From the moment you realize your pet is “the one,” to the last tearful goodbye, your veterinarian helps you provide your pet with a lifetime of love. To celebrate National Pet Week®, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) spotlights seven specific needs every pet owner must consider to ensure that their pet lives the longest, healthiest life possible.
Lifetime of Love — The Basics for a happier, healthier pet
Everyone loves their pets, but not everyone is aware of what their pet needs to be happy and healthy long into their senior years.
- Choose well, commit for life
Select the pet that’s right for your family’s lifestyle, and make a commitment to that pet for its life. Even if you have already welcomed a pet into your home, your veterinarian can help you better understand the social and healthcare needs of your individual pet. Learn more about selecting a pet for your family.
- Socialize now. New doesn’t have to be scary.
Learn about how to appropriately prepare your petto enjoy a variety of interactions with other animals, people, places and activities. Everyone will be more comfortable!
- Nutrition and exercise matter
With an estimated 52.7% of dogs and 57.9% cats in the United States considered overweight or obese, and humans plagued by this issue as well, the AVMA encourages pets and their owners to provide proper nutrition and get regular exercise—together! This not only improves cardiovascular health, maintains a healthy weight, and supports good mental health for both owner and pet, but it strengthens the human-animal bond.
- Love your pet? See your vet!
Everybody love’s their pet, yet not all owners take their pet to the veterinarian unless it is visibly sick or injured. Pets often hide signs of illness. Regular check-upsare vital to catching health problems early. Ask your veterinarian about the role proper nutrition plays in preventive healthcare. Early treatment means better health for your pet; it can also save money.
- Maximize the human-animal bond.
The human-animal bondis a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals. Good human-animal relationships can yield amazing benefits, from lower blood pressure and anxiety to allergy prevention and longer life. Learn more about the human-animal bond and its impact on the health of individuals, families, and communities
- Emergencies happen. Be prepared.
Include your pets in your family’s emergency plan. The AVMA offers a step-by-step guide to assembling emergency kits and plans for a variety of pets and animals.
- Plan for their care. Give them a lifetime of love
Thanks to better care, pets are living longer now than they ever have before – but as pets get older, they need extra care and attention. Regular veterinary examinations can detect problems in older pets before they become advanced or life-threatening, and improve the chances of a longer and healthier life for your pet. Visit our special page for senior pets to find out what is ‘normal’ and what may signal a reason for concern about an aging pet.
Senior Pet Care: https://animal-medical-clinic.com/senior-pets/