Whether you’ve got a dog, cat, or cockatiel, you no doubt want it to enjoy a long, healthy life in its forever home. However, not all of us have the experience and knowledge to keep our pets as healthy as possible between vet visits. Using examples from the canine world, we’re going to take a look at various ways you can keep your animal as happy and healthy as possible. Not only will this create a better life for you and your furry friend, it will also cut down on veterinary bills down the road, because you will have prevented certain health problems from developing in the first place. Start by helping to keep yourPet Alive with Pet Wellbeing products. 

1. Learn the Signs of Treatable Health Issues. Animals, by and large, can’t talk. They use more subtle methods to communicate their needs and problems. However, sometimes humans miss these cues, and a pup asking for help with his anal glands can go unnoticed until an infection develops. The first step is to notice any behavior that isn’t normal. Is your dog dragging its butt on the carpet? Is your adult dog suddenly urinating on the carpet when this was never a problem before? Is your dog’s breath suddenly unbearable? Any of these could be innocuous problems, or they could be a sign of something more serious. In the case of the butt-dragging, this is a sign of anal gland impaction, and you could easily fix the problem after consulting a simple Youtube video. However, when learning about animal health signals like these, “know what you don’t know”. If a problem surfaces that’s above your paygrade, consult a vet. We’re just asking that you be sensitive to these signs when they appear. 

2. Make Exercise and Food a Priority. Like humans, dogs and other pets are what they eat. It can seem like a savings to buy only the cheapest food brand at Wal-Mart, but a steady junk food diet like this could give your dog skin problems, nervous behavior, digestive issues, or worse. Simply by feeding a dog high quality, protein-rich food, you can prevent many health problems before they start. The same goes for exercise. Without the occasional vigorous activity, your animal can develop all kinds of physical and mental health maladies. Take the time to walk and run your dog. The time spent outdoors will do you good as well. 

3. Groom Your Pet. Animals with fur across their whole bodies have grooming needs that humans do not. If your pet it long-haired, it needs to be groomed at least a couple times per week, if not every day. Leaving fur to mat can result in all kinds of skin problems, which can turn into infections and digestive issues if left untended. Not only will a combed dog be more likely to look, smell, and feel better, grooming your dog also puts you up close and personal with your animal, where you can notice subtle health concerns like painful joints, cuts or rashes, and problematic growths. 

4. Socialize Your Pet. Dogs and other animals enjoy active social lives just like humans do. A well-socialized dog is unlikely to get into a dangerous fight, or to suffer from depression. This mental wellbeing is likely to translate into physical wellbeing and longevity.

There are tons of ways to improve your pets’ health without going to the vet. Sometimes professional help is necessary, but you’d be surprised how well your animal will do if you just pay attention and put in a little bit of effort. We may have focused on dogs here, but the attentive owner mindset will translate to all species. Focus on your buddy’s wellbeing and its life will be happier and healthier, and so will yours.