Helping Your Pet Live a Long and Healthy Life

Pets are an important part of our family so keeping them healthy is a high priority. Here are 5 tips for keeping your dogs and cats healthy and safe.

1. While pets love to explore the great outdoors, it is often one of the most dangerous places of all for them. Dogs and cats who are allowed to roam the neighborhood freely have a greatly reduced life span. Hazards such as cars and high traffic can often lead to tragedy for beloved animals. The best advice for preventing such devastating losses is to routinely take your dog and cat outside on a leash to enjoy the fresh air with you. Other options are having a securely fenced yard with a fence high enough to prevent the animal from getting out or a kennel area installed in the back yard. Fences and kennels will allow your animals some time outdoors yet keep them safe from the hazards that may threaten them.

2. Soaring temperatures can also be a hazard for pets who are left outside for long periods of the day. This is especially true during the summer or in hot, dry areas of the country where high temperatures are the norm. Just like humans, animals can also suffer heat prostration if they do not have a shady spot in which to lay and plenty of cool, clean water to drink. Never leave a pet locked in a car during the summer months. Temperatures can quickly climb to well over 100 to 140 degrees in a hot car and can cause death in as little as 10 minutes. Your pet will be much better off at home when the temperature rises.

3. Many herbicides and household products are extremely toxic to pets. When treating your lawn or yard for weeds or bugs, be sure to read the labels and not let your pets into the treated area for the recommended number of hours after applying these substances. Store these items where pets will have no access to them. Be careful of allowing your pet to roam areas where antifreeze may have dripped such as garage floors or driveways. Antifreeze is sweet tasting but very toxic to your pet.

4. Plants, both indoor as well as outdoors, can be hazards to your pet's health. Be careful what plants you place where pets might be able to chew on them both inside as well as in your yard. Plants such as azaleas, daffodils, dieffenbachia, foxglove, many types of ivy, hyacinth, hydrangea, jonquil, lantana, lilies and tulips, to name just a few, can be toxic to cats and dogs. If you suspect that your animal has eaten a toxic plant, immediately contact your veterinarian.

5. Additional threats to your pet's health can come from insects and parasites. Both cats and dogs are susceptible to heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) which are parasites transmitted by mosquitoes. While many people know that heartworm can be contracted by dogs, they are unaware that cats can be susceptible as well. Anywhere where there are mosquitos, animals can become infected with heartworm parasites. If your state has a high incidence of heart worm, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about testing your animals for heartworm on a regular basis. Fleas and ticks can also be problems for both cats and dogs especially if they go outdoors regularly. Fleas can carry tapeworms and ticks can spread Lyme disease to your animals. Again, your best course of action is to talk with your veterinarian about these problems and follow his advice on how to best protect your precious friend.

Keeping your pet healthy and safe is not difficult if you follow these few simple guidelines. Your pet will love you for looking after him and will be able to bring joy and love to your life for many years.

Karen Tankersley lives in the southwest with her husband, a Yorkie, two cats and two cockatiels. Follow the outdoor adventures of Angel, the Yorkie, as she goes RVing at http://www.myrvadventures.com Find great tips on pet care at http://www.mypetsweetheart.com