.
6. Find a veterinarian
Even if you’re doing everything else you should be to keep your pet healthy, it’s important to find a vet near you who can check up on your pet every year. Veterinarians recommend annual check ups for healthy pets, but pets with health problems might need to see the vet more. If your pet needs extra care from the vet, it’s even more important to find a vet near you whom you trust to improve your pet’s overall health.
7. Administer preventive medicine
You might want to ask your veterinarian questions about the most important vaccines and medications that will help your pet stay healthy. This includes things like flea and tick medication.
8. Consider an ID microchip
If your pet gets lost, it can be detrimental to their emotional as well as physical health. Protect against a bad outcome by learning about ID microchips.
9. Socialize with other pets
Just as important as seeing the animal vet is spending time with other furry friends, and you might want to get together with someone else who has a pet so they can play together. Dogs love their owners, but sometimes they might just need a little dog time.
10. Spend time together
Above all, you should spend time with your dog or cat to make sure they know they are loved. Hang out together, go on walks, watch movies, and give them lots of hugs.