From the moment you first take ownership of your new puppy or kitten right up until it is time to say goodbye to them, it is important to be proactive with your cat or dog’s health
From the moment you first take ownership of your new puppy or kitten right up until it is time to say goodbye to them, it is important to be proactive with your cat or dog’s health. You need to be vigilant and on the lookout for any warning signs that might indicate health problems.
This doesn’t mean to say that you have to take them to the vet every time they cough. What is does mean is that it is down to you to take responsibility for your dog or cat’s health. You need to learn about some common health complaints that can cause problems for your pet. You need to know about the symptoms and you need to know about how you can treat these problems if and when they do occur.
You need to be prepared in case of a major emergency that requires veterinary treatment, but you also need to be prepared in case of a minor emergency that you can deal with at home. Problems like diarrhea and constipation, ringworm and ear mites can all be treated at home if you can spot the problems and have the products at hand to treat them.
Equally importantly, you need to be proactive about prevention. If you strive to keep your dog or cat healthy and active all year round then they are much more likely to stay free from these minor health complaints that many pets suffer from. If you make sure that they are fed on a quality diet that is high in raw and unprocessed ingredients and if/when they do eat manufactured food, it is of a premium quality. They get exercise daily and drink lots of water.
There are also preventative measure that you can take in other areas. Are they groomed often and checked for fleas and ticks. Do you use a number of natural flea prevention techniques? Do you wash their bedding, bowls and toys periodically? Do you shampoo and bathe your dog (but not too often)? Do you clean their outer ears regularly?
If you are doing all these things, then you are much less likely to have a sick cat or dog. Healthy and happy animals will fight off more minor diseases and infections.
Your cats and dogs place their trust in you to look out for their health needs. There are certain things that they can’t do for themselves. So it is your responsibility to be proactive with your pet’s health.