We know that the most important thing is keeping your furry friend happy and ensuring their lifelong health. Our Rock Springs vets at Mountainaire Animal Clinic offer some information on how to help keep your pets happy and how to help them live a long, healthy life.
Keeping Your Pet Happy & Healthy
At Mountainaire Animal Clinic our vets know that you love your pet and want them to live a long and happy life. An essential step in helping your pet live a life that promotes good health and longevity is to adopt the basic lifestyle guidelines below and make them a part of your pet's everyday schedule.
Stimulate Your Pet With Exercise
One of the easiest ways to help make your pet happy is by providing them with plenty of exercise. If you have a dog this could mean taking long walks every day which not only helps to keep your pet in shape, but you as well. From a young age, regularly encountering new people, pets, noises and smells while safely by your side can help to give your dog a sense of contentment. For other pets this could mean playing with toys inside the home that allow for chasing or running around while also providing your pet with an opportunity to use their brains for mental stimulation. Be sure to check with your vet at Mountainaire Animal Clinic to find out what the correct level of exercise is for your pet - and of course - check with your doctor before starting any new exercise plan.
Ensuring That Your Pet's Nutritional Needs Are Met
Along with exercise, good nutrition is essential for building a strong body and immune system for your pet. No matter what type of animal you have, your pet will require a diet that provides all the right nutrients based on their age, breed, and stature. Each meal should also be measured to ensure that your pet receives just the right number of calories to support a healthy lifestyle. Knowing what to feed your pet, as well as how much and how often can be overwhelming. No one understands your pet's nutritional requirements better than your Rock Springs vet. Speak to your vet at Mountainaire Animal Clinic about the best food for your pet, and ask them to calculate the perfect portion size to suit your pet's needs.
Weight Management For Your Pet
Unfortunately, obesity in pets is becoming a widespread issue and can have detrimental effects on your pet's health. Pets carrying extra weight face an increased risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and joint issues to name but a few. By closely following steps 1 and 2 throughout your pet's lifetime you should easily be able to keep your pet at a healthy weight based on their breed, age and size. Not sure if your pet is at a healthy weight? Speak to your Mountainaire Animal Clinic vet to find out how much your pet should weigh, and how to help your dog achieve their ideal weight.
Dental Care To Protect Their Overall Health
Your pet's oral health strongly affects their overall health. If your pet has gum disease or decayed or broken teeth they will likely be feeling a great deal of discomfort, but these conditions could also negatively impact their overall health resulting in conditions such as heart disease. Help your pet to maintain good oral health by taking them for regular dental cleanings and exams at Mountainaire Animal Clinic. Routine dental care can help to prevent more severe conditions that could be costly to treat.
Keep Toxins Out of Your Pet's Reach
A number of foods and medications that are fine for humans can be extremely toxic to dogs including chocolate, raisins, and any foods or drinks containing the artificial sweetener xylitol, and NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen. Household products that are toxic to pets include fabric softener sheets, many essential oils, bleach and toilet cleaning pucks. Of course, the list of toxic substances is far too long to include here, but if you are concerned that your pet has eaten something they shouldn't have, contact Mountainaire Animal Clinic right away for urgent assistance. Our Rock Springs vets also suggest making a habit of pet-proofing your home every time you put away your groceries to help keep your pet safe and healthy.
Only Allow Toys That Are Safe For Your Pet
Typical pet toys include stuffed animals or different types of chewing toys. Unfortunately, not all toys are suitable or safe for all pets. If your dog loves to cuddle with a stuffy be sure to purchase a toy that is strong and safe for pets, and always supervise your pet when they are playing with toys to ensure they don't rip toys apart and swallow bits of it. Deciding on the right chew toy for your pet can be challenging. If your pet loves to chew ask your vet at Mountainaire Animal Clinic to recommend a suitable chew toy for your companion.
Preventive Care is Key To Lifelong Health
Maintaining up-to-date vaccinations for your dog, and administering appropriate parasite prevention medications when needed, can help to protect your pet against a range of highly contagious and serious conditions that can negatively impact your pup's long-term health and longevity. Your pet's vaccination and parasite prevention requirements will be based on their lifestyle. For example, a hunting dog that spends a great deal of time in tall grass and water will have very different requirements to a pug who calls an apartment home. Ask your vet at Mountainaire Animal Clinic which vaccines and parasite medications are right for your pet.
Routine Veterinary Care is Crucial to Pet Care
Our vets at are dedicated to keeping your pet healthy. By bringing your pet in for physical checkups (wellness exams) your vet is able to take care of those vaccines, provide advice on nutrition, monitor your pet's weight, and watch for any developing health concerns. Healthy adult pets should be seen about once a year, unless there is an underlying illness or if they are very young or elderly, your Rock Springs vet may recommend checkups every 6 months or more. Spotting the earliest signs of developing conditions allows for treatment to begin when it is most effective, these checkups also allow your vet to provide elderly pets with proactive treatments to help your pet feel more comfortable as they continue to age.
Following the information provided above can help you give your pet the healthy life they deserve, and a healthy pet is a happy pet.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.