New Year, New Pet

 The start of a new year can signal a fresh start for pets needing a change. For example, with over 50 percent of pets in the U.S. classified as overweight, there’s no better time for owners to commit to a new diet and exercise regimen for their pets! Here are a few more resolutions to make this year your pet’s healthiest year yet!
From yoga to hiking, it’s easy for people to incorporate their pet into a new exercise routine. It’s a great way to bond, it’ll get you both out of the house, and both owner and pet will reap the rewards of physical activity. Meet-up groups are a great way to find like-minded pet owners to join you!
Yearly examinations by the veterinarian are the key to preventive care. Medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, or obesity are common in aging pets and much easier to manage when detected in the early stages.
Grooming your pet serves many purposes. It removes excess fur from the coat, reducing the amount you find on your clothes and furniture. It helps distribute oils from the skin to the fur, keeping the coat shiny and healthy. Lastly, daily grooming is a bonding activity that demonstrates to your pet how much you love them by taking care of them in a very soothing manner.
Daily brushing with pet toothpaste is the best way to fight tartar and plaque. Water additives, dental diets, and treats designed to reduce tartar can also be helpful keeping teeth clean, along with regular cleanings by a licensed veterinarian.
Keeping your senior pet’s brain active can actually make it healthier! Teaching your pet new tricks and practicing those they already know are a great way to keep those neurons firing. Puzzle feeders, which force a pet to think through a task in order to be rewarded with a treat, are an excellent way to keep a pet’s mind engaged.
Over the course of a year, a lot can change — people move, get new phone numbers, and forget to update their pet’s tags. Often they only remember once the pet is lost. If any of your contact information has changed, update their tags and microchip information today!
Many shelters and rescues need loving homes to provide safe overnight fostering for pets. It’s the perfect way to test the waters of pet ownership without the lifelong commitment, since you are simply hosting a pet while they wait for their forever home. Who knows? That home just might end up being yours!
If you would like to help Shelter Hope Pets by volunteering, fostering, adopting or donating, please call 661-855-4716 or 661-406-1464. Ask for Danielle.