Today is the kick off date for National Pet Wellness Month. Here are some helpful hints to keep your beloved pets healthy.
National Pet Wellness Month is a nationwide educational campaign sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). It is a good time for a “pet check-up” and for pet parents to become more familiar with the steps that are needed to maintain a happy and healthy companion.
At curli North America, we are completely focused on designing and manufacturing pet products that enhance the health and well-being of our adorable animal companions. As one of Europe’s leading producers of superior quality harnesses and accessories, we take pet wellness very seriously. With more than 50 million dogs and 40 million cats currently domesticated in the United States, it is pretty obvious that our country loves pets. More than half of households in America have pets. With the exponential growth in pet ownership, here are a few tips to get started on improving your pet’s total wellness this month:
1. Schedule routine veterinary care. Pets should visit the veterinarian at least once a year. Veterinarians are highly trained to recognize and treat health issues before they develop into more serious problems. A review of the vaccination status and program most appropriate for your pet should also be completed at this time.
2. Have your pet spayed or neutered. Not only do these procedures prevent individual medical problems such as mammary and testicular tumors and uterine infections, spaying or neutering also helps curb pet overpopulation and reduces the number of unwanted pets who are euthanized every day. Spay and neuter surgeries can be safely performed as early as 8-12 weeks of age.
3. Provide your pet with a quality diet. Your pet’s diet has a huge influence on their overall quality of life and well-being. Commercial dog and cat foods make it easy to provide a nutritionally balanced and complete diet. Avoid table scraps and “people food” unless your pet loves fruits and vegetables, then those are an ideal training treat!
4. Make sure your pets get plenty of exercise. In conjunction with a healthy diet, exercise is vital to a well-rounded pup or kitten. Your pet should be getting exercise at least three times a day, if not more. While dogs do great on a walk or jog, cats are a little easier for us to entertain. A toy or laser pointer will get that lazy cat moving around and feeling better in no time. Not to mention, exercise is important for an animal’s mental health!
5. Be aware of your pet’s weight management: Obesity is a real and newly recognized problem for pets. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 53 percent of adult dogs and 55 percent of cats were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinarians. Prevention is much easier to accomplish than treatment, so consult your veterinarian about the right diet and exercise regimen for your pet.
6. Keep your pet’s harness on at all times and make sure there is a tag with updated contact information. Always walk and restrain your pet with a harness. Veterinarians often recommend using a harness rather than a collar to walk and restrain pets, as collars have been associated with many health related problems including neck and spinal injuries, glaucoma and nerve damage. If your pet is microchipped, make certain that your contact information on there is current. If not chipped, consider using the global DogFinder® system offered exclusively from curli and built into every curli harness on the market. This global identification and tracking system is designed to reunite lost dogs with their owners. For more information, go to http://dogfinder.mycurli.com/
7. Be aware of the special needs ofsenior pets. As animals age, their dietary requirements and their ability to digest certain foods changes. When pets grow older, they lose some ability to concentrate urine so they need to produce more, and therefore need more water intake. You can help by feeding your pets better quality proteins and avoiding red meats like beef and beef by-products. Doing this will decrease the work load on the kidneys and help prevent diseases and health issues from developing.
8. Don’t forget toclean your pet’s teeth. Teeth and oral health are extremely important when caring for your pet and should be evaluated annually. Unchecked, dental disease can lead to kidney problems or nutritional issues if your pet cannot adequately chew and digest their food. You can do this at home to keep tartar away. Your vet may recommend dental cleanings for a more thorough teeth cleaning.
9. Invest in puppy training. It will make a difference in the happy life you and your pet have together. Remember, if you’re adopting an older dog you can teach them new tricks; sign them up for training classes as well.
10. Keep your dog leashed to keep him safe when you’re on walks. And for a truly unique dog walking experience, try the new Ultra-Strong Pocket Leash from curli. It’s the world’s strongest but lightest leash, which elevates the dog walking experience to a whole new level for both you and your pet. Plus, it is so light and compact that it easily folds up and fits in your pocket when you take your pet off the leash, which is ideal for visits to the vet, dog-park or other places where your dog is free to run. Go to https://www.mycurli.com/en/ultra-strong-pocket-leash for more information.
