Does your pup seem down in the dumps? Is your cat meowing the blues? Does your fish look a little under the sea in its aquarium? If you have a pet that looks disinterested or lethargic, then he or she may be a little blue. But remember that there are things you can do to get your pet feeling happy again. Much of that depends on a few small changes you can make in your lifestyle together. Follow these four top tips for making your pet happy every day — and thereby extending your pet’s life. When we all are happy, we live longer. Researchers have known that for years — and now those same truths happy to your little furry or slithery friend. Read on to get your four top tips for keeping your pet happy and healthy today:
Tip #1: Maintain a Healthy Diet
A long life for your pet means maintaining proper nutrition and making sure your pet is eating the proper foods and exercising. You have to be in control of this. It’s really not Okay to cook steak for your cat every night. Purchase nutritional, veteranarian-recommended pet food for your little animal. Don’t overfeed your pet. After your pet has eaten food and digested, go for a long walk or get some exercise playing the yard. This helps to keep the animal’s weight in a normal range and aids with digestion and overall health. Finally, take your pet to regular visits to the vet. Only a certified and licensed vet can help assess the true health of your pet and give you recommendations for addressing the specific issues your pet is dealing with over its life.
Tip #2: Socialize Your Pet
Animals are social animals! Each one has a different personality, of course, but at the end of the day, they need interaction and socialization. The right mix for your pet will be specific to your pet. So as you get to know the personality of your pet, remember that you should take time to introduce him or her to other like-minded animals. Go to the dog park so your pet can learn how to play with other dogs. Spend time with your pet every day — once in the morning, once in the afternoon and once at night — if your schedule is a crazy one. Consider hiring a pet sitter or dog walker to spend time with your pet during the day if you have a busy work schedule. The bottom line is that you don’t want your pet to stay inside alone all day. Not only will your pet likely get into trouble in your home, but he or she will begin to feel lonely, isolated and eventually depressed. Pets need socialization, so do all you can to find the right amount for your loved animal!
Tip #3: Encouragement is Earned
Every dog or cat has it’s own level of intelligence and way of being — but they all need praise and encouragement. They want to be loved as much as you want to love them. So it’s really important to reinforce that love through encouragement. But encouragement also can be a great training tool. When your dog does something right — like rolls over or sits — give him or her encouragement and a treat. This is earned encouragement and it not only makes your pet feel loved but it has the added bonus of helping to teach your pet correct ways of being in your home. That leads us to another tip about keeping your pet healthy: guidance
Tip #4: Don’t Let Your Pet Run Wild Too Often
It’s Okay to let your dog go crazy at the dog park, but like children, pets want guidance. They want your guidance to stay healthy and happy. That means rules are good. Consider taking your pet through a training course to learn basics for behavior and to communicate with you when he or she needs to do something specific — like go outside to the bathroom or to take a walk. Guidance and rules gives your pet conditions to experience life in your home in a healthy and satisfying way. They are looking to you for direction, so don’t neglect them in that process. Be a parent!
Love, Life and Laugh Together
In conclusion, when you spend quality time with your pet — and when you are intentional about helping your pet make the best strides forward in life through guidance, healthy dieting and socialization — you are giving your pet the best possible chance at living a long and healthy life. Many animals, like dogs and cats, are social animals and need encouragement and quality time. So the more you are home — and the more you can carve out time to spend with your animal — the happy he or she will be in the long run. No one wants to give up a pet, but consider how much time you really can devote to your furry friend. Sometimes it’s better for the animal to find a home with someone who is around more often if you think you cannot devote enough time to helping the pet live into its healthiest and happiest lifestyle.