The new year is approaching quickly! As a pet owner, now is the perfect time to make resolutions for pet care in 2017. Changing the way you handle your pet’s diet, grooming, and veterinary care can help you keep your pet healthy in the new year. The following suggestions are best practices that pet owners can follow to help ensure overall pet wellness and good quality of life.
Get Up to Date on Vaccinations
Your pet may have been vaccinated when he or she was young, but pets need to get booster shots to maintain immunity. If you’re not sure which boosters your pet needs to have, or if you have fallen behind on boosters since the last vaccination, contact your pet’s veterinarian for guidance.
Feed Your Pet Right
Your pet’s veterinarian may have given you advice about how much to feed your pet and what kind of food is best for your pet. If this is the case, follow the advice from your pet’s veterinarian. However, if your pet’s vet didn’t suggest a specific diet for your pet, the best thing you can do is to feed your pet food that’s formulated for its age (example: feed puppy food to a puppy), and to follow the portion instructions on the back of the pet food bag to ensure that you’re not overfeeding your pet. Measure your pet’s portions to ensure that you’re feeding him or her the correct amount.
Brush Your Pet’s Teeth
Your pet’s teeth need to be brushed on a daily basis to ensure that they stay clean. If you’re not in the habit of brushing your pet’s teeth, you’ll need to train your pet to accept tooth brushing as a part of everyday life. Your pet’s veterinarian can advise you on the best ways to train your pet, but the video below gives a little information that can help.
Remember to buy a toothbrush designed to fit in your pet’s mouth, and toothpaste that is animal-safe. If you think brushing your pet’s teeth every day is not a realistic possibility for you, try brushing once or twice per week. Just brushing your pet’s teeth just a little bit can help.
Groom More Frequently
Your pet should be groomed regularly. This can help keep your pet clean, prevent knots in your pet’s fur and can help you catch problems like ticks that you might not otherwise notice. Ideally, you should comb or brush your pet’s fur once per day. If you can’t work that into your schedule, try grooming your pet’s fur once every week.
Have Your Pet Spayed or Neutered
Spaying and neutering is good for the community because it helps prevent unwanted pregnancies and thus prevents unwanted pets from going to community animal shelters. In addition, spaying or neutering your pet can correct certain behavior problems, prevent your pet from wandering away from home, and can even reduce your pet’s risk of certain cancers and diseases.
Microchip Your Pet
Microchipping helps reunite pet families. If your pet should ever become lost, a microchip can help ensure that your pet will be returned to his or her proper owner. If you’ve never gotten your pet microchipped, talk to your pet’s veterinarian about getting this procedure done.
Join the National Animal Supplement Council
The National Animal Supplement Council is dedicated to promoting animal health and wellness through nutritious supplements. We welcome new members and encourage pet owners to join our ranks and support our cause. To join the NASC, contact us today.
