By Jen Flatt Osborn
If you’re looking for ways to keep your pet healthy, you’re in the right place. Since our pets can’t live forever (boo!), it’s up to us to give them the best chance at a long life.
The Big 5
These habits are critical to try to ensure not only life longevity, but also health in general. They include Diet, Exercise, Environmental Comfort, Discipline, and Love
Let’s delve in to learn the how, what, why, and when of each. The answers might surprise you.
Diet
Sharing your steak with Shaggy makes everyone happy, but making it a habit sometimes isn’t the best thing for your pet or your wallet.
The main reason giving your pet what has been cooked for you isn’t good is because so much of our food can be laced with things that could seriously harm them. Besides, an animal that begs at mealtime isn’t ideal.
Here are some ingredients/foods we eat regularly that can shorten the lifespan of our pets:
- Salt – It’s potentially lethal for dogs and cats, can cause sodium ion poisoning, and pet foods already contain the required amounts.
- Sugar – This pesky additive can cause weight problems (don’t we know it) and lay the groundwork for stomach problems and diabetes.
- Flour – Plain, white, all-purpose flour can pack the weight on, create bloating, and cause allergies.
- Xylitol – This dangerous ingredient in baked goodies and candy can quickly cause liver failure and death. Always throw gum away into a closed receptacle since it contains the ingredient as well.
- Spices – Some are safe, some aren’t. Why not just stick to a topper like the ones that are available just for pets.
- Fruits – Do your homework on this one since it depends on the fruit. Also, some fruits like watermelon are perfectly fine to feed them, but the rind and seeds can cause intestinal blockage. Grapes, raisins, cherries, tomatoes, and avocados are standouts to absolutely NOT feed your pet.
Important note: For birds, the pits and seeds are especially toxic.
- Alcohol – Even a little bit of alcohol in Grandma’s buttercream cake can do real damage to an animal’s nervous and other systems and general health.
- Caffeine – Coffee, tea, and even some medications that include caffeine are no-no’s for your pet.
- Dyes and Preservatives – They’re just as unhealthy for animals as they are for humans.
A Raw Diet
If you choose to give your pet a raw-food diet, which is time-consuming and pricey, consider this:
“There are three primary concerns with respect to feeding raw meat to your cat:
- Infectious disease risks (to pets and owners)
- Dietary nutritional imbalance (in pets)
- Foreign bodies (i.e. pets swallowing bones)”
VCA Animal Hospitals
So, giving your pets high-quality commercial foods and supplementing them with their favorite “people food” now and then seems to be the best option for the health of your pets. (Cooked lean meat or slice of cheese for dogs; Lean deli meat for cats.)
Keep your pet healthy by learning as much as you can about the best diet for him or her.
Exercise
It can’t be said enough that exercise is good for every species, animals and humans alike. Keeping the heart and mind active with daily walks or playtime with cats can extend their lives.
For dogs, medium to large animals almost can’t get enough. Descendants of wolves, it’s innately wired for them to travel and walks to the mailbox just aren’t enough. Trips around the block or to go swimming gives them the opportunity to relieve stress and works their muscles and joints.
That said, keep in mind what Forbes.com says:
“How much exercise your dog needs depends on breed, age and general health. But the consensus among behaviorists and veterinarians is that one hour a day of exercise is required to keep your four-legged friend fit.”
Proper exercise encourages top body and mind health and can help your precious ones live to a ripe old age.
Environmental Comfort
We’ve probably all seen the horrific images of puppy mills or of stray cats who haven’t found enough to eat. The effects these circumstances have on animals can be seen on their faces.
In order to keep your pet healthy and parasite-free, they need shelter from the elements and clean food and water bowls. Also, a nice bed or cubby hole, if that’s what your cat prefers, can make them feel secure.
Extreme temperatures, below 35 degrees and above 75 degrees can harm your pets in many ways. It’s called “domesticated” for several reasons and one of them is keeping them indoors.
There are cats who prefer indoor/outdoor living, but they should always have a warm, safe place inside available to them. Additionally, if there is discord in the home from other animals or even the humans, pets can be affected from it.
A peaceful and temperature-controlled home is one of the best ways to keep your pet healthy and happy.
Discipline
Just like children, pets need structure and boundaries. It’s best to keep a routine for them so they know what to expect and what’s expected.
When you’re training them, use positive reinforcement training. No animal needs to be shocked or berated while learning the ropes. Dogs especially love to know how they can please you. It gives them peace of mind.
If you have more than one pet and one of them seems to need more attention, don’t forget the other one needs it, too.
Disciplining your pets gently will keep them healthy and their mental health is just as important as anything.
Love
This may be the most critical and easiest one of all. Loving our animals encompasses everything we’ve talked about but also, you need to give them you.
Sitting and scratching them while you’re relaxing goes a long way with creatures. Look into their eyes, and tell them you love them. Play with them. Your touch and attention can keep your pet healthy more than anything.
Now, getting your dog not to jump up on people? That’s a different story.
P.S. Are you looking for the best pet sitting service in Cincinnati? We’re here for you and your best friend when you need us. Just give us a call or leave your info and we’ll make sure your sweet one gets all the love and attention he or she deserves when you’re away.
References:
- https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/ss/slideshow-foods-your-dog-should-never-eat#:~:text=Too%20much%20sugar%20can%20do,can%20even%20lead%20to%20diabetes. – “Toxic and Dangerous Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat” – Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev – Feb, 2022
- https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/fruits-vegetables-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/ – “Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can or Can’t Eat” – AKC Staff – Aug, 2021
- https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/avoiding-raw-food-in-cats – “Avoiding Raw Food in Cats” – Tammy Hunter, DVM; Robin Downing, DVM, DAAPM, DACVSMR, CVPP, CRPP
- https://pets.webmd.com/cats/ss/slideshow-people-foods-cats-can-eat#:~:text=Cats%20are%20meat%20eaters%2C%20plain,way%20to%20give%20them%20that. – “People Food Cats Can Eat” – Reviewed by Amy Flowers, DVM – Jan, 2022
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2015/11/01/how-much-exercise-does-your-dog-really-need/?sh=65f9d4ac22e2 – “How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Really Need?” – Judith Reitman Texier – Nov, 2015
- https://vetmeds.org/pet-poison-control-list/salt/
- http://k9aquaticcenter.com/about-the-center/the-benefits-of-swimming/ – “The Benefits of Swimming for Dogs” – Article reprinted from www.vividlife.me
- https://pets.webmd.com/cats/features/should-you-have-an-indoor-cat-or-an-outdoor-cat#:~:text=The%20consensus%20among%20veterinarians%20and,confined%2C%20whether%20indoors%20or%20outdoors. – “Should You Have an Indoor Cat or an Outdoor Cat?” – Stephanie Watson; Reviewed by Amy Flowers, DVM – June, 2021