Our pets might have four legs, fur, and drool on us. They might not be able to communicate in the way we understand and they might even do their business on your expensive new rug, but despite all this, they are our family.
Taking good care of our family is a top priority for most of us, and making sure that our pets are happy and healthy definitely falls into that category. It’s a little harder to take care of someone’s health when we don’t really understand how their bodies work, and when they can’t tell us how they’re feeling, but we try our best just the same. Here are five things to keep in mind.
Medical Aspects
Just like you would with children, you need to make sure you’re always up to date on medical checks, vaccinations, and keeping up with any chronic medication. Your vet knows best and regular check-ups will keep you informed on your pet’s health and anything specific they might need.
You’ll want to make sure that you have the best pet insurance in order to minimise vet bills and medical costs in the case of any health issues.
Diet
A healthy diet is just as important for animals as it is for humans. However, you don’t want to be feeding your dog chicken salads for lunch… Make sure that you purchase the highest-quality pet food you can afford and check with your vet for their recommendations for your pet.
Also, watch out and do your research before feeding your pets fruits, vegetables, processed foods and any other “human food” items that make up your own diet.
Exercise
Daily activity is crucial for all of us. If you live in a small apartment, it’s important that you take your dogs out for daily walks. Even if they have a big yard to run around in, make sure to spend time playing with them each day and take them for at least one short walk every morning.
While it’s easy to get your dog exercising, don’t forget that your cats need to move too, especially if they have a weight problem.
Grooming
Keeping your pets trimmed and clean also plays a role in their health and happiness, especially since this will help you identify and manage any ticks, fleas, rashes or other issues while you’re scrubbing them up.
If you don’t want to spend money on a professional groomer, you can easily groom your pets at home for free – except of course for the purchasing of the equipment and bathing products.
Socialising
Mental health for pets doesn’t sound like something you need to consider, but it is. Animals are social creatures just like us, and it’s important for them to feel love and affection, and have time to play.
Make sure you spend time with your pets and show them you love them. If they’re alone at home often, consider adopting another pet to keep them company or take them out to visit other animals at a dog park.
