Pets really are part of the family, and they need taking care of just like anyone else. In fact, possibly a little more care, as it's not like they're able to just tell you if they have an upset tummy or are feeling a bit low. Good habits should start with them at a young age and then they will understand their routine and not expect anything different.
Feed Them A Healthy Diet
The first contribution towards raising a healthy pet should be their diet. You could speak with your vet to find out the sorts of portions and foods that would be best for your fur ball, as they will also be able to let you know what signs of healthiness to look for.They will also be able to advise you with regard to what brand of food would be best for your pet. Orijen cat and dog foods, for example, are produced based on what they would eat in the wild and contain only natural ingredients. This is a great start for them not matter what age they are as Orijen make food for kittens and puppies as well as adult animals.
Exercise
If your cat or dog has a large garden to run around in they will probably get at least some of the exercise they need. However, you should still take them for walks as this will help to stop them from becoming obese and is good for their joints. Although it is not something you see very often, it is possible to train a cat to wear a harness and to go a walk with you. The added bonus with this is that the exercise is good for you too. In humans, exercise helps to lift our mood and to keep weight under control.
Have Them Checked Annually
It is advisable to have your pet checked by your vet at least once a year. It is just the same as you visiting the dentist or optician in that if there are any problems they can be detected and dealt with earlier. Not only is this better for your pet but it could save you a fortune if a minor problem can be stopped from turning into something major.
Have Them Vaccinated
Vaccines are designed to protect your pets from serious illnesses and some of them need to be done every year. They can stop your pet from developing a serious illness that could cause them to suffer a great deal. There are bacteria and viruses that they can pick up from the local park and other areas and vaccines can make sure they have the antibodies to fight these. It's important to be guided by your vet when it comes to vaccines and they will probably give you a schedule of what they need and when. Just as when humans are vaccinated, they might seem a little off colour for a couple of days and if there appears to be anything more serious than that wrong, you should take them back to the vet.
Keep Them Parasite Free
Keeping your pet’s parasite free is not difficult and will make sure they are more comfortable. Fleas and ticks can cause irritations just as they would for a human. Most of us know how much these bites can itch but it is difficult to stop an animal from scratching and making them worse. There are shampoos and sprays that will help keep these things off your pet, but the one thing you really need to watch out for is heartworms. Mosquitos transmit these from animal to animal and if your pet seems to be unwell you should take them to visit your vet to be tested for these. They can be life-threatening if not treated early enough, but a blood test will let the vet know if they are present in your pet.
Have Them Spayed Or Neutered
There are thousands of cats and dogs abandoned every year and the rescue centres are overflowing. It would not be responsible to just keep letting the animals breed when there is a simple way to prevent it. There are now options available such as a vasectomy for male cats and dogs and removal of just the ovaries from the females. This means that all their natural mating instincts are still intact, they are just unable to reproduce. So even if you're really worried about you pets behaviour changing, there's no excuse not to have this done.