Congratulations! You are fortunate to own and have the companionship of a healthy pet. They seem active and healthy without a care in the world. You think there could be nothing wrong. Stop! Please take a moment to think about how animals are programmed by nature.
Most animals, by nature, try to conceal any pain they have in order to protect themselves against attack by other animals. Any animal whose nature is to attack will go first for another animal that appears weak or injured. So, your pet may not be as healthy as he seems. You must make it a point to carefully watch your pet’s actions because this is vital to protecting their health.
There are a number of things you can observe in your pet’s behavior that will give you warning signs that its health isn’t quite right. Pain management has become an integral part of your pet’s overall personal health care, and they will often go to great lengths to conceal the fact that they are hurting.
Carefully observe your pet’s physical characteristics. Are they losing weight for no obvious reason? Are they chewing their food more slowly, or eating less than usual? This could indicate problems with their teeth or gums. Patches of hair missing, or an obvious dulling of their coat, could be signs of internal problems. You should know how a happy, healthy pet looks and acts. Watch carefully for deviations from this norm.
Take your pet to the dentist. Not your family dentist, of course, but to a veterinarian who is experienced in examining and performing minor procedures to ensure long-term dental health. This type of preventive care can eliminate serious problems later, and is highly recommended. Many vets now have dental care kits including pet toothbrushes that you can use at home.
Your pet’s good health will be, in part, a direct result of their diet and exercise habits. Animals who gain too much weight, just like people, are at increased risk for medical problems. You have to watch your pet to see what is happening. If they have become sluggish and reluctant to exercise or play, this could be because of arthritis or another joint disease. These conditions produce a lot of pain, and may cause your pet to become far less active and unhealthy.
Your pet will experience greater pain from joint diseases if they are overweight. Just helping them lose a few pounds can take pressure off their sore joints and allow them to function better. You can find a number of excellent pet nutrition products designed to be tasty but low-calorie. These will help.
Your pet might not whimper, moan, or otherwise signal that they are in pain. Watch them and carefully observe their normal behavior. Then, when you see changes in their routine that are unexplained, you can assist your vet in figuring out what the problem might be. Anytime you see obvious changes in the way your pet behaves or goes about its daily routine, get in touch with a good animal doctor and have them examined as soon as you can. Having a healthy pet is one of the great joys of life – do everything you can to help them stay in good shape.
Find out how to maintain and have fun with your pets. Information and resources for taking care of and keeping your pet content. Let there be no doubt – a healthy pet is one of the superb joys of life!