October Is National Pet Wellness Month: 11 Steps to A Healthy Pet

October is National Pet Wellness Month. Being a pet parent is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences for many. Therefore, following a pet wellness plan to ensure your cat or dog leads a healthy and happy life should be a top priority for all pet parents and pet families.

Here Are 11 Steps to a Healthy Pet:

1. Pet Wellness Exams. Take your pet to the vet at least twice a year for a pet wellness exam. These exams consist of blood work and an overall check up for your pet to ensure that he or she is healthy. Many conditions, when caught early and before they are symptomatic, are found to be much easier and less expensive to treat.
2. Pet Vaccines. There has been a lot of controversy regarding vaccinations, both for humans and pets. Make sure to discuss your pet’s vaccination schedule and any concerns you may have with your vet.
3. Spay/Neuter. Spaying or neutering your pet not only helps control the pet population, but it also helps prevent certain diseases and illnesses, including some cancers. While it is never too late to spay or neuter your pet, check with your veterinarian about how old your new kitten or puppy has to be to safely be spayed or neutered.
4. Dental Hygiene. We dedicated an entire blog post on dental hygiene because of how important it is to the overall health and wellness of your pet. Catching early problems helps avoid dental and cardiac diseases.
5. Pet’s Skin. Be sure to regularly check your pet’s skin, as some conditions may be harder to spot under all that fur. Use the proper soaps and shampoos while bathing and be sure to check for rashes or hotspots that may occur in reaction to allergens.
6. Supplements. As your pet gets older, pet parents may want to consider a daily or weekly supplement to help with joint, stability, flexibility, and even a healthier skin and coat.
7. Pet’s Ears. Many pet parents overlook their pet’s ears, not realizing that many breeds, especially with droopy ears, are prone to ear infections. Find a soothing ear wash for your pet to help prevent and treat common bacteria, fungi, yeast and ear mites.
8. Fleas and Ticks. These little guys can cause serious problems for your pets. The best treatment for fleas and ticks is prevention; so make sure to treat your pets regularly for both fleas and ticks.
9. Pet Food. Just as you are critical of the food you eat, be sure to read your pet’s food labels to ensure that they are getting the best diet with all the proper vitamins and nutrients. With so many options to choose from, including organic, raw food, and more, it’s really up to the individual pet parents to determine which diet is best.
10. Exercise. Daily exercise is crucial for all pets, regardless of breed or species. Some dog breeds may require more exercise, while some cats may sleep 22 hours a day. Still, as the pet parent, it’s always your responsibility to make sure that you are providing ample time for both mental and physical stimulation.
11. Pet Insurance. This may come as no surprise, given that epetsure is a pet insurance expert committed to educating pet parents on the health and wellness of their pets. But, when you really think about it, pet insurance is one of the few sure-fire ways to ensure your pet’s health and wellness. Just as with children, pet parents should always be prepared and expect the unexpected. No one wants accidents, injuries or illnesses to occur, but the reality of life is that they do. So, unless you’re a very wealthy person who can afford thousands of dollars of medical care to save your pet’s life at a moment’s notice, your only option is to either let your pet die, or to invest in pet insurance. The good news is that pet insurance plans for cats start at just $5 per month and pet insurance plans for dogs start at just $10 per month.

Your pets mean the world to you, just as our pets mean everything to us. From the moment they come into our lives, they capture our hearts and take over our social media accounts.

They are like our kids, with too much fur, who can get away with anything, because of those sweet puppy dog eyes, or innocent kitten purrs. It’s the kind of love that only a pet parent understands, because it goes beyond words and explanations.

That’s why National Pet Wellness Month is such an important time of the year. It’s an annual educational campaign to remind us to take routine care of our pets throughout the year. So, go ahead and schedule that wellness exam with your vet today, and check out our pet insurance providers to find the right plan for you and your pet.

Originally published at epetsure.