Healthy Pets, Happy Lives!
The new year brings a time for making better choices, this includes making the right choices for your pet. Change can be difficult, but it is often necessary because we all want what is best for our beloved Fydo and Scruffy! The staff at South Town have put together some tips to start the new year off in a great direction!
Eat a Healthier Diet!
Good nutrition makes you feel your best! Eating a proper diet provides all the right energy so that your furry friend can tackle things like fatigue and illness. Measuring your pet’s caloric intake is important! We can help you measure your pet’s exact daily caloric needs so that your pet is not eating too much or too little calories. Each different brand of food contains a different amount of calories. It is important to evaluate what is in your pets food to distribute an appropriate portion. Contact us and our doctors will be happy to put together the correct calorie intake per your pets weight.
Quality food is also just as important. Make sure you read the label on the back of your pet food. It is vital that your first few ingredients are protein based. Chicken, beef, turkey, and other meats should be the first ingredients listed on the back of the bag. Providing a balanced diet is vital to your pets health.
Get Moving!
Get outdoors! Go for a walk outside with your pooch! Dogs love to go for walks, play fetch, and socialize! People can take their feline friends outdoors too! Make sure that they are also on a leash or in an enclosed area for safety.
In addition, most cats also enjoy a good toy to throw around. For a fun activity, you can just sprinkle a little catnip on your cat’s favorite toys and watch them go wild! If you have a cat that is a real thrill seeker, try using a laser pointer. Caution to any toys that have strings and feathers. Cats are often brought in to see the doctors for those types of toys from being ingested.
Your dog may also enjoy play dates with others at a dog park or daycare facility. If your cat is a social butterfly, many daycare facilities offer kitty playtime too. Be sure that your pet is up to date on vaccinations, such as rabies, distemper, and bordetella. Other vaccines may be required per the facility of your choice. Make sure to check in with your provider or here at South Town to ensure that your pet is ready to play!
Another activity you can do with to get your pet moving is swimming! Have you heard about The Puddle, located right next door to South Town Animal Hospital? The Puddle offers a clean, safe and relaxing environment that promotes a healthy lifestyle for your canine and feline friends. The Puddle offers swimming, massage therapy and top of the line food and nutrition products for your pets!
Get that physical!
Keep Up On Preventive Health Care. Keep your pet protected against illness by getting annual exams, vaccinations, and important blood work! Depending on your pet’s lifestyle, certain vaccinations may be recommended to keep illnesses at bay. And, just like people see their doctor – for your pet, a thorough examination by a veterinarian, along with blood work, is crucial in catching medical problems at it’s soonest. The doctor is medically trained in finding anything that is abnormal about your pets health or behavior. Trust in us to catch and treat anything that may be harmful to your beloved pet!
Groom, Often. Nails, hair, teeth!
When you start to hear a “clickity clack” on the floor, it’s time for your pet to have a nail trim! Are you a cat owner? Most times, there are no clickity clacks, but if you look at your cat’s nails and if you see long, clear or white tips- it’s probably time for a nail trim! Keeping your pet’s nails short is always best! Longer nails make it harder for your pet to walk around. They also can make it more painful to walk around as they can bend more easily and offset your pet’s natural walk!
Groom often to keep your pet’s coat fresh and clean! Matts can easily appear especially under armpits and the neck area. Bathing and get regular haircuts depending on your pets breed can be critical for healthy eyes and skin.
Update Your Pet’s Microchip Information!
Lastly something that is often forgotten is how important it is to keep contact information up to date. It is vital to update your pet’s microchip information when you get a new home address, phone number or email address. If your pet is lost, his microchip will be scanned, and the information in the microchip will be contacted. If you are not sure which microchip company to contact for updating your pet’s microchip information – no problem! At South Town Animal Hospital, we can scan your pet to find out!
In wrapping things up we want to make sure that your pet is happy and healthy. Good nutrition, exercise, and coming in for regular exams is vital to a healthier year! In addition keep your records as up to date as possible by making sure that your pets microchip registration is current.
Please contact South Town Animal Hospital at (847)695-7387 or reception@southtownhosp.wpengine.com with any questions about making 2018 the healthiest year yet!
