Pet Wellness: 7 Tips to Keep Your Dog and Cat Healthy

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Keeping a dog or a cat has its upsides and downsides. With a pet, you have a genuine friend who you're certain will stick by you for as long as you have them. On the flip side, there's the need to feed them, clean them, ensure they are happy, foot their medical bills, and protect them from harm.

The upsides will always outweigh the downsides for any true pet lover. This article will give you useful insights into pet health and what to do to ensure your furry friend is always healthy and happy.

1. Feed your pet a balanced diet.

A balanced diet is vital for the health and happiness of a pet. The physical health and mental well-being of a dog or cat are both dependent on how the animal is fed. Given happiness is a derivative of these two aspects, you'll have addressed more than one problem by simply finding a proper meal plan for your pet.

One important thing to note is that pets' nutritional needs are a bit complex, at least relative to the needs of the human body. Don't introduce your four-legged friend to your diet and think you've solved anything. Your pet needs a meal plan tailored to cater specifically to their needs.

If you have a dog, ensure the meat is the top ingredient in whatever food you buy them. Dogs are descendants of out-and-out carnivores, and their bodies are designed for meat-based foods.

Also, ensure you're consistent with the brand and type of food you give to your dog, as frequent and abrupt changes can lead to indigestion and an upset stomach.
Regarding cats, food odor and temperature are essential factors to pay attention to. Your feline friend prefers their food around body temperature, free of external odors, and served in an open place, not in some dark corner where they can't see their surroundings.

Important tip: Fats and proteins are the most suitable foods for cats.

2. Exercise your pets.

Just like us humans, pets can become overweight or obese if they don't get enough exercise. A plump cat may look cute, but in that state, they are pretty vulnerable to serious health problems, just like human beings. How do you get your pet to exercise?

Before introducing your cat or dog to any exercise regimen, consult with a vet, so you know what type of exercise is suitable for the animal and how much of it they need every day. Chances are you'll be asked to start your pet out slowly and intensify the sessions gradually.

As you start with the exercise plan, keep the following things in mind:

· Your pet should always be hydrated.
· If your pet is old, don't push them too much. Just like humans, dogs and cats lose energy as they grow older.
· Pay attention to temperature. If you're exercising outside, ensure you don't subject your pet to too much heat.

3. Protect them from parasites.

Parasites are harmful and extremely alarming. Regardless of your cleaning and feeding regime, your cat or dog will harbor parasites once in a while.

Here are common parasites to watch out for:

· Intestinal worms, e.g., tapeworms, roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms: To keep worms at bay, you need to avoid infected animals, maintain good hygiene, and conduct routine flea prevention exercises. If your pet has already been found to have worms, your vet may prescribe deworming medication.
· Fleas and ticks: Fleas cause discomfort, transmit disease, and trigger allergies. Ticks survive on blood and are associated with a number of diseases. Both these parasites can be prevented using the same techniques, either by applying drops of special liquid on the animal's hair or putting special collars on them. Oral and topical control products may be used to kill parasites that have already made their way into the pet's fur.
· Heartworms: Heartworms are more likely to infect dogs than cats. Their treatment is pretty difficult and has a relatively low success rate, so vets recommend prevention as the best way to keep your pet safe. Common preventatives are chewable treats administered monthly.

4. Vaccinate your pet.

Vaccinations are crucial in protecting your pets from communicable diseases. When a dog or cat is vaccinated, they receive an organism that keeps their immune system aware of a specific disease. This is done so when the targeted microorganism attempts an attack, the body will know what's attacking them and respond accordingly and promptly.

While there's no surefire vaccine out there, injections can increase your pet's resistance to diseases and speed up their recovery in the event they are infected.

Routine vaccinations are essential even for pets that spend most of their time indoors or don't have contact with other pets or humans. In addition, some pet health insurance companies like Bivvy offer coverage for routine vet care, blood tests, and vaccinations. This can significantly reduce your vaccination-related expenses and ensure your pet remains protected and up to date with its health requirements.

Spaying and neutering pets help to prevent overpopulation and keep them healthy. Pets raised in states with the highest rates of spaying and neutering also happen to live the longest. The report that was cited shows that spayed female dogs live longer than their unspayed counterparts by 23 percent, while neutered males live 18 percent longer than unneutered male dogs.

This pattern can be attributed to the fact that treated dogs have a reduced urge to roam and expose themselves to accidents and aggressive or infected animals.

5. Try CBD-infused products.

For years, humans have used cannabis products to manage pain, anxiety, and other symptoms. Cannabis has also been used for recreational purposes. That said, the identification of the specific compounds behind various cannabis effects on the human body didn't happen until recently.

Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the two major cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. THC is psychoactive, while CBD is associated with the plant's health benefits. The cannabinoids act on the human endocannabinoid system to alter specific functions such as mood, sleep, and anxiety.

It turns out all mammals have this regulatory system in their bodies and can make use of cannabinoids just like humans. If your pet is displaying signs of anxiety and you want to try a remedy that doesn't cause dependency, then CBD might be worth a go. The good thing about CBD-infused products, such as CBD cat treats, is that they barely have side effects and can't be overdosed.

Visit https://elitehealthproducts.org to check out incredible CBD products for your cats and dogs.

6. Keep your pet's teeth clean.

You may not wish to talk about it, but your pet's breath can be downright off-putting at times. Foul breath may mean your dog or cat needs more than just a good teeth-cleaning session. Sometimes, it's a sign your pet has periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, is behind many health issues, including tooth loss, and in severe cases, organ damage. Its cause? Poor dental hygiene!

Many adult pets suffer from some degree of gum disease, which puts their furry friend at a high risk of being affected. Maintaining your dog's oral hygiene shouldn't be a luxury. It should be an important part of his healthcare routine.

Consider seeing a veterinarian at least twice a year to clean your pet's teeth. For the best results, supplement it with a meticulous at-home dental care routine.

7. Groom your pet regularly.

While most pet owners groom their dogs to have them looking their best, proper grooming is more beneficial than that. Grooming is crucial to your pet's well-being. It not only ensures you check for the presence of lumps and other telltale signs of skin disease, but also prevents tick and flea attacks. As stated above, ticks and fleas are the most notorious external parasites to worry about. They can infect your dog or cat with diseases and even jeopardize your family's health and well-being.

Grooming also eliminates discomfort in cats and dogs. Just like we love massage, furred pets live for brushing sessions. Thorough brushing will help untangle your dog's fur, remove dead hair, and eliminate any itchiness.

Nail trimming is another important yet usually overlooked aspect of general pet care. Long nails aren't just bad to look at. They are uncomfortable for your pet and may lead to a change in their gait. When a dog or cat can't walk properly because their nails are too long, they become vulnerable to bone deformation and may develop serious bone and joint-related conditions such as arthritis. It doesn't matter how difficult you find it, trimming your pet's nails is vital in preventing long-term and potentially irreversible damage.

Endnote

Your dog or cat can't be happy if they have health issues bothering them. Consider creating an at-home care regimen for your pet and adhere to it. Also, get a veterinarian to check them intermittently, just in case there are subtle symptoms you may not have picked up.