Healthy Pet
Resolutions for A New Year
With a new year comes a new resolve to
better ourselves. And while we may make resolutions for ourselves each year,
sometimes we forget our beloved furry friends rely on us to make resolutions
for them as well. Making resolutions for our pets can be simple, as we are the
ones who can truly make a difference in their lives, especially when it comes
to what they eat and how much exercise they get.
And with the love and joy that our pets bring us every day,
we believe that their health and happiness should be among our top priorities
not only as the new year approaches but year-round. Here are some tips to achieve optimal pet wellness.
Hint: it starts with a healthy daily routine.
1. Choose Nutritious Meals and Snacks
The best gift we can give our pets is
the gift of good health. The choices we make for them and what they put into
their bodies is up to US. They will reward us by living a longer, healthier,
disease-free life. Dr. Cruz, one of the veterinarians on our Veterinary
Advisory Council says it best, “Proper nutrition is so important…it’s the
foundation of health. It’s diet, genetics and luck that will make a difference
in your pet’s life. We can’t control genetics and we can’t control luck, but
diet is something we CAN control.”
Nutrition is SO important to our pet’s
life. That’s why feeding them a proper customized nutrition PLAN is key.
Remember, food is just ONE component of the nutrition equation. Just as WE need
to supplement our diets, our pets need to as well. Even if you “feed a good
food”, you need to supplement, because when ANY food is processed (human OR
canine), some of the goodness nutrients are cooked out of it. So, you need to
supplement to add that goodness back.
2. Measure Food Every Time
Pets can easily become overweight, and
many times it can be attributed to simple overeating so it’s important that we
always measure out the recommended feeding amount for our pets. According to
the latest veterinary surveys, just over half of our nation’s dogs are
overweight. Just five pounds above your dog’s ideal weight can put him at risk
for developing serious medical conditions, such as:
·
Diabetes
·
Respiratory
and heart disease
·
Arthritis
·
High
blood pressure
·
Many
forms of cancer
·
Shorter
life spans
A measuring cup is the best tool to
have in your pet weight loss toolbox. You may have always just filled their
bowl or guessed how much was a good amount. Or maybe you “free feed” where your
pet can graze and snack all day whenever they want. If your dog is overweight,
this could be why.
Always measure out the recommended
feeding amount outlined on the bag. Allow 20 to 30 minutes to eat, then remove
the bowl. The feeding guidelines on the pawTree bag, for example,
are daily feeding guidelines. This means if you feed your pet once a
day, you should give them the entire amount at once. If you feed twice daily,
split the amount in two, and so on. Keep in mind that those guidelines are in
ranges. For instance, if it says for a 16-25 lb. dog to feed 1 - 1 ½ cups per
day, and your dog weighs 20 lbs., you should feed him 1 ¼ cups per day. If he
is less active, feed a bit less.
3. Feed High-Quality Nutritious Treats
We all love to treat our pets, and no
one’s saying you have to stop. Rather, you need to start focusing on healthier
treats, such as the high protein, low fat pawTreats. Just break one up into a
few pieces instead of feeding the entire treat at one sitting. This way, your
dog will get the benefit of your attention and interaction a few times instead
of just once, and you get peace of mind knowing you’re not over-treating.
4. Get Active With Your Pet
This is a great time to find a new
activity to incorporate into your dog’s routine. Dogs love being outside, being active and
spending time with their humans. So, as
you incorporate more activity into your new year routine, take your furry
friends with you. You’ll both enjoy the time together!
5. Practice Good Oral Hygiene Habits
Good oral hygiene leads to good overall
pet health, but as you likely already know, it’s not easy to brush your dog’s
teeth! Check out our pawTree Dental Sticks – a delicious and nutritious
way to help control plaque and tartar while freshening breath at the same time.
Bye-bye doggie breath!
6. Take Your Pet to the Vet Regularly
Stay on top of those vet visits. These
are necessary as a preventative measure to optimize the health of your pet. Remember,
pets age faster than humans. By the time your dog reaches his 6th birthday, he
will be either middle-aged (if a small or medium-sized breed dog) or even older
(if a large breed dog). Consult your veterinarian on how often your dog should
have a wellness examination, based on its specific breed, health status and
lifestyle.
Try the 30-Day pawTree Pet Reset Challenge!
This year, making sure your pet is healthy starts with our 30-Day pawTree Pet Reset Challenge
You won’t believe the
difference they feel with nutrition from pawTree:
- Nutritionally
dense food that gets absorbed more efficiently for maximum nutritional
benefits and reduced stool volume.
Protein-rich food and treats result in strong, lean muscles and high energy levels.
Foods rich in antioxidants and taurine boost their immune systems while supporting heart health and overall vitality.
Delicious, low-calorie meaty treats are high in protein and low in fat, with limited ingredients for improved energy and nutrition.
Probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes and herbs reset their digestive system, improving their immune system, energy and reducing diarrhea, gas and upset tummies.
Food and supplements packed with Omega-3s, glucosamine and taurine are designed to promote healthy joints, heart, skin, coat and brain development.
It’s time to get going on
those 2021 pet resolutions!
We can help.
Shop
our full line of food, treats and supplements.