Isn’t it wonderful to see a fit person walking a fit dog? Aren’t you proud of your furry feline pet strutting his stuff around your friends? In no time at all, your secret is out. You are a proud owner of a healthy pet dog or cat. Nothing comes easy in life and to be able to raise a healthy pet is no mean feat. You love your pet so you give him, assuming it’s a he, all the love and care you can give to make him happy. And happiness comes from being healthy and satisfied with his world. Your friends keep asking you how you do it. It’s not that easy, you tell them, but with love comes patience and understanding because it is not a one night success story to begin with. Just like with humans, you nurture your relationship with your pet.

          When you own a pet, the first thing to do is to find a trusted veterinarian. Twice a year wellness examinations is the ideal set-up for your pet. Puppies and kittens should be seen by your vet as often as possible and until they reach adulthood, annual check-ups will be routine. This allows your vet to closely monitor changes before your pet’s health gets out of control. Allow a good relationship to develop between your vet and you. It will greatly benefit all concerned. Having an expert will also mean guidance to your pet’s proper nutrition needs. It is the fundamental requirement for a healthy pet. Choose high-quality foods made by reputable companies or you can home-cook them. Once you find the right food, observe how your pet reacts to the diet over 4 to 8 weeks. Take notice of any improvement on his coat, skin, teeth and other parts of his body. A good diet will enhance his energy level. If his response to the diet is poor, it is time to look for other foods. A healthy pet needs at last 1-2 hours of exercise everyday depending on his breed, size and age. A daily exercise routine will definitely improve your pet’s health as well as your wellbeing. All pets need good grooming but some may have special needs due to health conditions such as allergies. The short-haired pet will need nail trimming, bathing and brushing every month. ‘Fancy pets’ like long-haired ones should be brushed out daily. Others may need a haircut every week or two. Either way, you can schedule grooming sessions for your pet on a regular basis. Watch out for any symptoms of illness. If you know your pet well, he can communicate his pain through actions. You’ll be able to notice changes in him as you know him better than anyone else.

          Just like you, your pet needs a home where he can be welcome and feel comfortable. Having his own space will teach him respect for his own space and yours. To him, a home is not just a shelter.