Learn more about the keys to preventive pet care and
Follow these five preventive steps to keep your pet purrfectly healthy
If you’re like many pet owners in Canada, you try to give your dog or cat the food they enjoy, the exercise they need and the love they deserve every day. However, is what you’re doing enough to keep your pet healthy and happy?
The truth is, many pet owners have the best intentions when it comes to pet care, but may lack the knowledge to make decisions that will ensure their cats and dogs live long and healthy lives.
Case in point: in a recent Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and Hill’s Pet Nutrition study, pet owners admitted that they are nearly twice as likely to buy a pet food based on what their pet likes to eat versus what will actually meet their health needs.
So what’s a dog or cat owner to do? The good news is that findings from the study suggest five key preventive steps that should be part of your pet care routine:
On an average weekday, pet owners spend three times as much time watching TV as they do playing with, or exercising, their pets? Exercising your pet is a great way to stay more active yourself. (Source: CVMA/Hill’s Pet Nutrition study)
1. Make your pet’s dental health a priority, including brushing at home and professional care from your veterinarian. Proper dental care helps prevent a range of broader health issues.
2. Incorporate regular play and exercise with pets into your schedule. Veterinarians say the majority of dogs and cats they see
don’t get enough exercise to maintain good health. If your pet is slowing down, speak to your veterinarian and consider a pet food like Hill’s® Science Diet® Healthy Mobility™.
3. Choose a food that meets the age-related and health needs of your pet to ensure he/she is getting the right balance of nutrients to help with a range of health issues.
4. Learn to recognize the visible signs of pet health problems, such as obesity or weight loss, bad breath, flaky skin or a dull coat. Schedule regular veterinary visits to ensure there aren’t any health issues you can’t recognize.
5. Speak to your veterinarian about the right pet food and feeding method for your pet. Veterinarians say overfeeding is the most common mistake pet owners make in feeding their dogs or cats.
To help you provide the best preventive care possible to your pet, we want to give you a chance to win a year’s supply of nutritionally-balanced Hill’s® Science Diet® pet food or one of five $50 Hill’s® Science Diet® gift certificates! Enter here to win!
Learn more about daily preventive pet care at Hillspet.ca or Facebook.com/ScienceDietCanada.
