Most cats and dogs live for around 10-18 years on average.
However, some may naturally live longer and happier than estimated. This is
possible if one tries to extend their four-legged friend’s lifespan.
By following this blueprint and making simple changes to your
pet’s lifestyle, you can be ascertaining that they live as long and as healthy
as possible.
A Balanced Diet
A balanced diet is vital for the overall health and well-being
of pets. Providing pets with a high-quality diet rich in calories and nutrients
is crucial. Ensuring they stay hydrated and offering supplements can help meet
their specific needs for optimal health.
Moreover, growing, adult, and mature pets have different dietary
requirements. Due to this, different pet diets should be modified at various
life stages.
Nutrients- Understanding your pet’s nutritional needs as per their age, size, and breed is crucial. Furthermore, knowing the components such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals plays an important role in your pet’s diet.
Additionally,
remember that overfeeding is never a good idea. Excessive weight gain reduces
the life expectancy of dogs and cats. Therefore, keep a check on your pet’s
daily feeding and do not exceed their daily dietary and nutritional needs.
- Water intake- Providing enough water and that too filter water is very important to keep your pet hydrated all day long. Due to contamination in running water, it is not appropriate to offer it to pets. Besides, make sure to offer sufficient drinking water along with complete and balanced diet treats and supplements.
- Supplements- Supplements aren’t just for human beings! It is also available for pets to help prevent physical conditions like eyesight issues, arthritis, etc. Enriched with essential multivitamins, minerals, antioxidants, etc., it helps to maintain skin, coat, nails, and overall health of pets.
Annual Checkups
Visiting a vet is a challenge but should be done once a year and
for senior pets, it should be doubled. These vet visits benefit the detection
of potential problems on a prior basis. Also, scheduling vet visits plays a
crucial role in your pet’s health and longevity.
- Physical exam- To avoid shortening of lifespan, routine screening, and routine blood work are a must. Even if something seems insignificant, it could lead to a major issue if not cured early. In addition, the vet examines your pet from nose to tail ensuring everything is functioning properly.
- Dental Hygiene- Neglecting a pet’s dental health is not good, as they are prone to periodontal disease and oral infections. It is always a great idea to brush or scrub your pet’s teeth to avoid problems like kidney infections and heart valve issues.
An Active Life
The best way to lead a healthy life for humans as well as animal companions is to stay active. Short training sessions and playing help their pets improve their mental abilities while keeping them engaged. However, too much exercise is also not good, so, giving them proper rest time is necessary.
- Exercise- As per the veterinarian studies, exercise not only helps to keep the weight off, but it also provides mental stimulation. And one of the best activities to keep your pet’s mind sharp is to indulge in daily training.
There
are a lot of mental stimulation and enrichment products for pets available
online. However, make sure to indulge your pet in regular exercise and training
activities.
- Reduce stress- Living with anxiety due to fearfulness leads to stress that eventually deteriorates the health and lifespan of pets. Most of the time, isolated pets are under stress and depression. So, make sure that you give proper attention to your pets.
Bonding
Relationship-building adds valuable insights into a pet’s
behavior and improves communication. Some of the unhealthy behaviors include
excessive licking and grooming, pacing and circling, destroying objects,
marking, etc. If you observe such doings then consider spending more time
together and help socializing your dog.
- Spend more time together- Playing with your canine and feline and later rewarding them with treats helps to maintain emotional and mental well-being.
- Socialize- Pets who don’t socialize enough, often become anxious, fearful, and even get skin problems. Therefore, observe and take your pet out more often to allow them to socialize.
Preventive Healthcare
By administering proper preventative treatments, you can shield
your pet from parasites like fleas, ticks, and heartworms. Fortunately, your
veterinarian has a wide range of preventive measures available, including oral
treatments, collars, and topical spot-ons.
Additionally, regular grooming and keeping an eye out for any
anomalies or symptoms of these life-threatening parasites is crucial.
- Flea & Tick: For flea and tick treatment, you may consider these top brands such as Bravecto, Revolution Plus, and Nexgard Spectra.
- Heartworm: Heartworm infections can cause serious organ damage and even cause the pet’s demise if not treated/prevented earlier. For such cases, choose the right preventives like Heartgard Plus, Advantage Multi, and Credelio Plus. However, it is important to consult your vet regarding the same.
To sum up, try your best to provide a happy
environment for your pet along with a proper diet, regular exercise, going for
annual checkups, and providing treatment.
Also, bonding, socializing, and giving your pet good rest can help them to live a happier and healthier life.
The post 7 Simple Ways to Help Your Pet Live Longer and Happier appeared first on CanadaVetCare Blog.