Owning a pet is perhaps one of the most rewarding experiences in life. However, together with this rewarding experience comes great responsibility. At first glance, it may seem pretty easy to keep your pet healthy, happy, and joyful. But, like most things in our life, there’s usually more to how our pet is feeling than what meets the eye.

Taking proper care of your pet’s health is essential for their long-term wellbeing. Just like people, pets require regular health checkups, a balanced nutritious diet, and adequate physical and mental exercise to keep them at the top of their game.

To make things easier for you, we’ve compiled this brief but thorough health checklist for your pet friend, where we’ll showcase the top five tips to protect your pet’s health.

Regular Vet Checkups

All pets, but particularly dogs, age much faster than people do—at around seven years for every human year. Regular veterinary health checkups are highly recommended every six months to determine any health issues for your pet’s wellbeing. After all, preventative health measures are the best ways to ensure your pet maintains good health into their senior years.

Ensure that the vet carries out a thorough physical examination of your pet to check for any developing or pre-existing conditions during your visits. Also, with the premium average pet insurance cost currently at $49.51 for dogs and $28.48 for cats, you should seriously consider the possibility of obtaining an insurance plan for your pet and protecting yourself against unexpected veterinary costs.

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Proper Nutrition

Providing your pet with an adequate amount and type of food can help them maintain an average weight, which is one of the best methods to prevent obesity-related illnesses and consequently extend their lifespan. In addition, domestic pets can usually meet their nutritional needs from a balanced diet of high-quality food.

Nevertheless, make sure to check with your local veterinarian to see if they need any additional supplements in their meal plan. In addition, make sure that your pet gets enough fresh water regularly, and keep an eye on the number of treats you give them. Most vets suggest that treats should make up no more than 10% of your pet’s daily calories.

Exercising Is Crucial

Playing fetch, regular walks in the park, hiking, swimming, and other physical forms of exercising can keep your pet physically active and fit. From helping your pet maintain a healthy weight to meeting their mental health needs and much more, keeping your pet engaged for at least 30 minutes per day is essential for their health, wellbeing, and happiness! Not all pets need the same amount of exercise each day, so keep in mind that the amount of activity your pet needs highly depends on their health, age, and breed.

Besides conducting physical exercises like running, walking, biking, hiking, and more, don’t forget about mental stimulation. Hiding treats, providing toys to play with, building obstacle courses, and practicing new trucks can all help keep your pet engaged and interested. You can even change up your daily walking routine to expose your pet to new smells and scenery.

Keep Your Pet’s Vaccinations Up To Date

Regular vaccinations for pets are essential to shield them from preventable and contagious diseases and conditions. Many of these diseases can be fatal and don’t have a cure, so vaccinating your pet is essential to keep them healthy and safe. At your pet’s annual exam, your vet should review any need for booster shots and updates to your pet’s vaccination schedule.

Make Sure That Your Pet Is Groomed

Making sure that your pet is appropriately groomed is a massive part of being a responsible pet owner. From their nails to their coat, a well-groomed pet helps to ensure a healthy pet. To achieve this, you should bathe your pet regularly with shampoos and conditioners that are specifically labeled for them.

Their ears should be cleaned using an ear cleaner that is approved for use in cats and dogs. Regular ear cleaning can prevent the buildup of debris and dirt that could lead to ear infections.

The regularity of bathing for your pet is hugely dependant on their coat and routine activities. Brushing your pet is also essential because brushing its hair coat a couple of times per week will keep its hair from getting matted and remove potential allergens and dead hair.

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Final Thoughts

Keeping our pets healthy is something we should all care about. With these five simple times to keep your beloved pet healthy, you can add years to their life and ensure those years are fulfilled and happy.