How To Keep Your Pets Mentally and Physically Healthy

Your pet is at risk of many of the same health issues that you are. As people have become more sedentary, so have their pets. This lifestyle along with poor nutrition isn't doing either one of your any favors. It may be time to start changing some habits so you can both better enjoy your time together. Here are four tips to help keep your pet healthy.

1. Know What You Feed Them

Your pet's diet can have a major impact on their health. What you feed them needs to have the right nutritional balance and enough fat to give them plenty of energy but not so much that they become obese. Your pet should never eat what you eat. Human food has too much sodium for dogs and a number of foods are toxic to cats. A lot of people are aware that chocolate is dangerous for both cat and dogs, but so are grapes. For cats, onions cause anemia and avocados can cause diarrhea.

Your kitty will do best with a high protein diet. In nature, cats mainly feast on meats. Always check the ingredients listed for the pet food before purchasing. If you look at Dr. Marty Nature's Feast ingredients, you'll see it packs a high proportion of protein and fat, which is just what your cat needs.

While your dog shouldn't have as fatty a diet as a cat, the important thing is too make sure your dog is getting plenty of nutrition. Dogs can do well with plants and protein, but some pet owners prefer one over the other. What's most important is that your dog likes it.

2. Make Sure They Get Exercise

Just like people need exercise for heart health and a host of other benefits, so do your pets. The best way to get exercise with your dog is to take a walk. You'll both benefit from it. If you can't go every day, at least try to make a routine of it a few times a week.

If you've ever tried to walk a cat, you know it's pretty much impossible. The best thing to do for your feline is buy toys that roll. Your cat will get exercise as he or she chases the toys around the house. You could also get a laser and let your cat chase the light. This allows you to be involved in the exercise as well.

3. Keep Up With Vaccinations

Vaccinations are extremely important to your pet's health. There are a number of diseases your pet can be exposed to when you're outdoors. If you have a cat who is inside only, your cat can still pick up illness when mice come into the home. If there's a mouse in the house, you cat will know about it and stay on his trail.

Make veterinary visits an annual event, as rabies vaccinations need to be updated every year. Also, staying with the same veterinarian is a good idea. Veterinarians can track issues they may come across and keep an eye on from year to year.

4. Show Them the Outdoors

Your pet's mental health is just as important as their physical health. Just as the outdoors can boost the moods of people, it can do the same for your pet, which is another reason walking your dog is beneficial.

For cats, while you may not want your favorite feline going outside, you can bring the outdoors to your favorite feline. Purchase or build a window perch so your cat can watch and enjoy some warm sunlight while imagining he or she is chasing the colorful birds. This just may end up being your cat's favorite spot in the house.

Keeping your pet healthy can actually enrich the lives of you and your pet. By making sure your pet is healthy, you are ensuring that your pet has many more enjoyable years to spend with you and your family. Don't forget to give your pet plenty of hugs. Those are good for you, too.