10 New Year’s Resolutions for Pet Owners
Starting the New Year with a list of resolutions? We’ve compiled 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Pet Owners to inspire you! From eating healthier to getting more exercise, there are plenty of ways to kick off the year on a positive note for you and your pet.
10 New Year’s Resolutions for Pet Owners
1. Brush Pet’s Teeth Daily
Good dental care is a cornerstone of your pet’s health. Brushing your pet’s teeth daily helps remove tartar, prevent dental disease, and support their overall health. Plus, it makes annual dental checkups less stressful for both you and your pet. Check out our pet dental care blogs for a variety of information on pet dental health.
2. Provide a Nutritious Diet
Ensure your pet has a nutritious diet. Regularly review their food to confirm it suits their age, activity level, and nutritional needs. Proper portion sizes are key for maintaining a healthy weight, along with limiting treats and avoiding table scraps. We’re here to help you determine the ideal food portions for your pet.
3. Commit To Winter Fitness
Daily exercise is essential for your pet’s health, no matter the weather. Commit to regular walks or indoor play sessions on colder days. For dogs, explore our doggie playcamps with our resident obedience instructor. Remember, keeping your pet active not only benefits them but also helps you stay active too!
4. Regular Wellness Checkups
Regular wellness checkups help detect early signs of health issues. It also provides an opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns about your pet’s well-being with your veterinarian.
5. Update Pet Vaccines
Keeping your pet up to date on immunizations will not only offer protection against diseases, it also protects and improves the health of all pets in our community by helping stop the spread of communicable diseases. Our veterinarian will work with you to determine the vaccination schedule that suits the individual needs of your pet.
6. Pay Attention
Pets are hard-wired to hide signs of illness and injury. However, potential issues can often be detected by noticing changes in your pet’s eating habits, activity levels, general behavior, or appearance. Since you know your pet better than anyone else, promptly reporting even small changes can help us identify underlying health concerns early, preventing them from escalating or becoming costly to treat.
7. Year-Round Parasite Prevention
Protection from fleas, ticks, and heartworm isn’t a seasonal decision. Providing your pet with year-round parasite prevention medication is the only way to guarantee your pet remains free from otherwise preventable diseases.
8. Learn A New Trick
A new year is the perfect time to take on the fun challenge of teaching your pet a new skill (or brushing up on basic obedience). Both dogs and cats can learn new tricks at any age, and the extra time together will strengthen the bond you share with your pet.
9. Keep Them Looking Good
Regular grooming, whether at home or from a professional, is about so much more than just having a clean pet. Grooming prevents matted fur, removes oily buildup and debris, stimulates blood flow to the skin, keeps the paws healthy, and can alert you to possible skin or ear issues, abnormal lumps and other potential problems hidden by your pet’s haircoat.
10. Have Fun!
The daily details of pet care are important, but so is remembering why you adopted your pet in the first place: To enjoy life together! Make this the year you commit to having more fun with your pet – engage in play with a favorite ball or toy, explore a new walking path or hiking trail, take an agility class together, or teach your cat how to walk on a leash. Lastly, just make sure to carve out some special companion time with your pet every day.
What are your favorite New Year’s resolutions for your pets? We’d love to hear them the next time you’re in to see us! As always, please contact the team at Lone Tree Veterinary Medical Center with any questions or concerns.
