Get your pet into tip-top shape this year – LNN

You might be thinking about your own New Year’s resolutions, but what about setting some for your pet? After all, they’re part of the family, and making sure they’re happy, healthy and living their best lives should be a priority.

Here are five key elements to focus on in 2024:

Sufficient exercise

Probably top of the resolution list for many a human, it is also important to ensure that your pet gets appropriate exercise – for weight management, maintaining muscle mass, supporting joint health and providing mental stimulation.

Although exercise is important for all animals, Absolute Pets vet Dr Candice Cooper notes that there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ recommendation ­– the frequency and intensity depends on the animal’s age, breed and condition. “An overweight 10-year-old pug is going to need very different exercise to a three-year-old German Shepherd,” she says.

Cats are not excused from exercising. Cooper says they also need to get moving, especially indoor cats that don’t have easy access to the outdoors. “They do tend to get a bit bored, lazy and fat, so give them stimulation, help make sure they play and have scratch posts or places they can climb, and toys like cat teasers – anything that is going to encourage them to move, work for their food and use their brain.”

Watching their weight

In terms of your pet’s weight, it’s best to take action before there is a problem. Routine vet visits will help you keep an eye on this, but Cooper also says that there are ways for pet owners to check whether their pet might have piled on too many pounds.

“An easy thing you can do to monitor them is to run your fingers over your pet’s ribs – you should be able to feel each rib easily, without much pressure. If you’re having to push to feel them, or if you cannot feel them, your pet is likely overweight,” she says.

Cooper adds that if you look at your pet from above, they should have a little waist and if you look at them from the side, there should be a gentle upward slope from their ribs to their back legs. If that slope is flat or sagging down, then those are signs that your pet might be overweight.

“There are various things you can do to help manage your pet’s weight,” adds Absolute Pets marketing manager Genevieve Adams. “Ensure they are getting regular exercise, the correct food – not table scraps and the correct portions. Watch out for being too generous with treats and when you do spoil them with a tasty snack, look for healthier options.”

Mental stimulation

There are many things pet owners can do to make sure that their animals receive mental stimulation. For dogs, regular walks are an obvious one – but particularly allowing them to sniff on walks.

“Walks are not just about physical activity,” says Cooper. “The act of sniffing and taking in the environment is a huge part of mental stimulation. Anything you can do to get a dog or cat to problem solve or figure something out is helpful. Agility training for dogs is great for that, as they must work out how to navigate cones or get through small spaces.”

Despite their bad rep, cats can also be trained. “They can sit, they can give you their paw, they can jump. Training a cat is indeed slightly more challenging than dogs, but it is possible! I find that using food to encourage animals to do certain activities is very helpful,” she says.

Healthy diet

Providing pets with a well-balanced diet is key to their health and well-being. Luckily, Cooper says that taking pet health seriously is a positive trend among pet owners.

“I’m seeing that people are a lot more conscious about their pets’ health. Pet owners want to be more involved in the process of keeping their pet healthy, and discuss issues that they might have read about,” she says. “This also incorporates nutrition – people are a lot more aware of what their pets are eating and the ingredients in the food. They want good quality ingredients.”

Whether your pet follows a pellet- or raw-based diet, their food should be made up of mostly protein and have vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables. If you need further guidance in terms of the best diet for your pet, a reputable pet store will be able to provide more information.

Regular teeth brushing

Brushing their teeth is recommended for both dogs and cats and like most good habits, it’s easier to introduce when they are younger.

“There’s a reason why you and I brush our teeth every day. It’s the most effective way to remove plaque and stop the process of dental disease from happening. Like us, toothbrushing should be a daily event. Plaque builds up daily. It also helps it become a routine and more acceptable,” says Cooper.

However, she notes that it’s important to check that they don’t already have inflamed gums and gingivitis – because brushing a pet’s teeth when they’ve got sensitive gums will probably be painful.

“If you’ve gone three years without brushing your pet’s teeth, you’re most likely going to see some degree of inflammation, so get them checked by a vet before starting to brush, otherwise you’re going to hurt your pet and they won’t let you brush their teeth in the future.”