National Pet Wellness Month!
October is not just about pumpkins and scary movies; it is also National Pet Wellness Month! Originally created by the American Veterinarian Medial Association (AVMA), this month’s focus is on educating pet owners on how to best care for their furry friends while also promoting the importance of year-round pet wellness!
Here are some quick and easy tips to help keep our furry friends happy and healthy!
Visit Your Vet!
You do not have to wait until your pet is sick or injured before taking them to their local veterinarian. Just like we should visit the doctor at least once a year for an overall wellbeing check, our pets can greatly benefit from this as well! Regularly scheduled vet visits can help with early detection of cancer, diabetes, and other diseases or illnesses. Which allows a much higher opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment.
What's more! Keeping them up to date on their vaccinations (and medication) will further protect your animal’s health and happiness!
Keep ‘em Fit!
It is estimated that in America over 50% of our pets are considered overweight! This can lead to the risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, digestive issues, liver problems, heat intolerance, and other health complications that can shorten the life of our pets.
Remember that 5lbs on us is much different than the 5lbs on our animal friends! Once the weight is gained it is much more difficult for them to lose that weight safely and the additional weight can cause health issues much more quickly than it does in us.
By keeping an eye on our pet’s weight and making proper adjustments to their diet when needed, we can keep their weight within a healthy range and avoid many different health concerns that can take away from our pet’s overall happiness.
If you are unsure which food is best for your unique pet and their changing health needs, just ask your local veterinarian! They should have several recommendations and additional tips on keeping your pet at their ideal weight.
Protect Their Smile!
Don’t forget about their teeth! Our pet’s dental hygiene is just as important to their health as ours, but it is a lot harder for them to keep up on their daily brushings.
Make it a part of your daily, or even weekly, routine to give their teeth a good brush or at the very least check their teeth as often as you can. This will help prevent your furry friends from suffering from tooth decay or loss, smelly breath, or worst of all from developing periodontal disease which can lead to organ failure if left untreated.
You can also complement brushing with a special diet or water additives! Ask your trusted vet for more information.
Brush! Clip! Bathe!
Proper grooming keeps our furry friends both comfortable and clean! Regular brushing helps removes dead hair and skin cells, while also distributing natural oils throughout their fur. This results in healthier coats and a great reduction in mats forming and annoying shedding. This also gives you a chance to check on the condition of their skin and coat (looking out for fleas, ticks, etc.) while also having the additional bonus of increasing the bond shared between the two of you.
Likewise, keeping their nails trimmed will help avoid possible injuries or discomfort from nails that are over-grown, split, or broken.
Our pets may not have to bathe quite as often as we do, but that doesn’t mean they never do! Depending on their activity level, fur coat, breed, or just plain messiness, your pet’s need for a bath can change over time and should never be ignored.
Spend Time Together!
Spending time with our furry friends is much more important than it may seem! Happiness is vital to your pet’s overall wellbeing and quality of life. Our lives get busy, and we all get tired but it’s important to remember that for our pets none of that matters, what matters is getting the time to interact and share their love with us!
Going on walks, playing, or even just giving them some extra cuddles are all ways that you can show your pet love and affection, that will help keep their happiness levels high!
And the added attention and stimulation will also help keep their minds active and engaged, which enhances both their physical and mental wellbeing!
National Pet Wellness Month is the perfect reminder for all pet owners that we share a common goal in keeping our pets healthy, while also giving them everything they could possibly need to live a long and happy life!
And reminding us of the advice of Benjamin Franklin, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” which is just as applicable to our pet’s health and wellbeing as it is to our own. 😊
Heather Carter
Author