By Gabrielle Feldman
New Years is a time to reflect on the past year, and also to set goals to improve your life for the new year ahead. Same should go for the life of your pet! Here are some resolution worthy goals to set for your dog or cat in 2017.
#1 Pet Weight Loss
- It is important to measure food & count calories for your pet's daily meals.
- Most weight loss requires a 25-40% drop in daily calories.
- For dogs, you can add non starchy veggies to their diet.
- Excercise will preserve muscle mass during weight loss & may even increase pet's metabolic rate.
#2 More Walks
- Dogs need to be walked daily. A tired dog equals a happy dog & a happy owner!
- Most breeds need a minimum of 1 hour per day.
- If you dont't have time, hire a professional to get the "zoomies" out of your dog.
#3 Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
- Stimulating your dogs mind & challenging him is one of the keys to fulfillment.
- Just like humans, your dog can learn new behaivors and skills throughout their life.
- Take a class & learn something new!
- Puppies can start at 8-9 weeks of age, then more advanced classes in their teen years.
#4 More Playtime
- Play time can give more oppurtunites to challenge your pet, enrich their lives, and establish an even deeper bond.
- For your cat: Try interactive play with laser pointers, feather teasers, & cat nip to encouarge play.
- Fun game with your dog: Rub the scent of a treat in various places and then hide it. It encourages them to problem solve and builds confidence too!
#5 Try a New Activity with Your Dog
- Take a walk to a local dog bakery, or shop that sells special dog treats.
- Take a boat ride: rent a kayak, sail or speed boat & cruise around with your pup!
- Try aqautic training: your pup will learn to enjoy the water & potentially take home prizes for their ability to jump, retrieve and swim.
- Take a hike! There are so many beautiful places to hike in San Diego; or visit hikewithyourdog.com to find dog friendly trails nationally.
#6 Brush Your Pet's Teeth
- Dental disease affects nearly 85% of dogs and cats over 3 years of age, and has significant health consequences.
- Ideally you should be brushing your dog or cats teeth daily.
- To watch a tutorial on how to brush your dog's teeth go here.
- To watch a tutorial on how to brush your cat's teeth go here.
#7 Visit Your Vet
- Younger pets should be coming in for an exam annually.
- Pets 5-10 years old (depending on their breed) should be coming in bi-annually.
- Bringing them in for their regualr exams will help catch potential health issues, some before they become a serious problem.
- We offer in-home cat exams! (Are you kitten me right meow?! That's pawsome) To learn more about this service go here.
Happy New Year! We wish you & your pets the best in 2017.