Wellness is something pet owners wish for our pets as much as we wish it for ourselves. Achieving wellness is a little different for our pets, though—it's not like we can put our cats in a yoga class, or get our dogs to give up their morning kibble for kale and avocado smoothies.
Wellness simply means pursuing good health for your mind and body. Just like you can do this for yourself, you can do this for your pets. Here are some tips for boosting your furry friend's overall health and wellness.
Keep Them At A Healthy Weight
Pet obesity is an epidemic in the US according to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Excess pounds put our pets at higher risk for many health problems, including but not limited to diabetes, kidney disease, skin conditions, and cancer.
Keeping your pets within the ideal weight range is one of the best ways to keep them happy and healthy so they are with you for a long time.
Feed Them A Healthy Diet
Good nutrition not only helps keep your pets at a healthy weight but also ensures they are getting all the vitamins and minerals they need to thrive. Pick a good quality pet food that is best suited for your pet's specific needs (puppy, kitten, senior animal, overweight formulas, etc.).
All pet foods are not created equal. Read labels to ensure your pets are getting quality ingredients and all of the nutrients they need.
Give Pets Plenty of Exercise
Exercise is another way that your pets can maintain their weight and good health, and exercise is also good for a pet's mental health. Exercise helps reduce stress, curbs bad behaviors, and gives your pet a chance to bond with their favorite humans.
Dogs require between 30 minutes and two hours per day of exercise, depending on the breed and age of the animal. Cats should get at least 30-40 minutes of playtime, split up into two sessions.
Decrease Stress and Anxiety
Just as stress and anxiety can be bad for humans, they take a toll on our pets as well. Things that can cause stress and/or anxiety in pets include changes in the household (new pets, babies, renovations, etc.), moving to a new place, changes in routine, illness, pain, or separation anxiety.
To help ease your pet's anxiety, try to create a calm atmosphere, remove sources of stress if possible, and stick to a strict routine. Some pets may even benefit from supplements or medication to help with the problem.
Don't Skip Check-Ups
Bringing your pets to the vet regularly is a great way to keep their wellness on track. Routine check-ups can help your vet find problems early and nip them in the bud. Your vet can also give you advice on all of the above—weight, diet and nutrition, exercise, and reducing stress and anxiety.
Let Us Help
The Animal Doctors team has been providing high-quality veterinary care for clients in the South San Francisco Bay area for 40 years. We are among only 15% of veterinary practices in the US that are AAHA-accredited. We achieve this by adhering to rigorous standards of cleanliness, professionalism, patient care, and quality of veterinary medicine.
We offer everything your pet needs to achieve wellness: annual physical exams, wellness testing, dental care, recommended vaccinations, diet and nutrition counseling, prescription diets, and medications.
Contact us for more information if you are a pet owner in San Francisco Peninsula, including Atherton, Cupertino, East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, Stanford, and Woodside.
