Business & Tech

Top 3 New Year's Resolutions for Your Pet

You've figured out your New Year's resolutions for 2012, but what about your pet?

So, you've vowed to lose a few pounds or maybe you've decided not spend as much money in 2012. Perhaps there are other members of your family who could benefit from a New Year's resolution.

Palm Harbor Patch Blogger, , who is also a veterinarian and owner of  in Palm Harbor says the most important resolutions a pet owner can make are-

1) Weight Loss: Over 50% of American pets are either overweight or obese. That's 93 million dogs & cats! 

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This is the single most important thing the owner of an overweight pet can do for their buddy. Recent studies have shown that we can increase a dog's lifespan by two years or more by keeping that extra weight off! 

In addition to improving the pet's quality of life and lengthening their lifespan, weight loss can reduce the risk of Diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis. Most senior pets have arthritis in multiple joints, so keeping them trim can do wonders for improving their mobility and comfort. 

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Reduction of calories and increasing exercise are the keys to weight loss. Add a bit of determination, and it is an attainable goal for every pet. The extra walking is good for us too. We get a bit of extra aerobic exercise and have an opportunity to spend a bit of extra time with our dogs while walking. A win-win!

2) Dental Care: This is not a cosmetic issue for our pets; it is a serious health issue. 

Often people are not aware of the potential consequences of dental disease. Although dogs don't typically get cavities like we do, they certainly do get periodontal disease and that's where the biggest risks lie. 

Periodontal disease (inflammation & infection of the gum tissue around the teeth) can lead to kidney failure, heart disease, liver infection, and many other problems. The more bacteria present deep in the periodontal pockets, the higher the risk. But pet owners can't see those nasty pockets & often don't realize the dangers. 

A simple adage: Bad breath is NOT normal! Eighty percent of pets over the age of three have dental disease. As with most problems, early intervention leads to better long term results and less costly treatment. 

A complete professional dental cleaning and complete oral exam followed by some basic home care can do wonders for a pet's breath and their health. Yes, it requires a light anesthetic, but the risks are minimal and the benefits can be huge. 

After all, imagine if you didn't brush or floss your teeth for 4 to 5 years and never had them cleaned by the dental hygienist... it's a miracle dogs don't have more problems with their mouths than they do. 

And remember, dogs use their mouths like we use our hands... a painful mouth is tremendously detrimental for them. They just don't have the means (or the inclination) to complain!

3) Monitor Labwork for all Pets ages three and up.

 Labwork is a vague term at best, but typically includes basic blood chemistries to look at the kidneys, liver, electrolytes, blood sugar and pancreas. The CBC or complete blood count gives us a view of the white and red blood cell numbers and ratios of different types. Sometimes a urinalysis and thyroid screen are also included. 

These things all give the veterinarian a pretty impressive view of what's happening inside the patient. After all, animals can't tell us what they're feeling, so the vet has to be part detective to get a good picture a pet's health. For seniors, this is best done every 6 months since dogs and cats age so much more quickly than we do. 

For younger animals, yearly testing is typically fine. The first lab work acts as a baseline for all future testing and helps establish the individual pet's normal levels, which allows the doctor to detect subtle changes over time. 

Detecting an illness early on typically improves the prognosis for the patient and makes treatment more straight-forward (and often less costly). Many disease common to middle-aged and senior pets can be easily managed if detected early on.

So, how can these New Year's resolutions benefit you as a pet owner? 

Baird says by adopting these habits, pet owners can save money in the long run, because their  pets are more likely to be healthy and less likely to suffer from costly ailments. Monitoring blood work can also alert pet owners and veterinarians to medical problems early, which could provide a wider variety of treatment options.

No doubt, many of us know what it's like to not attain a New Year's resolution.  How realistic are these goals?

Baird says many goals are easily attainable if we, as pet owners, simply set a goal and have a plan to helps us achieve that goal.

She has seen several pets lose large quantities of weight in just a few months and lose enough to effect their quality of life. 

Baird also says it helps to put the weight in perspective. After all, a 70 lb. dog whose weight increases to 85 lbs. is actually 20% overweight. That's the equivalent of an average size woman gaining 25 to 30 lbs. And we all know how yucky just a bit of extra weight can feel!

Baird saw one dog go from 106 lbs. to 90 lbs. in just three months. All the owner did was stop giving food from the table and measured her prescription diet dog food to ration it properly during the weight loss period. 

The dog came in for weigh-ins and ration adjustments every 2-4 weeks -just like many weight loss programs for people.

Another pet owner simply cut back on their dog's regular food and he went from 65 lbs to 50 lbs over a six-month period. The weight changed made a big difference in the dog's life. He was so much more comfortable and didn't need pain medication for his hip dysplasia anymore, for the first time in over two years! 

Baird says he was like a completely different dog after the weight loss. He had gone from an apathetic, lethargic dog who looked older than his years; to a happy, vibrant active dog who seemed thrilled to be alive. Baird says the change was stunning and more fulfilling than she could ever describe. Success is achievable!!!

has many more useful tips for pet owners. Keep an eye out for her blogs on Palm Harbor Patch.

Here are a few topics she's blogged about that you might enjoy-

Country Oaks Animal Hospital is located at 1412 Belcher Rd, Palm Harbor, FL 34683 | 727-785-6524

www. countryoaksanimalhospital. com


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