(828) 526-0173 | [email protected] | Copyright 2024 – All Rights Reserved.
Happy and Healthier Pets in 2023
Written By: David Stroud - Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society | Issue: Winter - 2023
There are a few simple steps to ensure that the animals in your life are happy and healthy.
New Year’s resolutions aren’t just for people. More than 50 percent of household pets in the United States are classified as overweight or obese, so the start of a new year is a great time to commit to a fresh start for your canine and feline companions. According to Jessica Vogelsang, DVM with petmd.com, below are 10 great resolutions you can make to ensure your pet has a happier and healthier 2023:
10. Measure your pet’s food. Many owners “eyeball” their pet’s daily intake and pour that into a bowl, usually resulting in overfeeding and weight gain.
9. Choose an age-appropriate diet. Choosing a diet specifically tailored to your pet’s life stage is a great way to keep them in optimal health.
8. Try a new activity with your pet. It’s a great way to bond, and both owner and pet will reap the rewards of a healthy physical activity.
7. Incorporate playtime into your routine. Toys that trigger a cat’s predatory instinct are a great way to get them off the couch and engaged in a little aerobic activity.
6. Make a date with your vet. Yearly examinations by the veterinarian are a key component of good preventive care.
5. Groom your pet daily. Brushing removes excess fur from the coat and helps distribute oils from the skin to the fur, keeping the coat shiny and healthy.
4. Practice good oral hygiene habits with your pet. Daily toothbrushing is the best way to keep tartar and plaque at bay — just be sure to use a toothpaste meant for dogs and cats.
3. Teach an old dog a new trick. Studies show that mental stimulation can help reduce cognitive deterioration in aging animals.
2. Update pet ID info. If any of your contact information has changed, don’t wait — update their tags and microchip information.
1. Consider fostering. It’s the perfect way to test the waters of pet ownership without the lifelong commitment.
Established in 1987, Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization located at 200 Gable Drive in Sapphire, 1 ½ miles east of the Cashiers Ingles in between Cedar Creek Club and Lonesome Valley on Highway 64. Our no-kill shelter is open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. For more information, visit us online at chhumanesociety.org or call (828) 743-5752. Tax-deductible donations to support our lifesaving work can be mailed to CHHS, P.O. Box 638, Cashiers, NC 28717.
