A new year is upon us, and as is tradition, resolutions to eat better and exercise more usually make the long list for the New Year’s self-improvement journey.  So why not include your dog in the quest to live healthier.

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You will no doubt add years to their lives, fun to their days, but doing it together with your loyal and willing companion may be the support and motivation needed to help you  achieve your goals.  Your dog’s New Year’s Resolutions wish-list could look like this:
Exercise is required to keep us healthy and fit, and we love to play with you, so why not take us on a 20 minute lead walk every day.  The simulation from all the different smells, the interaction with yourself and other passers-by lead to a contented dog for the rest of the day. 
Pay more attention to our dental care.  Good dental health is integral to overall wellbeing, as dental problems can lead to other illnesses (involving the kidneys, heart and immune systems).  You brush your teeth twice daily - dogs also need regular teeth cleaning to prevent a painful and smelly mouth, so either give some good dental chews, appropriate dry food or brush their teeth as well as your own.  Brushing dogs’ teeth is not as difficult and laborious as you may think.  With correct technique it should only take about 10-20seconds! This will make their breath and those unexpected face licks much less nauseating! 
Take us to the vet at least twice a year for a check-up.  Pets age much faster than you do, (7 times faster for most breeds) so a lot can happen even between annual visits.  Sure, following the scheduled, carbon copied protocols for vaccinations, intestinal and heart worm treatments has been highlighted many times.  But did you know that getting faecal egg counts performed could reveal that your dog only needs intestinal worming ONCE a year instead of 4 times?  There is also heartworm prevention that comes as a yearly injection and new vaccinations that last 3 years.  Having trouble with fleas despite using the top spot treatments or chemical smelling washes?  There is a monthly tablet available that pet owners are proclaiming much more effective (and doesn’t wash off in water!).  So getting more regular check-ups at the vets certainly doesn’t mean more treatments, in most cases allows more tailored care for your pets needs, minimising unnecessary use and money waisted on expensive chemicals and products.  We all know prevention is better than cure, but also, it is often much cheaper!
Feed us an appropriate amount of good quality pet food. A huge proportion of pets these days are overweight as a direct result of mistakenly overfeeding.  Did you know, one piece of toast given to your dog with his breakfast is the calorie equivalent to us eating an entire pizza with our cereal! If your dogs’ belly is closer to the ground than its chest, then it is morbidly obese (or just about to have puppies).  This will lead to a whole range of health problems that can’t always be reversed.  So do your four legged friend a favour, simply feed the right amount (usually listed as grams of food per dogs’ ideal weight, on back of bag) of good quality (you get what you pay for), age- and size-appropriate pet food.  Reserve the treats for rewards only and take him with you when you’re out and about.  

2012 is a great year to fulfil your new years’ resolutions. Include your best, four legged buddy, in the challenge so both of you can benefit from the rewards of a longer, happier, and healthier life.  Remember:  You are the centre of their world; show them that they are an important part of yours.  For more tips on how to keep your pets healthy, please call Slade or Annika at the Old Mill Veterinary Surgery on 3425 2222,   We are always happy to have a chat.