Finally, make some resolutions that you can actually keep… requested by your pets!
1. Be Knowledgeable! Take a PetSaver: Pet CPR & First Aid Course – What would you do if something happened to your four-legged best friend? Most initial answers would be simply to take them to the vet, of course! While that is a great answer, what if there were things in your everyday life that you could change to PREVENT the emergencies from ever happening? What if, during an emergency, you could increase the survivability of your pet because you knew what to do before you arrived at the vet? What if you were on a hike and you needed to know what to do NOW for your pet because your pet is unconscious in front of you? Our Pet Tech PetSaver™ Seminar is the premier pet first aid training in the world! It is the most complete and comprehensive training in DFW and is taught by a former Emergency Veterinary Technician and Professional Dog Trainer with her LIVE demo dog team. We cover CPR, Rescue Breathing, Choking, Senior Care, Heat/Cold Injuries, Poisoning, Seizures, Insect Bites & Stings, Snakebites, Dental Care, Bleeding & Shock Management, Snout-To-Tail™ Assessment, Pet Vital Signs, Pet First Aid Kit, and Restraint & Muzzling for safety! Enroll today for our next upcoming seminar!
2. Veterinary Check-Ups – Although your pet may not WANT to go to the doctor, he DOES want to live as long as he can with you! It is important to understand that nothing in our seminars replaces veterinary care. Whether you see a regular veterinarian or an alternative veterinarian, it is vital for your pets to see a professional at least once a year, if not every 6 months, to make sure that they are healthy and no signs of impending problems. As their pet parent and advocate, you play a crucial role in their health, but a licensed veterinarian is an important piece of the puzzle to gain the most longevity and quality of life from your pets!
3. Exercise & Training – He wants to move, and he wants structured communication! Our pets thrive on consistency and love to know exactly what to expect in their day and with you! One of my favorite quotes is, “You have your work, your entertainment, your friends. You are all your dog has.” Exercise provides physical stimulation, but obedience training provides essential mental stimulation! Just like we as humans need mental challenges, dogs need them too! Especially when they bridge the communication gap between the species and strengthen our bond and connection to our four-legged family! With physical exercise, we can all admit that it’s good for you so, therefore, we know it’s good for our pets! It is a great opportunity to make it a fun, bonding experience to practice your training and obedience cues. It is important to know your breed and your individual pet and their needs, wants, and stamina! Different breeds of dogs need different levels of exercise, and you must pay close attention to what your pet can and can’t do. Dogs and cats both need regular mental and physical exercise just like we do! Our dogs want to please us and don’t always know when it is too much or how to communicate that to us. Unless you have a “cool dog-cat,” your cat most likely will not tolerate a leash or a walk at your pace, so it is best if you trick your cats into exercise with interactive toys.
4. Nutritional Consult – He wants good QUALITY food… but he wants good food that makes him feel good! He told me he does not care for food with “falling vegetables & meats” in the commercials and a dog happily running through a field is not exactly my gauge on the internal health of my pets! The more color in the kibble, the more marketing involved! Dogs do not care about the COLOR of the food!! If you want to give them variety, vary the flavor of the food within the same brand of food! My dogs will have bison one week, salmon another, etc. There is a lot of controversy regarding our pet’s diets, so I will say first and foremost, do your research and talk to your veterinarian, especially if your pet has any special needs. It is important to find a good, healthy, natural diet that fits your budget and lifestyle. I personally and professionally do not recommend anything you can buy at your big chain grocery store (aside from Whole Foods, Sprouts or Natural Grocers, etc.) or Wal-Mart. Some pet parents strongly believe in making their pet’s food or feeding a raw diet, but that doesn’t work with everyone’s lifestyle or budget. DogFoodAdvisor.com is a good resource for basic research, and there are books out there, such as Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats if you’re looking for more natural options. Be on the lookout for our Knowing Your Pet’s Health Seminars coming up, where we will go over the Top 10 Ingredients You DO NOT Want in Your Pet’s Food!
5. Heartworm/Flea Prevention – Are your pets current on heartworm & flea prevention all year round? Heartworms, Fleas, Ticks, and Intestinal Parasites all can wreak havoc on your pet’s health, so you must make it a priority to PREVENT these problems each month. Heartworms are endemic here in Texas and are spread by mosquitoes. It is a fatal disease if untreated, and treating heartworms can be expensive and hard on your pets. There are many different types, each with pros and cons, so it is best to discuss what is right for your pets with your veterinarian.
6. Current & Updated Microchip & ID Tags – He may get distracted, but he does want to make sure he gets back to you! Make sure that your pets are always micro-chipped and tagged at all times. I have lost count of all of the incidents I have heard of dogs and cats running past their owners out the door or visitors coming over and accidentally letting the animals out. Bottom line, the only surefire protection is to permanently ID your pets with microchips and tags and make sure you update your information once a year or at the time of a move or a phone number change. Put simply, it saves lives. This is such a small and easy thing to do, and it would be crushing if you didn’t do this simple task and faced regret when your pet does disappear.