New Year’s Resolutions for You and Your Pet

Here are a few resolutions that are perfect for starting 2019 off on the right paw.

Happy New Year! With a new year comes a new list of resolutions, and a renewed sense of motivation to create positive changes within our lives- and this includes our four-legged friends too! Whatever you do affects your pet, and with the new year finally here, now’s the perfect time to start making healthier choices and incorporate better behavior into your everyday routine. Here are just a few resolutions that are perfect for starting 2019 off on the right paw:

Be A Weight Watcher

Did you know that over 50 percent of pets in the U.S. are classified as overweight? Most pet owners ‘eyeball’ the amount of food they’re giving to their pets; and while this is a much quicker way of getting your furry friends fed, it can also lead to overfeeding and weight gain. It’s also important to be mindful of what you’re feeding them. Just like children, our pets have specific nutritional requirements that need to be met in order to ensure their bodies grow healthy and strong. For example, some senior pets may have lower energy requirements, but have other medical issues like degenerative joint disease that may be helped with the appropriate diet.

Be More Active

The most popular new year's resolution should also include your pet! Most people vow to spend hours in the gym, only to give up after February and return back to their sedentary ways. The trick to sticking to your resolution? By starting small! Create a realistic fitness goal, like trying a new physical activity for you and your pet to try each week or extending your walk by 10 minutes, that’s easy enough to fit into your lifestyle. Plus, there are tons of cool and pet-friendly classes to try like doga that help both pet owners and pets get fit without missing out on fun!

Make Appointments

No one likes the v-e-t, but they’re a key component of good preventative care and can really make a difference in your pets good health, especially if your pup isn’t exactly a pup anymore. Conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, or obesity are common in aging pets, and much easier to manage when detected in the early stages of the disease process. Veterinary visits are also the perfect time to ask for advice, update your pet’s food, or get an expert opinion on anything you may have concerns about.

Carve Out Time For TLC

Make your hygiene time TLC time! We all know that brushing your pets fur helps remove excess fur from their coat (which also helps remove the amount you’ll find on your clothes), but daily grooming is also a great way to show your pet how much you love them! Brushing their teeth every day is also the best way to keep tartar and plaque at bay — just be sure to use a toothpaste that’s meant for animals. Try making this a nightly routine, and see the bond between you and your pet grow!

Update Their Tags

This is one of those things that always seems to slip our mind! While we always seem to be in a rush to update our drivers license or passports, it’s just as important to make sure our pets tags have the correct information in it. If you’ve moved, changed your name or gotten a new phone number make sure to update your information as soon as possible!