National Pet Wellness Month … Make it Last All Year!

Canine, Cat, Cats, Dog, Dogs, Equine, Feline, Horse, Horses, Pet, Pet Health, Pet Wellness, Pets, Rabbit, Rabbits

The wellness of the animals in our lives depends upon us. Every October is National Pet Wellness Month, but pet wellness lasts long beyond the month of October!

Happy pets enjoy optimal well-being, health and comfort. Throughout all the stages of their lives, our pets depend upon us to ensure not only their best daily care but proactive care as well.

The Stages of Aging

By the age of seven, dogs are considered seniors. Each stage of your pet’s life has its own requirements for well-being. The needs of a puppy, kitten or foal will be different from an adult or senior. So, it’s important to focus on the specific wellness needs and effective preventative care for their age, breed, health history and potential aging challenges.

“By the age of two, most dogs and cats have already reached adulthood.

By the time they reach age four, they’re considered middle-aged.

At the age of seven, many dogs have already started their senior years.

— American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

Horses enjoy a much longer life span reaching adulthood around 5, middle-age by the age of 13 and are considered seniors around the age of 20. (Source: Equine Resources International)

Annual Proactive Pet Wellness

Your pet’s overall well-being and preventative care should regularly include the following 3 areas with your veterinarian’s support.

Wellness Exams

Annual: Wellness exams every year for younger dogs and cats.
Bi-Annual: Six-month wellness exams for senior pets:
- Cats: Around 8-10 years old
- Dogs: Around 6-8 years of life (larger breed K9s age faster)
- Horses: Along with routine vaccinations in the spring and fall

Your pet’s healthy weight helps ward off serious health conditions like:
- Diabetes;
- Osteoarthritis;
- Chronic inflammation; and
- Other potential issues and diseases.
Vaccinations including core (yearly) and non-core inoculations.

Parasite Prevention (external and internal):
- Ticks & Fleas
- Heartworms
- Worms

Spaying and Neutering

Dental Exams

Chronic dental disease can create and spread inflammation throughout your pet’s body creating other health challenges. Maintaining good oral hygiene minimizes the formation of tartar, plaque and gingivitis and in turn, additional inflammation in the body. While 1 in 3 pet owners assume bad breath is “normal” for their pet, the reality is it’s a sign of potentially painful and harmful oral disease. (Source: YourHomeTownVet.com)

Blood and Lab Work

Blood and lab work done on younger pets helps establish a baseline or “normal” for your pet. Later changes in their health or potential disease can then be easily detected and proactively addressed.

Daily Wellness Care Practices

Between the recommended annual and bi-annual pet wellness needs, daily pet wellness includes:

Regular exercise (appropriate for the age, breed and health history);
High-quality nutrition (based on the breed, age and level of activity);
Consistent grooming (including teeth brushing);
Effective pet identification (tags, microchips and tattoos); and
Quality, one-on-one time.

Regular and proactive wellness care helps ensure a healthier and longer lifespan for your pet while ensuring their best quality of life and comfort. But it also helps you, the owner, better manage healthcare costs by proactively addressing and preventing potential and costly health issues.

If you’re unsure about:

How much daily exercise your pet needs;
The nutritional needs for your pet; or
Any other aspect of their regular well-being;

talk to your veterinarian to set up an appropriate well-being plan to address your pet’s needs for a happy and healthy life throughout the entire year!

Remember, regular grooming is important for your pet’s optimum wellness!

Finding and using the right tool, like the EquiGroomer products, will help make the experience easier, gentler and stress-free for both you and your pet!

Try our EquiGroomer for easy brushing with NO pulling, discomfort or damage to your pet’s topcoat or skin.

Also, add our WaterWisk Pet Squeegee and Sweat Scraper to your

pet’s bathing routine!