As a pet owner, you want your furry companion to enjoy a long and happy life. While you can’t stop your pet from aging, you can have a positive effect on their life span and quality of life by taking a proactive approach to their preventive care and overall wellbeing. Use our Aloha Veterinary Hospital team’s checklist to promote your pet’s health and longevity, and add years to their life.

Provide a healthy diet and exercise for your pet

A balanced and nutritious diet is essential for your pet’s overall health. Overweight and obese pets have a higher risk for weight-related health problems that can significantly decrease their quality of life. Help your pet maintain a healthy weight by following these tips: 

  • Evaluate your pet’s body condition score — Evaluate your pet’s weight at home by using a body condition score (BCS) scale. A pet whose body condition is ideal has palpable ribs under a light fat covering, an hourglass shape with a visible waistline, and an abdominal tuck.
  • Calculate your pet’s caloric needs —  If you aren’t calculating the specific number of daily calories your pet needs, you likely are overfeeding them. Use a calorie calculator for dogs or cats, plugging in your pet’s details to determine the number of calories they should be eating. 
  • Measure your pet’s portions — Use standardized measuring tools (e.g., measuring cups, a kitchen scale) to portion your pet’s meal accurately.
  • Switch to healthy treat options — Many commercially produced pet treats are high in fat, sugar, and calories. Give your pet healthy options, such as baby carrots, broccoli, green beans, or celery, as low-calorie treats. Remember, regardless of their nutrition value, treats should account for only 10% of your pet’s daily calorie intake. 
  • Get your pet moving — Physical activity is critical for your pet’s health and wellbeing. Determine the session’s appropriate time length and exercise type that is best for your pet’s age and ability, and stay consistent with their daily exercise routine. 

Schedule regular wellness examinations for your pet

Routine veterinary wellness examinations and screenings can positively impact your pet’s lifelong health, potentially adding years to their life. Your pet’s annual wellness exam helps ensure your pet receives the following  lifelong health advantages: 

  • Early disease detection — Annual exam and blood work results help your pet’s veterinarian identify hidden health problems long before your furry pal exhibits signs, improving their outcome, and minimizing treatment time and veterinary care costs.
  • Pain protection — Osteoarthritis is common in senior pets, but the disease can develop at any age. However, you may not realize that arthritis is affecting your pet, because the signs are subtle. During your pet’s exam, your veterinarian will look for joint pain signs and may recommend additional diagnostics, such as X-rays, if they suspect your furry pal has osteoarthritis. Numerous therapies, such as laser therapy, are available to alleviate your pet’s osteoarthritis pain and improve their quality of life. 
  • Customized care recommendations — Your pet’s needs change with each passing year, and your veterinarian will provide updated recommendations based on your furry pal’s health, age, breed, and lifestyle to ensure they live their best and longest life. 

Care for your pet’s pearly whites 

Many pet owners are surprised to learn that up to 85% of pets older than age 3 have dental disease. Dental disease is unpleasant, but also painful, and can lead to more serious problems, such as tooth and bone loss, infection, and heart and kidney problems. Your pet’s dental hygiene is important for their general health and wellbeing, and should include an at-home dental-care routine and regular professional cleanings.

  • Brush your pet’s teeth daily — Brushing your pet’s teeth every day can greatly reduce plaque buildup. In addition to brushing, dental chews, oral rinses, and cleansing agents that can be added to their drinking water can help minimize plaque buildup.
  • Schedule regular professional dental cleanings — All pets require professional dental cleanings periodically throughout their lives. As much as 60% of the tooth structure lies below the gumline where a toothbrush cannot reach. Therefore scaling, which is one component of a professional dental cleaning, is necessary to remove accumulating plaque. 

Protect your pet from parasites and infectious diseases

Protect your pet from infectious diseases and pesky parasites—fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and intestinal worms—to reduce their infection risk and add years to their life. Follow these tips:

  • Administer year-round parasite preventives —Parasites can infect any animal, but a pet who does not receive regular parasite control medication has the greatest infection risk. The best way to protect your pet is to ensure they receive their heartworm, flea, and tick preventive regularly. Pets may begin flea and tick prevention at any time, but your veterinarian may require your furry pal to undergo a heartworm blood screening before beginning a heartworm preventive. Your veterinarian can recommend safe and effective products that will suit your pet’s needs. 
  • Keep your pet’s vaccinations up-to-date — Vaccines protect your pet from many highly transmissible and life-threatening diseases, such as rabies, distemper, and parvovirus. Your veterinarian will determine an appropriate vaccination schedule based on your pet’s individual needs and lifestyle. 

By using this checklist, you can add years to your pet’s life while maintaining their health and wellbeing. Schedule your pet’s wellness examination with our Aloha Veterinary Hospital team. How to Add Years to Your Pet’s Life