10 Tips for a Happy and Healthy Pet
Happiness is a purr and a wag!
What simple steps can you take to give your furry friend a happy and healthy life?
Being a fabulous pet parent isn’t always easy. We want to make their lives as perfect and wonderful as we can, right? I mean, they do so much for us. So, we want to return the favour and make their lives better. Okay, sometimes it’s fun just to spoil them rotten.
But are we really covering all the bases? Are we doing all the things we need to do to keep them healthy, happy and with us for as long as we possibly can?
I’ve rounded up 10 tips to make sure your canine and feline companions are living their best lives. It’s up to you to decide how to take it to the next level.
1) Proper Nutrition
We want to make sure our furry friends never go hungry. This is a good thing. But you know that saying about “too much of a good thing”. That definitely applies to our pets. According to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, between 50 and 60 percent of pets in Canada are overweight or obese. That can be a factor of both how much we feed them, and what we choose to feed them.
I know this may come as a shocker, but carrying extra weight isn’t good for our pets. A healthy weight contributes to a better quality of life and a longer life too.
Just like humans, being at a healthy weight lowers their risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and even some cancers.
So, providing a balanced diet with the proper mix of food and treats can be a lifesaver. Talk to your veterinarian if you need advice on the nutritional needs for your pet. You don’t need to buy the most expensive food that money can buy. But your vet can guide you in finding a food that will fit the needs of your particular pet.
In fact, sometimes the simple answer is that they need less food. Don’t let those puppy dog eyes fool you. They don’t need to share your ice cream cone, no matter what those eyes say.
2) Exercise
Just like proper nutrition, exercise is going to help your pet live longer.
Depending on the size and energy level of your dog, they need 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise every day. This can be split up into smaller portions.
Walking your dog seems like the natural choice. It’s an excellent option and should be part of your routine. It’s not only a physical workout, but mentally stimulating, as well.
Playing fetch, playing hide and seek, or scent work are excellent options to keep your dog active, stimulated, and happy.
As for your cat, their exercise needs are different. Keep their play sessions to 10-15 minutes at a time and vary throughout the day.
You need to tap into their natural instincts to climb, hunt, and chase. Use wand toys, puzzle feeders, and laser toys, and provide cat towers and vertical spaces for them to explore.
3) Water
It’s critical to ensure that your pets have access to clean, fresh water at all times.
Even mild dehydration can cause lethargy, loss of appetite, dry and sticky gums, decreased urination, and put stress on the kidneys and other organs of the body. Keep those water bowls full.
Also, make sure they’re cleaned daily. Dirty water can harbour bacteria causing diarrhea, vomiting, and even kidney issues.
A drinking fountain can encourage cats to drink more water, improving their hydration. Cats prefer running water, instinctively. Just be sure to clean it and replace the filter as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
4) Dental Health
Good dental health is important to prevent tooth loss, gum disease, heart, liver, and kidney issues. It can also prevent a lot of pain for your pet.
Establish the habit of cleaning your pet’s teeth regularly. Start slowly by getting them used to your finger and a pet-specific enzymatic toothpaste. Work up to a finger brush or soft-bristled brush. Daily brushing is the best but any cleaning is better than none.
If your pet is very resistant to all attempts, there are alternatives that will help with their dental routine. Consider options like dental wipes, gels, special diets, food additives and water additives. Your veterinarian can advise you to the best choices for your pet.
You may also need to have your pet’s teeth professionally cleaned by your veterinarian. A good dental routine will help to minimize the need for this procedure.
5) Grooming
The grooming needs for your pet is going to vary. Some breeds of dogs and cats may require professional grooming due to their long and thick coats. Every pet will need to be brushed regularly, especially during shedding seasons. You should make this a routine and they may learn to enjoy the extra petting and love.
Even dogs who don’t get professionally groomed will need the occasional bath. This can be done at home or there’s even self-serve dog washes at some car washes and pet stores. These are a great option but be sure to clean up after your pet and yourself the best you can.
Even dogs who don’t get professionally groomed will need the occasional bath
Cats will usually not need baths. If they need to be cleaned, a cloth with warm soapy water to clean their fur, followed by a cloth with just water to rinse. If you need to bathe them due to them getting into a dangerous substance, having a skin condition, or inability to groom themselves, try to get them used to the water very slowly and stay positive and patient.
Ear cleaning can be done if they are dirty, inflamed, or smelly. Floppy-eared dogs are especially prone to yeast infections. A solution recommended by your vet and some gauze or a cotton ball will do the trick. Avoid Q-tips! You may end up pushing the debris further in or your pet may flinch and hurt themselves.
Nail trimming can be done at home if they will tolerate it. It’s more of a challenge with an older pet who hasn’t been desensitized or who has had a bad experience with nails being cut too short or is uncomfortable with their ears being touched.
Work on desensitizing them and provide lots of treats and positive reinforcement…treats help! Even if you never get to the point where you’re able to do it, you may make it easier for your groomer if they’re more comfortable with touch.
We got Jack when he was almost 4 years old and he was terrified of the nail clippers. He would screech and cry like we were trying to murder him. Obviously, he’d had a very bad experience in the past. It took a lot of time and a lot of treats but we were able to get him comfortable enough to tolerate it a couple of nails at a time.
At least he stopped trying to interfere with us when we trimmed Lucy and Hunter’s nails! They both couldn’t really care less. Training them when they’re young really helps.
6) Pest Protection
Your pet will need protection against fleas, ticks, lice, mites, worms, and heartworms. There’s lots of little critters that would love to make themselves at home in or on your pets.
These pests can bring Heartworm, Ringworm, Lyme’s disease, mange, bacterial and yeast infections, to name a few. Symptoms can range from severe itching to death.
Talk with your veterinarian to discuss your best options. They can advise you on the recommended preventions and treatment options if they have picked up a pest such as fleas or ear mites.
7) Weather Extremes
Let’s face it. Canada provides us with some pretty extreme weather. From brutally cold winters, to scorching hot summers, we’ve got it all. We can dress up or dress down to protect ourselves. But how do we protect our fur babies?
Cold Weather
To ensure pet safety in cold weather, the easiest way to protect them is to keep them indoors. They need to be protected from frostbitten ears, cracked and painful paws, itchy skin, and hypothermia.
Oh, and be sure to provide them with fresh water at all times. If you have animals that live or spend a great deal of time outside in Canadian winters, that will probably mean a heated water bowl.
When your indoor pets are outside, it should be minimized in extreme cold. You may need to protect their paws with booties or wipe them dry after a walk to remove salt and snow-melting chemicals. Some short-haired or small breeds of dogs will require a sweater or coat to keep them warm.
Cats can suffer frostbite on their ears and paws, hypothermia, and can get trapped in dangerous places like vehicle engines as they search for warm shelter. Keeping them inside, especially at night, is the safest option.
Hot Weather
Yup, even here in Canada, the dangers of hot weather can’t be ignored. Obviously, I shouldn’t have to say that pets cannot be left in vehicles in even warm weather, never mind heatwaves, but I’m putting it out here. Try sitting in a parking lot, even with the windows cracked and see how long it takes for you to feel it!
At home, if your pet is outside, try to limit that time, especially during the hottest hours of afternoon and early evening. Provide fresh water at all times and a shaded area for them to rest.
Dog walks should be done in the cooler hours of morning or late evening. Check the sidewalk to ensure that it’s not too hot to touch. If it feels hot to your hand, it will feel hot to their paws too.
Bring along water and a container such as a collapsible bowl. Train your dog to drink from it and offer it often.
If you can, find a local trail or park with plenty of shade. Both you and your pet will enjoy it much more than a scorching hot sidewalk with no shade to protect you.
You can also get sunscreen for your dog that’s formulated with pet-safe ingredients. Do not use human sunscreen! Some of the ingredients used in our sunscreen are toxic to our pets. Zinc oxide is a serious toxin to our pets while titanium dioxide is generally safe for dogs.
Dogs with shorter, lighter coats are more at risk for sun damage so a spray is a good idea. A balm or lotion can be used for noses and ears. Pets with thick fur are less at risk but noses and ears are unprotected from those damaging rays.
Monitor your pets for any signs of heat exhaustion or heatstroke, a very dangerous condition for your pet. If your pet shows any symptoms, get them to a cool place, start cooling them down immediately with cool(not cold) water and get them to your veterinarian or emergency vet clinic immediately.
Symptoms of heatstroke include:
panting (any panting in cats, excessive panting in dogs)
drooling
lethargy or weakness
vomiting
staggering
diarrhea
collapse
8) Veterinary Care
Find yourself a good veterinarian and make sure to go for wellness checks at least once a year.
Your vet will be proactive in the prevention of disease with general health checks, vaccinations, pest control, dietary needs and dental health.
Honestly, dogs and cats are very adept at being “good little soldiers” and hiding their pain. Early diagnosis of health issues can equal a longer and happier life for your precious fur baby.
9) Mental Stimulation
There is more to life than eating, drinking, exercising and sleeping, even for our pets. They need to have fun. Part of that fun is mental activities to keep their brain active and entertained.
Playtime will be a key component for a happy pet. You can provide lots of toys to entertain them. And, rest assured, they don’t need to be expensive or even cost anything!
A large paper bag, a crinkled up ball of paper or empty box can provide hours of entertainment for a cat. An old sock or shirt can be turned into a tug toy for your dog.
Treat-dispensing puzzles, a snuffle mat, or muffin tin puzzle can be so much fun for your treat motivated pet. The mental stimulation of a good puzzle can really keep them entertained.
Rotate the toys so your pet doesn’t get bored of them. Ever pull out your couch and find a ball, catnip toy or chew toy? Often, that will become your pet’s favourite new toy for a while. Variety is the spice of life!
You can also practice scentwork with your dog and hunting skills with your cat by hiding their favourite treats and encourage them to find them.
10) Establish Routines
Pets are pretty adept at picking up routines. Feeding time, walk time, potty breaks, and a dirty litter box will often be met with a pet who knows exactly what they want, what they need, and aren’t afraid to let you know it.
Pets have to trust that we’ll provide them with food, fresh water, exercise, playtime, and plenty of attention. Without it, our furry companions can develop anxiety and destructive habits. It can also affect their health.
These routines are helpful for the humans in the house too. Children can especially benefit from routines that establish who’s responsible for pet care tasks and when these tasks need to happen. Heck, it’s important for adults too. We’ve got a lot going on and remembering all the little details that need to be taken care of can be a challenge at times. Routines build habits.
If your not one to build habits easily, or have several people, especially children, responsible for the care of your pets, a chart for pet care can be a useful tool. The satisfaction of checking off their chore, and the follow up you can provide will be good for everyone involved, including your pets.
Another component to routines is flexibility. If your routine is too regimented, and you have to deviate for any reason, such as…life, this can put your pet into a pool of anxiety. Anxiety can lead to destructive behaviours, and frankly, just isn’t good for any of us.
So, make sure your pets’ basic needs are met, but don’t be too strict about the timing. That way, if you’re running a little late, you’re not going to have to worry about coming home to a disaster with a horrified and guilty animal sitting in the midst of it.
Bonus tip: LOVE
Put as much love as you can in all your interactions with your pets. In the scheme of things, they’re only with us for a small portion of our lives. But we are their world.
We train them, play with them, pet them, take them on adventures, feed them, and cuddle them. In return, they give us all the love they can.
And they give so much. The least we can do is try to show them our love too!
