Keeping Your Pets Healthy

 

I came across this Yahoo! article about helping your pets live longer and thought I'd share with all you pet-lovers.  It's mostly just common sense, but it's good to have a little reminder now and then ~ after all, our furry family members can't tell us what they need.  Here, tips adapted from the article...

1.  Keep your furry friend indoors.  Staying inside, or at least on a leash, protects your pet from all kinds of dangers.  Also, as pets age they can't regulate their body temperature as effectively, making them more prone to weather-related ailments like heatstroke.

2.  Watch his weight.  Obesity in dogs and cats causes the same serious health problems that it does in humans ~ high blood pressure, breathing problems, diabetes and joint pain.  It's not easy to put a portly pet on a diet, but not doing so could shorten his lifespan {and from a practical ~ and more selfish ~ standpoint, you really don't want to have to give a cat daily insulin injections}.

3.  Don't skip vet appointments.  It's tempting to bail on the vet if your pet seems healthy ~ the exams, shots and treatments can add up to a big yearly bill if you don't have pet insurance.  But our pets can't tell us when they don't feel quite right; the vet can ~ sometimes just by looking into your dog's eyes.

4.  Dental health is overall health.  Poor dental health is the most common major health problem affecting cats and dogs; the bacteria from dental and gum disease can travel elsewhere in their bodies, causing more serious issues.  Check your pets teeth and gums about once a week.  Feed kibble and treats that promote dental health; keep an eye out for signs of dental or gum disease; and brush your pets teeth with pet-formulated brushes and paste.  It's worth it ~ bad teeth can reduce your dog's lifespan 2-4 years.

5.  Spay and neuter your pets.  Spaying or neutering your pet can protect them down the line from various reproductive cancers.  Also, some studies show that fixed pets live longer than "intact" pets, although scientists aren't quite sure why.

Kisses to your four-legged family members!

xoxo

Bean

{photo credit: shine.yahoo.com}