Research has shown unequivocally
that sharing your home with a pet can help keep you healthy by reducing stress
in your life. However, if we choose to share our lives with companion animals,
it becomes our duty to make sure that we provide them with the care they need to
stay healthy and happy. The basics that we must provide to our pets
include:
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Appropriate nutrition. Your pet
requires good quality, digestible food and fresh water. With the recent pet food
recall, some pet owners have decided to avoid commercial food and instead give
their pet table food. The problem with this is that you can inadvertently cause
serious health problems if the diet is not properly balanced. Carnivores (meat
eaters), herbivores (plant eaters), and insectivores (insect eaters) have very
different nutritional needs from humans, who are omnivores (capable of meeting
their nutritional requirements through a combination of plants and meats). Few
of our pets are omnivores, and if they are fed an inappropriate diet will
develop serious health problems over the long term. To further complicate
matters, if given the choice between foods that taste good and foods that are
healthy, pets will often eat only the tasty things (much like young children!).
The nutritional adequacy of high quality pet foods is backed by scientific
research and responsible manufacturers have added new safeguards to their
processes to ensure food safety. Therefore the best way to ensure that your
pet’s diet meets its requirements is to feed a commercial diet that is
recommended by your veterinarian. But if you still wish to feed your pet a home
prepared diet, talk to your veterinarian, who either can give you recipes that
include appropriate levels of nutrients such as calcium or can refer you to a
knowledgeable veterinary nutritionist.
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Adequate shelter. Today, most pets
live indoors so shelter is less of an issue. However, some dogs prefer to live
outdoors and must be given housing that is warm, clean, and pest-free. Birds,
small mammals and reptiles must be given clean, well ventilated cages that
include the proper bedding and lighting to keep them healthy.
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Exercise and companionship.
Exercise helps your pet maintain muscle tone, keeps its metabolism
functioning properly and provides mental stimulation. Provide toys that are
appropriate for the pet and exercise the pet at least twice daily. For dogs, it
is important to go for at least 2 leash walks per day. Some pet owners will
choose to adopt several pets that are compatible with each other to provide
companionship when the human family is not home.
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Grooming. Grooming includes daily
brushing (including tooth brushing), regular nail trims, and bathing when
necessary. Brushing removes dead hair and skin cells and stimulates blood flow
to the skin. It helps prevent hairballs in pets such as cats and rabbits, and
allows you to notice skin abnormalities such as minor lesions or abnormal hair
loss. Tooth brushing helps maintain tooth and gum health, prevents premature
tooth loss, and may help control breath odor.
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Regular health care. Pets age more
rapidly than humans. In addition, many animals have evolved to hide signs of
illness until it becomes life-threatening. Veterinarians are trained to
recognize many of these signs and subtle symptoms at an early stage. Therefore,
it is important that your pet, no matter what its species, receives regular (at
least once a year) ‘wellness’ examinations by a qualified veterinarian. You can
be a partner in your pet’s health care by monitoring your pet’s appetite,
elimination habits, attitude, habits, energy and sleep patterns, and telling
your veterinarian about any concerns you may have.
Caution: These news items, written by Lifelearn Inc., are
licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying,
printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written
permission of Lifelearn Inc. Please note that the news information presented
here is NOT a substitute for a proper consultation and/or clinical examination
of your pet by our clinic veterinarian.
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