Welcome to 2020! The New Year brings fresh perspectives, positive outlooks, and hopeful thoughts for what the next 12 months will bring. And all those warm and fuzzy feelings don’t have to be limited to what you hope to accomplish for yourself this year. If you’re a pet owner, why not involve your best furry pal in your hopes and dreams for 2020?
Here are three essential New Year’s resolutions for pet owners:
Keep your finger on the pulse of your pet’s nutrition. What does your pet eat? How much does your pet eat? Be aware of your pet’s nutrition so you can keep her at a healthy weight and so she can get the appropriate nutrients for her lifestyle. Nutrition affects more than just weight. A proper diet can help to maintain your pet’s cognitive function, energy level, and more. Don’t overdo it with treats and table scraps. Monitor your pet’s intake, and talk to our office about your pet’s nutrition at your next appointment.
Prevent health problems before they start. Veterinary visits are down, and preventive illnesses are up. Those two are clearly associated. Your pet ages about seven times faster than you do. If your dog goes one year without seeing us for a preventive care exam, that’s the equivalent of you not seeing your doctor at all for seven years. Don’t wait until your pet is exhibiting signs of illness before you decide to visit our office. If you catch problems early through regular preventive exams (twice a year is best), not only will your pet likely have a better outcome, but you’ll probably save money, too.
Move, move, and move some more. More than half of dogs and 60 percent of cats in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Just like humans, animals that carry around excess weight are at increased risk of developing many different health problems, like arthritis, diabetes, and more. Walk your dog regularly. Play with your cat using laser pointers and other toys. The more your pet moves, the more you’ll move, and the healthier you both will be.
This year, let’s all resolve to be the best pet parents we can be. That means going the extra mile to take care of ourselves and our pets and enjoying every minute together. Regardless of your aspirations for your pet in 2020, be sure he visits our office this year so we can keep him happy and healthy. Call us to make an appointment.