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Staff & Pets>
10 Easy Steps to Your Pet’s Better Health
Little things can go a long way. Did you know maintaining
your pet at an optimum weight can increase its lifespan as
much as two years? Or that maintaining good dental health
can increase your pet’s lifespan, as well as its quality of
life two to four years more? Following good preventive
care from the beginning is easy and can help improve your
pet’s quality of life as it ages. The following are ten
basic steps that can help your pet not only live longer but
enjoy those years to the fullest.
Maintaining a proper weight
Added pounds have a dramatic affect on your pet’s body.
Arthritis, exercise intolerance, heart problems, and the
ability to adequately groom are compromised as weight
increases. The joints wear out more rapidly with added
mass. As joints become sore weight gain is exacerbated
because your pet’s energy and exercise level decrease.
More weight means more work for the heart. Benign heart
issues can become problematic, and existing heart disease
can become more difficult to control. Skin problems become
more prevalent as skin folds develop where they shouldn’t
and the ability to self-groom diminishes.
Your pet’s conformation should allow you to just feel the
ribs as you rub the sides of the chest and you should see
an indentation, or tuck, behind the ribs and in front of
the hips. Exercise and feeding the proper amount of food
is the cornerstone to weight control. Your pet should be
moderately exercised twice daily and fed a premium pet food
diet.
Feeding an appropriate diet
Your pet should be fed a premium pet food developed for its
stage of maturity. Table scraps and people food should not
be allowed and treats should be given with discretion.
Pets are not able to differentiate appropriate people food
from inappropriate people food. Allowing table scraps or
people food is more apt to lead to stealing food from
counters and grocery bags as well as your pet dining in the
waste basket or compost pile. This can lead to diarrhea,
vomiting, or expensive surgery to remove bones and other
material that is unable to pass through the digestive
tract. If your pet is gaining weight while being fed the
amount stated on the pet food label you should consult your
veterinarian regarding feeding options. Many dogs require
less than what is stated on the bag of food, or would
benefit from a prescription diet designed for weight
management.
Providing adequate exercise
Exercise requirements vary depending on which type of pet
you have. A cat is going to be different from a dog and a
Basset Hound is going to be different from a Border Collie.
Your pet should receive between 10 to 20 minutes of
moderate exercise twice daily at a minimum. Many pets
relish more and for some this amount can be a challenge.
There are many great toys available to add variety and fun
to any exercise program. Swimming, running, biking,
hiking, and camping are some ways to keep dogs physically
challenged. Cats may enjoy balls, stuffed toy mice with a
little catnip, bird feeders outside picture windows, and
sticks with long pieces of felt to chase around corners and
through the house.
Keeping dental disease away
Dental disease has a profound effect on your pet’s health.
Not only is the gingivitis and periodontitis worrisome, but
also the damage that occurs to the kidneys, heart, lungs,
and liver secondary to the dental infection. This
infection in the mouth provides a primary route for
bacteria to enter into the bloodstream. These bacteria can
have devastating effects on your pet’s vital organs. A
good home dental care program will increase the time period
between professional cleanings by your veterinarian.
Four options are available for home dental care. First, and
best, is brushing the teeth. It is imperative to use pet
toothpaste to brush your pet’s teeth. These products are
designed not to foam up, can be swallowed without health
issues, and come in a variety of flavors such as chicken,
beef, malt, and poultry. One needs to concentrate on
brushing the outside of the teeth. The tongue does a great
job on the inside of the teeth and the occlusal surface is
pointed so minimal accumulation of plaque and tartar
occurs. Brushing should be done minimally every other day
as plaque can take as little as 48 hours to turn into
tartar.
The second most productive way to slow the rate of plaque
and tartar build up is the use of oral rinses. Oral rinses
come in squeeze bottles with a spout to apply a squirt of
liquid in the mouth of your pet. Done daily these liquids
help to minimize bacteria which create plaque and
subsequent dental disease.
Third, are the treated rawhide chews. These rawhides have
been soaked in a liquid which helps to reduce the oral
bacteria that leads to dental disease. The prolonged
chewing on the rawhide also has a good “brushing” action on
the teeth.
The fourth option is dental formulation diets. These are
regularly formulated pet diets with added ingredients to
help reduce plaque and tartar buildup on teeth. Many work
by their abrasive action on the teeth while your pet chews
its food.
If your pet still has a tendency to develop dental disease
regular professional prophylactic cleanings may be
warranted. This procedure requires a light sedative and
involves ultrasonically cleaning the teeth and applying a
fluoride polish and foam.
Having an annual physical examination
Pets age faster than people. Many pets are considered
“senior” even by ten years of age. The aging process is
more accelerated in a pet’s later years than in its younger
years. Annual physical examinations can help identify
health issues at an early stage when therapy is more likely
to yield a positive result. Examinations can find problems
such as weight issues, dental disease, heart murmurs, and
abdominal tumors. They also allow time for your
veterinarian to discuss health topics for your pet’s age
which may increase your pet’s quality of life and help
decrease the chance of certain diseases from occurring.
Performing annual blood testing
While annual physical examinations provide a great
“outside” look at your pet’s health, having a blood
analysis done yearly gives an optimum “inside” look at your
pet’s health. Performed annually this blood work allows
your veterinarian and you to see how the organs such as the
liver, kidneys, pancreas, and thyroid are aging. Your pet
doesn’t show outward signs of kidney or liver disease until
70-80% of the organs are involved. The blood tests can
identify issues at an early stage prior to your pet showing
signs of illness. It is at this stage when treatment is
more likely to help your pet.
Protecting your pet against common diseases and parasites
Vaccines are still a big part of your pet’s preventative
health program. Viral diseases such as distemper,
parvovirus, and rabies are deadly but preventable with
vaccination. Intestinal parasites, fleas, ticks, and mites
that can infect not only your pet but you and your children
may be prevented with appropriate medications. Your
veterinarian can formulate a vaccine and parasite control
program that fits your pet’s exposure risk.
Spaying or neutering your pet
Spaying or neutering your pet not only has positive medical
benefits but positive social benefits as well. These
procedures can eliminate the occurrence of certain cancers
and health issues involving the prostate and mammary
glands. Unwanted and unsuspected litters are eliminated
with spaying and neutering. This helps the pet
overpopulation problem. Spayed or neutered pets also have
1/3 the potential for developing aggression problems toward
people or other animals.
Acclimating your pet to a crate or kennel
Having your pet become comfortable with a crate or kennel
is a positive benefit for both you and your pet. A crate
or kennel is a place of security, or “safe zone”, for dogs
and cats. If your pet becomes nervous with thunderstorms,
fireworks, visitors in the home, or small children a kennel
can be a spot to hide and feel secure. Traveling in a
vehicle is safer with your pet crated or kenneled. Air
travel requires crating and it is less stressful to your
pet if they are already acclimated to the kennel.
Pets adapt to a kennel efficiently if training is done as a
puppy or kitten. If your pet is older they may be
apprehensive with a kennel at first. Providing treats as
well as food and water in the kennel can help. Placing
toys in the crate or going on short trips to positive
places in the crate can help overcome any anxiety.
Attending training and socialization classes
Keeping your pet mentally exercised is many times as
important as keeping them physically exercised. Puppies
and dogs benefit from puppy socialization classes and
obedience classes. These classes teach your dog how to
appropriately interact and respond to other dogs, people,
strange noises, commands, etc. By attending a class with
your dog it will be less nervous and anxious and more calm
and joyful to interact with. Though cats and kittens are
more independent, they can be trained to perform tricks
through treat motivation. These cats tend to be more
interactive not only with you but company as well.
Your pet looks to you for care and nurturing. These ten
steps can easily be incorporated into any household. By
doing so, you give your friend every chance to live a
happy, comfortable, and long life. But these are only the
physical responsibilities, the emotional are just as
important. The hug around the neck, the gentle scratch
behind the ear, and the soft pat of unconditional love will
develop a bond between you and your pet that words cannot
convey. These steps will help you and your pet have the
time of your lives while sharing your lives.
Your Suggestions Matter
I hope you found this brief pet guide helpful. If there are
other suggestions on pet care tips that you would find
helpful, please call our office at (507) 434-3381 and let
us know. A healthy pet means a happy vet!!!
About The Author
Tobin Emrich, DVM is a 1992 graduate of the Iowa State
University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Emrich has
been practicing small animal veterinary medicine since
graduation with a focus not only on patients but client and
staff education as well. Dr. Emrich has become proficient
in the medical and surgical aspects of veterinary medicine
and has spent two years as a hospital director, managing a
staff of five, at the Chaska Valley Veterinary Clinic in
Chaska, Minnesota. He has led staff continuing education
seminars, is involved with local schools, has helped
conduct the veterinary medicine Boy Scouts of America
Explorers Post, and has strong associations with Bear Creek
Kennels, Paws and Claws Humane Society, Safe Haven Pet
Rescue, and the Versatile Dog Obedience Center. Dr. Emrich
and his wife (a veterinarian) have two children and live in
Rochester.
If you have a pet care need, please visit our conveniently
located animal hospital.
Assisi Drive Animal Hospital
1111 NW 14th Street
Rochester, MN 55901
(507) 424-3381 (phone)
(507) 424-3383 (fax)
www.assisidrive.com
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