20.05.12

A new year is upon us, and rather than filling my head with unrealistic expectations for myself, I'm going to look at how I can do some small things to improve the lives of my cats in 2012. I've also included some ideas for dog owners. - Diet -- As with humans, diet is crucial when it comes to a pet's overall health. A bad diet can result in obesity, poor muscle tone, skin and coat. Also, table scraps are not for dogs and can lead to a number of problems such as obesity and pancreatitis. A goal of mine will be to truly pay attention to exactly how much I'm feeding my cats, especially my older and, well, pudgier one. It's important to feed pets the right amount for their weight as directed on the back of the package. They should also be fed high-quality food. - Exercise -- Activity helps keep a pet's weight controlled and joints in good condition. It also gives pets and owners a chance to bond. Dogs should be walked on a daily basis for their physical and mental health. But walking isn't always enough; playing fetch or throwing a frisbee enhances their workout. Indoor cats can be a bit of a challenge to exercise. My best advice is a laser pointer. My oldest cat absolutely loves it and it gives her a good workout. The younger one simply loves to bat around a toy mouse. The trick is actually playing with them though. The owner obviously has to move the laser pointer around a room and it's more fun for them when we throw the mouse to get them chasing it. - Grooming -- Regular grooming can help prevent or identify issues such as skin and paw disorders such as allergy problems or cracked pads. For cats, brushing helps ward off hair balls. It's also a good idea to keep nails nice and trim. I don't trust myself with nail clippers, but many people will do it at home. If you decide to save the money on a groomer and do it yourself, there are a lot of instructional articles online to help you out. Make sure not to cut the nails too short, which can result in pain and even bleeding. - Check-ups -- Just like us humans, our pets should get annual checkups. It can be costly, but I feel really good after I've taken my cats to the vet and they leave with a clean bill of health. A regular visit is the best way to avoid potential problems and keep future vet bills down. Here's one for the benefit of all pets. For animal lovers, I think we should do our part in helping local shelters care for abused, abandoned and neglected pets that make their way through their doors. Many of these shelters are volunteer-run and a lot rely completely on donations. Most charities have an option for automatic donations from your bank account. One-time donations are always an option too. Just search for local shelters in your area and you'll have a huge list to choose from.

Source: durhamregion.com