12 Pet Health Tips You May Not Know
Did you know that 85 million families own a pet in the U.S.? The National Pet Owners Survey for 2019-2020 concluded that about 67% of homes in the United States have a pet.
There are around 63 million homes around America that live with dogs. Cats live with families in about 42 million homes.
Pet ownership continues to increase. There are currently almost 90 million dogs in homes across the country and 94 million cats.
The pet industry is also something that continues to grow, with spending at $75 billion in 2019. It's clear that people love having pets, and pet health should be a top priority in all of these homes. Keep reading to learn about some of the best health tips to give your pets the best life possible.
1. A Healthy Diet
People need to follow a well-balanced diet to lead healthy lives, and so do dogs. Quality food for your pet should be a top priority so that they can lead a happy and healthy life and stay with you for as long as possible.
Feeding your pet food that provides adequate nutrition will keep their coat healthy, improve their immune system, maintain joint health, promote gut health, and comes with many more health benefits.
A good diet comes with the occasional treats too. Nature's Pet Herbals has some great CBD treats for pets that they'll love. You won't feel guilty because these treats are perfectly healthy for them.
2. Regular Visits to the Vet
The best tip for maintaining your pet's health is preventative care. Regular visits to the vet, at least twice a year, will ensure that any problems are caught early on before they become more serious.
These visits to the vet are important because the doctor will check everything, from their heart to their ears, to ensure your dog is in the best health. Some examinations while at the vet include bloodwork to check the health of their kidneys and liver; a fecal test can check if your pet has any parasites, urine tests, and x-rays.
3. Vaccines
Vaccination is a crucial part of having a healthy pet. A puppy or kitten needs their first doses of vaccines soon after birth, so setting up an appointment with your vet is important. These vaccines will protect your young pet from developing illnesses like rabies or Lyme disease.
Cats, specifically, will be protected from the feline herpes virus and rabies with vaccination. Older pets need vaccines as well, so never miss your scheduled appointments with the vet to keep up to date with the vaccines your pet needs.
4. Regular Exercise
Part of maintaining animal health is through regular exercise. Humans and pets alike suffer from being overweight and obese. These added pounds and lack of exercise can lead to serious health conditions like joint pain or heart disease.
You don't want your pet's life to be shortened, adding a bit of exercise each day can prevent many common health problems. Talk to your vet before making any changes, but something as simple as a 20-minute walk each day can help.
Hiking is a great activity you can do with your dog. Spending time together in nature and staying active is a great form of exercise. Cats can be trained to walk on leashes, or getting them a cat tree is a great way for your cat to play and move around.
5. Make Sure They Have Healthy Teeth
Proper dental health is an important part of your pet's overall health. Keeping up with maintaining your pet's dental hygiene can prevent serious diseases and cancers of the mouth.
Brushing your dog's teeth daily will prevent the buildup of bacteria. Practice will make the routine easier; just make sure to use dog a toothbrush and paste.
Dental chews can help maintain oral health but getting their mouth checked for any peculiar signs, like bad breath, can catch issues before they become serious.
6. Reap the Benefits of CBD
Finding the best products for your pet is an important part of keeping them healthy. CBD products are completely natural, free of toxic additives, and completely safe for your pets.
CBD pet products are becoming more popular, and Nature's Pet Herbals offers some of the best on the market. For example, CBD oil offers tons of great benefits for your furry friends and can help them lead happy and healthy lives.
Joint pain is widespread in older dogs, and CBD oil can treat inflammation in the joints and significantly reduce pain. CBD oil is also known to help those anxious puppies by reducing stress and anxiety. The calming qualities of CBD can help your dog relax and allow them to enjoy every moment instead of being fearful.
7. Keep Their Tags Up-to-Date
Part of keeping your pet healthy is keeping them safe. To do this, it's important to keep their tags up-to-date with your most recent phone number and address.
Pets can accidentally get away from you, and a lost pet can wind up getting hurt. The best way to prevent this is to make sure they always wear a tag and collar.
Another way to keep your pets safe is to have them microchipped. This simple procedure will ensure that if your pet ever gets lost, you'll be able to bring them back home by tracking their whereabouts.
8. Always Keep an Eye on Them
While you can't spend 24/7 with your pet, it's important to keep them supervised in environments that can pose a danger to them. Never walk them without a leash because passing traffic can be dangerous.
Even if just in your backyard, pets can come into contact with diseases. You wouldn't want them to get into food that could be toxic and pose a risk to their health while inside, either.
9. Prevent Parasites
Parasite prevention is crucial for dog health. Fleas and heartworm aren't just pests; they can lead to serious disease for your dog. If a dog develops heartworm, it can lead to death, so taking the right steps to prevent it is important.
Preventing these disease-causing parasites from attacking your pet is as simple as giving them monthly dosages of medications that are proven to protect your furry friend from ticks, fleas, and heartworm.
10. Make Sure to Spay or Neuter
Spaying or neutering is an important health tip to follow because it'll prevent your pet from developing certain illnesses and reduce the risk of pets that end up without a home due to unexpected pregnancy.
Spaying your cat will prevent the development of cancer in the cervix and ovaries. Neutering will help your dog with behavioral problems, like aggression, and prevent cancer as well.
11. Give Them a Proper Home
Pet safety is an important part of keeping your pet happy and healthy. Pets tend to get into trouble when things are left around the house.
Ensure that there aren't any wires around for your pet to chew on or any unsecured windows or gates. These simple observations and changes will keep your pet safe.
You also want to make sure that your home is a happy space for your pet, whether that means providing a comfortable bed and toys for your dog or a new tower for your cat to climb and play in.
A clean puppy is also a healthy puppy. Create a space at home where you can brush your dog's hair and trim their nails after a bath. Preventing knots will help to prevent the pain of trying to get them out.
12. Pets Are Social Animals
This is a pet health tip that often gets overlooked, but your pets, especially dogs, are social animals. This means that in order for your pet to live a healthy life, they need to spend time and have fun with other dogs. They also need to spend quality time with you to thrive.
Socializing your pet helps them learn how to best interact with others. It can help you teach them to listen to your commands and correct behavioral issues.
The more social your pet becomes, the less fear or aggression they'll feel when interacting with other dogs. This will prevent any injuries that can occur when your dog confronts another and will help your pet live a stress-free life.
Pet Health Tips You Should Know
Your pet is an important part of your family, and pet health should be at the top of your priority list. The tips listed above can help you keep your pet safe and healthy.
Ensuring your pets get regular exercise and seeing the vet every year will ensure your pet leads a healthy life. Giving your pets CBD products is safe and comes with many different health benefits.
Contact us to ask about any of the products we offer and find out how Nature's Pet Herbals can benefit your pet's health.