by Blake Herzog
Most of us make resolutions as the new year approaches to improve our well-being via improved self-care, whether it’s physical, emotional or financial.
Another way you can raise up your world is to dedicate a little more time and effort to boosting your furry family members’ welfare and happiness.
Try these ideas to get their favorite ball rolling!
Schedule checkups
First, make sure their annual checkup and any other appointments the vet recommends are on the books if they aren’t already. It takes about five minutes to do and has a remarkable effect on your pet’s health, giving you the chance to catch many illnesses before they turn serious and learn about preventive measures to keep sickness at bay.
Maintain a healthy weight
You don’t want to see your pets weighed down, with all the effects that can have on their mental as well as physical health. This means taking the same steps for them as we would for ourselves. Choose a nutritious diet, control portions and get adequate exercise.
Enjoy the outdoors
This can definitely be linked to the above resolution — but it can be done any time you and your pet or pets feel like it! The fresh air and sunlight will inject you with good vibes and nutrients and bring your spirits to new heights. The gorgeous scenery, lively interaction with other people and animals and connection with nature will bring joy and calm to your lives.
Brush teeth
This doesn’t have to be done daily, but most experts recommend doing this at least two to three times per week to prevent tooth decay, which afflicts dogs and cats at about the same rate as humans.
Specialized pet toothbrushes are smaller and more effective than even child-size ones. Find a pet-specific toothpaste, since regular paste can upset your pet’s stomach. It’s likely your pet will not cooperate at first, but with a little time and patience most will learn to at least put up with it.
Update ID
Take a moment to ensure the information on your pet’s tags and microchips is current so you can be reached quickly in case of any type
of emergency.
This is the kind of thing that can slip your mind in the chaos of a move or a phone number switch, so take a moment to verify everything. It could require a trip to the vet’s office to have that microchip scanned, but it’ll be worth it.
Clean toys
If your dog or cat has a special favorite plaything you’ll want to keep it around as long as possible, but you’ll want to inspect all toys for frayed edges, lost stuffing, loose squeakers or anything else that could be swallowed.
Wash all toys regularly, and make any repairs you can to prolong their useful life. You should also introduce new ones to stimulate different senses and instincts.
Know first aid
The last thing you want to feel when your darling cat or dog gets injured or sick is helpless. Learning what you can about simple first-aid treatments to stabilize and comfort your pet until you can get them to a veterinarian is the best gift for both of you.
Ask the vet or consult organizations like the American Red Cross, which offers online training in pet first aid, or the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Have fun!
Teach your dog or cat new tricks, no matter how old (or young) they are. Buy them a sweater for the cold nights, and make sure it’s cute as all get-out. Come up with new games you can play together. Take them to your favorite pet-friendly store or restaurant — we’ve got so many of them to choose from here. And show them how much they mean to you every day.
