11 Steps to a Healthy Pet

1. 11 Steps to a Healthy Pet Guidelines for Maintaining Your Pet's Health Throughout its Life Pets can live long, happy lives that are full of love, adventures, and good health, just like humans can. But they can't do it by themselves. Along with giving your pets lots of love and care, you have another extremely significant duty: ensuring their health. You'll get more kisses, tail wags, and years of friendship from your pets if you do your part to ensure their well-being. Whether you are currently a pet owner and want to ensure you are doing everything possible for your pet's health, or you are considering adopting a cat, dog (or another animal). Step 1: Make a yearly trip to the vet. An annual wellness examination enables your vet to assess your pet's general health and identify any issues. Early detection and treatment of a problem can stop it from developing into a larger issue in the future. Additionally, early discovery increases the likelihood of a successful and straightforward resolution. Important procedures that will also happen at a wellness appointment include vaccinations, heartworm prevention, and routine deworming. During your yearly checkups, you can discuss any concerns you may have, such as problems with your pet's nutrition or behavior. Step 2: Keep up-to-date with vaccines. It is crucial to your dog's health to immunize him or her against potentially fatal diseases including rabies, parvo, and distemper. In addition to other diseases, cats should also receive vaccinations against rabies and the feline leukemia virus (which results in severe immunological suppression and death in cats). Some vaccinations, like the 1

2. rabies shot, are mandated by law in addition to avoiding diseases that can spread from animals to people and vice versa. Step 3: Monitor your pet's weight. Maintaining a healthy weight for your pet goes a long way toward preventing illnesses and injuries. Hip dysplasia is a disorder that can affect some large dog breeds, including German shepherds and Labrador retrievers. The hip joint may deteriorate and eventually stop functioning as a result of this bone disease. The substantial stress that obesity places on a dog's joints either causes or worsens the ailment. Similar to humans, keeping pets at a healthy weight lowers their chances of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory conditions, kidney problems, and some types of cancer. Step 4: Get them moving. Regular exercise benefits both your pet's physical and emotional health, as well as your own! Daily walks and other outside activities not only maintain muscle tone and joint health for your dog, but also stimulate his or her mind as it sniffs, sees, hears, and explores its surroundings. A dog or cat's daily exercise requirements are influenced by their age, health, and breed. Border collies and Belgian Malinois, for instance, are high-energy breeds that need a lot of exercises. Low-energy breeds like bulldogs and senior dogs need less exercise. Step 5: Keep your pet free of nasty parasites. Pets frequently experience problems from fleas, ticks, and mites, but with a little forethought on your part, you can keep these pesky pests at bay. For the best flea and tick prevention strategy, speak with your veterinarian. Every time you groom your dog or cat, make sure to regularly check for fleas, ticks, and anomalies in the coat. Keep an eye out for signs of trouble in your pet, such as excessive chewing, licking, or scratching of the coat or frequent ear scratching. If you discover anything unexpected, see your veterinarian. 2

3. In addition to reducing your pet's discomfort and the likelihood that they will spread a disease to other animals, treating parasites right away may also lower the extent of the infestation in your home. Step 6: Spay or neuter your pet. An enduring crisis is the homelessness of pets. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that because of overcrowding and a lack of adoption, millions of cats and dogs are unfortunately put to death every year. Spaying or neutering has various health advantages in addition to assisting in lowering the amount of unwanted puppy and kitten births. While neutering male pets can lower their chance of developing an enlarged prostate gland (known as benign prostatic hyperplasia) and testicular cancer, spaying female dogs and cats can help protect them from uterine infections and cancer. Step 7: Keep up with dental cleanings. Another reason to schedule a yearly appointment with your Huntington veterinarian is to ensure the condition of your pet's teeth and gums. Your pet's entire health is critically impacted by dental health. Periodontal disease, an inflammation of some or all of the tooth's deep supporting structures, can be painful and lead to serious issues such as abnormalities in the heart, kidney, and liver muscles. As often as possible, you should consistently brush your dog's or cat's teeth at home in addition to taking them to the dentist once a year. Step 8: Socialization is important. The first few months of a puppy's existence, from roughly seven weeks to four months of age, are crucial for socializing. A favorable difference is made by early socialization and exposure to people, places, noises, scents, and experiences. A dog's likelihood of developing antisocial or aggressive tendencies as an adult is reduced with proper socialization, as it can prevent a dog from being constantly afraid of things like children or riding in a car. 3

4. Step 9: Microchip your pets. It is easy to microchip your dog or cat by inserting a tiny microchip between the shoulder blades. The chip is injected beneath the skin with a hypodermic needle; neither anesthesia nor surgery is needed. An identification number on this rice-sized chip is connected to a registry database that includes your contact information. A veterinarian or volunteer at the shelter who scans this chip will know that you are the owner. Step 10: Feed your pets a healthy, balanced diet. Throughout their lives, dogs and cats have varied nutritional needs. For instance, a different vitamin balance is needed for puppies and kittens compared to adults. The size and breed of your dog, as well as any dietary limitations or allergies your pet may have, are additional considerations when choosing a nutritious diet. To choose the ideal food for your pet's unique needs, seek the advice of your veterinarian. Step 11: Groom your pets regularly. Regular grooming not only improves your pet's appearance but also removes dirt, loose hair, and skin flakes while promoting blood circulation. Removing as much loose fur as possible before it may be ingested, also helps reduce cat hairballs. Regular grooming also enables you to look for any anomalies, such as lumps, fleas, ticks, or other parasites. Make an appointment with one of our skilled veterinarians at Huntington Village Animal Hospital right away for more advice on how to raise a healthy, joyful pet. We're prepared to collaborate with you to keep your pets as healthy as possible so they can provide you with many happy years of companionship. 4