As you create your own New Year’s resolutions this month, don’t forget to include your pet! You can use this tradition to create health and wellness goals for your pet to meet in the coming year. This will help you keep track of his health, get into a healthy routine, and meet his wellness needs. Here are some ideas for health and wellness goals for your pet in the new year.
Get More Exercise
Your pet needs a lot of attention and exercise to stay happy and healthy. If your pet is displaying behavioral issues like chewing, whining, separation anxiety, having accidents in the house, or licking or chewing his paws, he may be bored. You can fix this with regular exercise and play time. For dogs, try to get an hour of walking and play time each day. This could be a 20 minute walk each day, and then playing fetch for two 20 minute periods elsewhere in the day. For cats, schedule 10-15 minute blocks of play time throughout the day.
Make Sure Your Pet Has a Healthy Diet
Check with your veterinarian to make sure that your pet is getting a healthy, nutritious diet. Pets can suffer from vitamin and nutrient deficiencies just like humans. As your pet ages, his nutritional needs change. Signs of a poor diet might be lethargy, listlessness, excessive thirst or urination, runny stool or diarrhea, itching and scratching, and disinterest in eating or excessive eating or begging for food.
Schedule Regular Checkups with Your Veterinarian
Get into the habit of taking your pet to the veterinarian for a checkup at least once per year. It’s best to see the same veterinarian time after time, so the veterinarian can get to know you and your pet and maintain an accurate, comprehensive health record. You should also make sure that you’re familiar with the signs and symptoms of a veterinary emergency, so you know when to take your pet to an emergency veterinary hospital.
Regular veterinary visits are the foundation of your pet’s health and wellness. If your pet hasn’t had a checkup in the last 12 months, schedule one for the new year.