5 Secrets to Healthy and Happy Pets

Did you know that pets make up over sixty-seven percent of households in the U.S.? That’s around 85 million families. With any pet comes fun and excitement, but what about their health and happiness? After all, healthy pets are happy pets.

Pets are part of the family, and it doesn’t take a lot to keep them happy and healthy. They bring joy, happiness, and positivity to your life, so why not keep them at their healthiest and happiest?

Read on to learn more about these secrets that will help keep your pets happier and healthier.

1. Start With the Basics

Keeping you happy is not like keeping your pet happy, but they require you to provide for their basic needs. Having a pet at the very least requires providing shelter, food, and water.

Make sure your pet has somewhere dry, clean, and comfortable to sleep both during the day and at night. Having clean water available on a daily basis, checking often to make sure it’s full and clean.

Keeping your pet on a good diet is a great way to keep pets healthy. Diet can affect their mood and overall health. A lot like humans, pets need sufficient nutrients to function at their best, keep up their energy, and support body tissue.

2. Exercise

Like humans, pets require regular exercise too. Having happy pets means doing something that measures their metabolic health, like roaming outdoors and exploring. If you’re looking for ways to have happy pets, taking a leisure walk or playing with their favorite toy can do the trick.

If you’re thinking about taking them off-leash, remember to keep them safe, so they don’t travel too far, or try setting up a virtual fence.

No matter what you choose, just make sure you take time each day to provide some playtime for them.

3. Wellness

Prevention is vital when it comes to pet wellness, and it’s more than your yearly trip to the veterinarian. An annual exam with bloodwork is good for preventive care, along with making sure they stay up to date with any vaccinations.

How to check on your pet’s health is very important, and only you know your pet best, from keeping their teeth clean to protecting them against fleas and ticks. Also, spaying or neutering your pet can prevent health problems and behavior.

If you decide against neutering or spaying your pet, they are more likely to roam away from home, so think about how to keep track of your pet. That way, they can’t disappear without you knowing their location.

Remember to talk to your veterinarian about any health concerns you have. They can help you with things like the best ways to keep their ears clean, fresh coat, teeth clean, and anything else you might be wondering about.

4. Happy Pets are Stimulated Pets

There’s nothing worse than a bored pet. A bored pet opens the door for possible bad behavior and more indoor accidents. Providing mental stimulation can prevent this type of behavior and reduce boredom.

While they might be creatures of habit, the same old thing day after day is boring. Offer alternative exercise routes when you go outside. Spread out some of those toys that your pet doesn’t play with so often, and put away the more familiar ones for a bit.

When it comes to mealtimes or snacks, change it up and make your pet work for it a little bit. Create a way for them to search for their food or hide treats in new and different places. That scavenging behavior is natural, so they’ll find the hunt exciting.

Organizing play dates for your pet can be one of the best ways to increase socialization and enrich their physical activity.

New challenges are stimulating, such as a treat-dispensing toy or playing with a new ball. Anything that increases agility or extra obedience will start to enhance their mental skills.

5. Quality Time

Even in the age of the internet and crazy schedules, having a pet brings so much joy to life. It’s important for you and your pet to make time for that connection and the much-needed value it adds to not only yours, but their life too.

A happy pet loves your undivided attention. Take a break from that phone and enjoy their company.

Simply waking up each day and giving them some attention each morning helps your pet to feel important. The same goes for bedtime. Give your pet that much-needed squeeze each night so they don’t feel forgotten about.

Life is so fast-paced, so remember to devote some time to them throughout your day.

Dinnertime with your pet can help your pet feel included. These times may vary for you or your family, but feeding them when you eat together allows them to feel like part of the family.

Have a Healthy and Happy Dog

Giving your pet the love and attention they need is essential for helping them lead a happier and healthier life. As a member of the family, treat them with respect and show them the love and care they deserve. Having a pet can take a lot of time and effort, but it’s so fulfilling and joyful, bringing a smile to your face.

Any good pet parent wants happy pets, and like with most things in life, consistency is crucial, so remembering this will be beneficial for both of you, and these secrets will help keep your pet healthier.

Are you interested in learning more? Be sure to contact us!