Whether you celebrate the Lunar New Year with fireworks and loud noises or mark the new year with champagne and a quiet night in, it’s the perfect time to consider new, fun ideas to let your furry friends know how much they mean to you.
Check out these great and inspiring resolutions for dog parents, cat parents, or any kind of animal you may love.
Pet Health Resolutions: More Walks And Exercise For Your Furry Friends
If you’re counting down to the new year, you’re likely reflecting on how you’ve behaved over the past 12 months. Have you been best dog parent you can be? Can you do more? Of course you can.
When you set out to make your resolutions, think of ways to include your pets and animals. Check out these fun, cute ideas your pup is sure to appreciate in 2020.
More Walking Equals More Wagging
Life can get busy, and sometimes, dog parents forget that their dogs need to be walked every single day. However, you should always remember: a tired dog is a happy dog. Shoot for at least a half-hour of walking time with your dog five days per week.
Your pooch needs to exercise, and walking provides the perfect opportunity. But as important as exercise is for your pup, your dog’s daily walk is also their chance to engage mentally with the world.1 Aside from making sure your pets have food and water, walking should be priority number one in the new year.
Furthermore, if your pup has a bit of anxiety, walking them with the right techniques may be able to help your pooch calm down.2
Make Time To Play With Toys And Games
Playing with your cat or dog can activate your pet’s mind and establish a rich bond between the two of you. Dogs and cats can get easily bored, and playing with toys gives them a chance to use their minds. So, resolve to carve out some extra time to engage with your pet in the new year.
One fun game for dogs is to leave the scent of a treat in various places in your home. Rub the treat against the leg of a chair, on a step, or in a corner. Then hide the treat. It won’t take long before your dog becomes a detective in search of the missing treat.
If you’re a cat parent, playing with laser pointers and feather toys can be a great way to interact with your furry friend.
Help Your Pet Stick To The Right Diet
Again, life can become hectic as the year kicks into gear, but it’s important to remember to feed your pet the right amounts of the right food. If you’ve neglected to measure your pet’s food, now is the perfect time to recommit to taking better care of Fido or Fluffy.
If your pet needs to shed a few pounds, consult your veterinarian to help design the right weight loss plan for them. Your vet will let you know how much food your dog or cat should consume at every meal. Stay strong. Avoid free-feeding or eyeballing your pet’s meal portions. And refrain from giving your pet too many treats.3
If you insist on giving your dog table scraps, try these healthy treats:
- Deseeded, peeled apple slices
- Carrots
- Blueberries4
You Can Absolutely Teach Your Old Dog New Tricks
Most dogs are really smart and are yearning to use their noggins. Contrary to popular belief, you can teach your dog new tricks at any age. Your dog will love taking the time to train with you, and they’ll likely be thrilled to exhibit their new skills and behaviors for friends and family.
So, whether you take your pooch in the yard and spend 15 minutes a day trying to teach them something new or you head to your nearest dog training school, your pet will love engaging in new lessons. Teach your pet a new greeting, a new paw-shake, or even how to ride a skateboard. Recent studies have proved that older dogs can learn new behaviors.5 So, have fun exploring new tricks with your pup.
Brush Your Pet’s Teeth
Finally, it’s very important to brush your cat or dog’s teeth. According to one vet, almost every dog that enters the office has some sort of dental health issue. Periodontal health issues can be controlled at home, though. Simply brush your pet’s teeth once or twice a day.6
Though it is difficult, especially in the beginning, you can brush your dog’s teeth with over-the-counter solutions, or you can even purchase dental wipes from your dog’s veterinarian.
Brushing your cat’s teeth can be even more challenging. Just be sure to talk to your vet and have your kitty’s teeth checked out first. Then, you can ask your vet for some tips and suggestions to make at-home tooth brushing easier for you and your cat.7
Slacking On Vet Visits? Resolve To See The Veterinarian Soon
Finally, remember to bring your pet to the vet at least once a year for a regular checkup. And if your pet is 7 years of age or older, they should be visiting your vet at least two times a year.8 These visits are better for you and your pet in the long run.
For starters, you’ll be able to fend off certain potential health concerns before they become too serious. Not only might this help your pet’s health, but it could help keep your wallet full too — pet procedures can become extremely expensive if the issues aren’t addressed early on.
So, do your best to keep your pet healthy and happy in 2020. They’ll love you even more for it — if more love from your pooch or kitty is even pawssible.
Learn More:
Holiday Season Pet Safety: How To “Cat-Proof” Your Christmas Tree And Decorations
Top Pet Movies To Watch With Your Furry Friend This Holiday Season
The Holidays Are Coming: Try These Awesome Presents For Dogs And Cats
Sources:
1 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/want-to-get-happy-walk-the-dog/
2 https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/proper-walking-technique-turn-an-anxious-dog-into-a-calm-dog
3 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/8-ways-to-help-your-overweight-dog/
4 https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/6-healthy-treat-ideas-dogs
5 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/can-old-dogs-learn-new-tricks/
6 http://www.akcchf.org/educational-resources/podcasts/podcast-transcripts/Periodontal-Disease-and-Dental-Health-Dr-Jan-Bellows.pdf
7 https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/TVN-2019_Brushing_Cat_Teeth.pdf
8 https://pets.webmd.com/features/your-pet-veterinarian#1
