New Year's Resolutions for our Pet's (and their owners)

As we sit down to make our own New Year’s Resolutions, we may want to consider a few for our pets as well! Here are a couple of suggestions for your and your pet!

 

I will not steal food from the table (Image Source)

1. I will not steal (or feed my pet as the case may be) table scraps
1. People food while very enjoyable to our pets, can cause upset stomachs and require an unwanted visit to the veterinarian. It is best to avoid people food whenever possible!

Exercise is important in a daily routine (Image Source)

2. I will exercise for 1 minute per pound of body weight per day (This is true for dogs and cats!)
1. Cats and dogs need daily exercise. This can be walks around the neighborhood or structured play in the house. The general rule of them is 1 minute per pound of body weight per day. If you get more that’s great! 

Getting your pet to take medication is very important! (Image Source)

3. I will not struggle with my owner to give me monthly flea and heartworm prevention
1. Flea and heartworm prevention is essential to the overall health of our pets. We strongly recommend administering this monthly! If it is a struggle there are a variety of products on the market that could be a good fit for your pet, just ask your veterinarian before giving up!

Try to avoid chasing furry critters! (Image Source)

4. I will not chase the cat (or other furry critters)
1. Many dogs love to chase cats and other critters outside. This can lead to very frustrating walks or living arrangements. Work with your pet to reward calm behavior when other animals are around and this could help make everyone more happy! 

Don't let your cat pick on the dog! (Image Source)

5. I will not instigate chasing by tormenting the dog
1. Dogs are not always innocent when starting to chase or fight with a cat. Sometimes the cat instigates the situation and can then get away. Make sure there are plenty of interactive toys for all furry friends to keep them entertained so they don’t’ resort to tormenting each other. 

Always measure food with an appropriate cup! (Image Source)

6. I will not beg for more food so my owner can measure my intake appropriately
1. Obesity is a huge problem in the veterinarian industry. Properly measuring out your pets food rather than just filling the bowl repeatedly can really help cut back on unneeded calories.

Visiting the vet is important! Let's try to make it more fun this year! (Image Source)

7. I will not put up a fight or hide when it is time to go to the vet
1. Yearly (if not twice yearly in older patients) is extremely important even for cats! If it is a struggle to get your pet into the office, speak with your veterinarians about alternatives. Maybe they offer home visits, or have suggestions on calming therapies that could make the visit more pleasant. A lot can change in a year in our pets so a visit for a regular check up is extremely important.

Keep all medication (including those for your pet) out of reach (Image Source)

8. I will not get into my owners medications
1. Some of the most common toxicities in pets is from accidental ingestion of human medications. Even over the counter medications can be harmful to our pets. Make sure all medications (prescription or OTC) are out of reach of our pets. 

Always monitor pets outside! (Image Source)

9. I will not go outside unsupervised
1. Having a fenced in yard or even an underground fence is great for playing with your pet off leash. It is however still very important to monitor them when outside. This will help prevent ingestion of unwanted items in the yard and also ensure that other critters are not coming into the yard and bothering your pet. (remember an electric fence will keep your pet in but not prevent other animals from coming in)

Image Source

10. Have fun!
1. Pets are meant to enhance our lives! They are great companions. Sometimes we need to just sit back, relax and enjoy our furry friend!