Tips to Keep Your Dog Fit and Healthy

Tips to Keep Your Dog Fit and Healthy: Your dog is truly the ultimate 4-legged bestie. Your furry friend’s health is highly important for their happiness and longevity. There are habits we should avoid, but there are also great ones we can adopt to improve their long-term health!

Obesity poses serious risks to your dog’s health. So, let’s examine how dog owners can help their pets maintain healthy weight ranges.

Exercise is essential for all dogs

Getting extra activity can help your dog lose weight faster and help it elevate its mental health. Extend your walking sessions or include an extra stroll in your routine to increase your walking duration. If your family members participate, you can easily divide and conquer the daily walk duty. As a family, you may all benefit from spending more time outside playing with your dog.

Avoid Unhealthy Treats

Whether you’re training your dog and looking for ways to reward positive behaviour or getting ready for a lengthy trip, it’s easy to give in to your furry friend’s every wish. On occasion, it’s OK to treat your dog to a snack. Nevertheless, be sure to only feed them foods that aren’t harmful to dogs. You can’t go wrong with little bits of fresh fruit, dental chews, or specialised meat sticks as treats for dogs.

Tips to Keep Your Dog Fit and Healthy: A Healthy Dinner

Dinner is essential for gods, but what you have for dinner isn’t healthy for dogs. Inform everyone in the home about the dangers of feeding leftovers to your dog, as it could lead to weight gain and behavioral issues. Excessive amounts of leftovers for dinner can make your dog gain weight faster, making it susceptible to a range of health conditions.

The Ideal Portion for Dogs

Instead of caving in to its demands, ensure that your canine is receiving the nourishment it needs. Consult your veterinarian or check online to determine your dog’s daily calorie needs. Then, you can plan your meals appropriately. Serving size reduction of 20–30% might be an effective starting point for weight loss in dogs. Monitor your pet’s nutrition levels to ensure they remain sufficient.

A Weekly Weigh-In Is a Good Idea

Your veterinarian can help you establish a weight reduction goal for your dog. A healthy weight loss for your dog should ideally occur gradually over time. Remember, you must aim for healthy weight ranges; too low or overweight cause health issues in dogs. So, a healthy meal plan in the long run is vital for your dog’s overall health.

Keep Monitoring

Maintaining tabs on your dog’s weight is a good idea, regardless of how small you think it is at the moment. If you want to make sure your dog is still healthy after their weight loss programme has concluded, you should check their weight once a month. If you want to keep your dog in peak physical shape for its whole life, you may take advantage of Port Kennedy Vets’ free weight-management clinic.

Call the Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital team today on 08 6555 5149 or visit our contact page for more ways to get in touch.

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Saving Money on Your Pets Medical Costs

Saving Money on Your Pets Medical Costs: Our pets provide pleasure, companionship, and affection. On the other hand, they also need financial commitments, particularly for medical care. As a pet owner, you should always put your animal friend’s health first while also considering the expenses. In this post, we’ll look at a few different ways to save costs on your pet’s vet bills without sacrificing their health.

Saving Money on Your Pets Medical Costs

1. Invest in preventive care

Remember to take your pets in for checkups at least once a year. Regular checkups may detect health problems before they escalate into costly and time-consuming crises. Your pet’s age, health, and lifestyle will determine how often your veterinarian recommends visits.

Vaccines and various other forms of preventative medication

The best way to protect your pets from parasites like heartworm, fleas, and ticks is to keep them vaccinated and on preventative medicine. By being proactive, we can stave off illnesses that might otherwise be very expensive to cure.

2. Utilise wellness plans

In exchange for a monthly payment, some animal hospitals and clinics provide wellness packages for pets. These packages may include:

Preventative medicine
Dental cleanings
Yearly checkups

Compared to paying for each service separately, this may save you money.

3. Maintain good oral health

To avoid expensive procedures, it is important to clean your pet’s teeth regularly using vet-approved toothpaste to avoid dental disease.

Professional dental cleaning

Following your vet’s advice on regular professional dental cleanings will save you a lot of money compared to the cost of addressing more severe tooth problems down the road.

4. Ensure the Well-Being of Your Pet

Numerous health issues, some of which may be very costly to cure, can develop as a result of pet obesity. Keep your pet at a healthy weight by giving it the right food and making sure it gets enough activity.

Dietary Advice Consultation

To find out what’s best for your pet nutritionally, go to your vet. Sometimes, regular, affordable food can be enough if it meets all the requirements.

A Guide to Healthy Eating for Your Pet

https://portkennedyvet.com.au/pet-health/sterilisation-and-desexing-benefits-for-dogs-or-cats/t

A Guide to Healthy Eating for Your Pet: A balanced diet is essential for dogs and cats, just as it is for people. The diet of a pet positively impacts its health, lifespan, and quality of life. In this article, we will go over the basics of pet nutrition, including what pets need, what kinds of food are available, and how to keep their diet balanced.

Understanding nutritional needs

Different species, ages, sizes, and health conditions have different dietary requirements for pets. As far as dietary needs go, the two most prevalent home pets, dogs and cats, couldn’t be more different.

Dogs

Due to their omnivorous diet, dogs need a variety of nutrients, including protein, carbs, fats, and minerals. The following foods should form part of a normal dog’s diet:

Proteins

Legumes, eggs, fish, and meat (beef, chicken, or pork) are necessary for development and maintenance.

Carbohydrates

Give your pet energy; some examples of this include sweet potatoes and cereals like rice and oats.

Fats

When it comes to skin health and vitality, sources like fish oil and chicken fat are crucial.

Vitamins and minerals

It is a common component in commercial dog meals and has an important role in metabolic functions.

Nutritional needs for cats

Due to their nature as obligate carnivores, cats have a greater protein need than dogs. What they should eat is:

Protein

Any significant portion of its ingredients must come from animals, preferably fish or chicken.

Taurine

Because they are unable to produce it internally, cats must rely on meat as a source of the amino acid taurine.

Fats

For this critical energy, you should use animal fats or oils.

Metals and vitamins

Vitamin A is essential for cats, but they can’t get it from beta-carotene.

Portion Control

How much food to give a pet is proportional to its age, weight, degree of activity, and general health. Both overfeeding and underfeeding pose risks to pets’ health. The former may cause obesity, while the latter can cause malnutrition.

Special Dietary Considerations

Because of illnesses like diabetes or allergies, certain dogs may need a more specific diet. In order to determine the best diet for these illnesses, it is essential to consult with a veterinarian.

Your Kitten’s Health Care Plan

Have you just brought a new kitten into your home? Congratulations – cats make a wonderful addition to families, bringing love and companionship to any home. Owning a cat is a great way for children to learn about responsibility, compassion and how to interact with other animals, as well as providing them with lots of fun and cuddles. So, here’s your Your Kitten’s Health Care Plan.

To help you look after your little feline companion properly, we’ve put together this practical owner’s guide, outlining some important factors you’ll need to consider for your kitten’s wellbeing.

Kittens are sensitive animals

When it comes to the socialization of kittens, there is a critical period that shouldn’t be overlooked. This sensitive phase takes place between the ages of two and seven weeks. These few weeks play a crucial role in shaping their future social behavior. During this time, kittens are like sponges, absorbing and learning from their surroundings. It’s a fascinating period that deserves our attention and understanding.

When bringing a new kitten into your home, it’s crucial to prioritize their comfort and well-being. Creating a safe and welcoming environment for your furry friend is not only essential for their physical health but also for their mental and emotional state.

Bringing Your Kitten Home

Your kitten will most likely be a bit nervous and unsure in a new environment. He or she will be used to being with its mother and siblings so will be feeling a little lost at first.

Make sure you plan ahead, taking your kitten straight to a quiet, warm place inside your home where it can feel relaxed and explore when it’s ready. The laundry can be a good choice, providing a quiet room that isn’t a major thoroughfare of the house.

Have a little bed ready for your cat, in a pet bed, basket or box, so he or she can curl up and feel cosy and safe. You can place a warm hot water bottle in the bed for extra comfort.

Introduce children and other pets very slowly and carefully to your new family member. You may even decide to wait a few days until kitten feels more settled and confident.

Your Kitten’s Health Care Plan: Kitten Playtime

Make sure your kitten has toys and playthings to keep them entertained and active. Cats need things to scratch and chew – if you don’t provide them with a scratching post they’ll look for the next best thing!

Keep electrical cords and anything else that could be dangerous to chew or climb away from your kitten’s reach.

Food and Nutrition for Healthy Cats

Just like humans, kittens need nutritious food to grow up strong and healthy, generally with 2 or 3 meals a day. Premium pet food brands offer food specially formulated for young cats, providing your kitten with a balanced diet.

Cats are good at self-regulating their food, even when young, so leave kitten biscuits out for them to snack on throughout the day and always have fresh clean water available.

Kitten Toilet Training

Often you’ll find that your kitten has already picked up good toilet habits from their mother or litter mates. However, you’ll still need to encourage them in their new environment.

Have a readily accessible litter tray, away from busy areas of the house or other pets, for your kitten to use comfortably. Be sure to give your kitten lots of praise when they use the tray correctly, and don’t ever punish them for accidents – this will lead to fear of using the tray and more accidents.

Vaccinations for Cats

Cats are generally vaccinated at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks and then once a year, to protect them from diseases such as feline enteritis and feline respiratory viruses, which can be very serious and even fatal, particularly for kittens.

As well as vaccinations, you need to factor in desexing, microchipping, dental health checks, regular worming and flea control for your cat, as well as any emergency vet treatment in case of accident or illness.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is on the rise for both companion and working animals, and we couldn’t recommend it enough. Signing up for pet insurance while your pet is still young ensures that you will receive the most comprehensive cover. Many diseases become evident within the first few years of life, and if your furry friend develops evidence of a problem prior to you taking out insurance they will be covered for that particular problem or disease.

There are a variety of pet insurance policies to suit different needs. Pet insurance helps take the financial stress out of emergencies and gives you peace of mid knowing that your pet will always receive the best possible medical treatment without having to worry about the bill. Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital is offering its clients medical cover through Petplan.

Preventative Healthcare for Your Cat

If you’re reading this to help gauge whether you can responsibly care for a cat, please carefully consider the time and money you’ll need to invest into your newest family member – owning a pet is a long-term responsibility and our animal friends deserve a safe home.

Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital offers a range of affordable wellness packages that provide regular preventative care for your cat’s health. Regular check-ups ensure ongoing good health for your cat, and by preventing illness and disease in the first place you’ll also be saving money on potentially expensive vet bills.

Monthly payment plans will take a lot of the financial stress out of owning a pet, giving you 100% peace of mind that you’re looking after them properly, and have somewhere to turn to in case of emergency. You’ll also have professional and qualified vets on hand to offer you guidance and support in looking after your kitten. Now enjoy your time with your new feline friend!

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Your Kitten's Health Care Plan

Management Plans of Overweight Pets

Management Plans of Overweight Pets Recent studies have shown that up to a third of Australian cats and dogs are now considered overweight. Dogs are more likely than cats to have weight problems, and pets that are older, neutered or live in single-pet households are also more at risk. Unfortunately, certain breeds are more prone to obesity but this doesn’t mean it can’t be avoided.

Here’s some information on diagnosing and treating obesity in your pets.

Is My Pet Overweight?

To check if your pet is overweight, start by feeling around their ribcage and spine. In a healthy animal, you should be able to feel their bone structure through only a thin layer of fat. If you can’t find the ribcage at all then you definitely have an overweight pet.

If you know the optimal weight for your pet’s age and breed, then you can weigh them at home. Step on a scale to read your own weight and then step back on while holding your pet – their weight will be the difference between the two sums. As a general rule, if your pet is up to 15% over their optimal weight they are considered overweight. Above 15% is categorised as obese.

What Are the Risks?

An overweight pet has a shorter life expectancy and a poorer quality of life overall than a pet of a healthy weight. The health risks to an overweight animal include arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and respiratory problems. In addition to these, carrying that extra weight around will cause excessive wear on your pet’s joints and ligaments. Not only will your pet be less happy but it could leave you with huge costs in surgical bills and additional veterinary visits.

Step One – Diet

The first step in managing your pet’s weight is to get everyone in the household on board with the diet plan. Make sure no one is going to feel sorry for your overweight pet and sneak it extra treats or supplementary food as this will make it harder to achieve weight loss goals. Get advice from your vet on how much energy your furry friend needs from food and make sure they are still getting the nutrition they need while on their new diet. Portion control is an easy way to lower calorie intake so try cutting daily food intake by 20-30% as a first step. For help and guidance, sign up for Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital’s free weight loss clinics for pets.

Step Two – Exercise

The second part of the weight management plan is to increase exercise. For dogs, this is a simple matter of taking longer and more frequent walks, but for cats, it’s a little trickier. Try adding height to your cat’s play area with vertical scratching posts and playing areas. Invest in a few more toys and encourage the whole family to play with the cat as much as possible. Bring out its natural instinct to hunt using lights, wands and other moving objects. Make meal times into an aerobic adventure by dividing food into smaller portions and hiding them around the house.

Maintaining Healthy Weight

Once you begin to achieve success in your pet’s weight management plan, it’s crucial to maintain this new routine. Continue to keep treats to a minimum and get as much exercise as possible. Getting the whole family into the habit of looking after your pet’s health is essential for maintaining weight loss.

If you’re interested in discussing a diet plan for your pet, call Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital providing veterinary services to Port Kennedy and surrounding Perth suburbs now or visit our contact page for more ways to get in touch.

Pet Nutrition Basics

If you’re a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure your dog or cat is getting the level of good food and nutrition they need to maintain good health and muscular bodies.

In the same way humans rely on food for energy, minerals and vitamins, your pet’s diet is the fundamental basis of good health and vitality. You’ll need to know the importance of certain food groups and nutrients in their diet for optimal pet well-being.

Read on for more information about feeding your pet to make sure your pet is eating a well-balanced and nutritional diet.

Providing Proper Nutrients for Your Pet

All animals require a balanced diet containing 6 essential nutrients.

Proteins, fats and carbohydrates provide our bodies with energy, while vitamins, minerals and water are necessary for other metabolic needs.

Read on to see why each nutrient is essential for your pet’s health.

Proteins – an essential source of amino acids, required by both cats and dogs, with cats needing twice as much protein as dogs!
Fats – the most important source of energy for animals
Carbohydrates – a vital energy source for dogs primarily, providing fibre and calories; too many carbs will be stored as fat in dogs and cats and can lead to obesity
Vitamins – healthy coat, nails, and assists in food digestion for healthy bones
Minerals – providing levels of sodium, magnesium and iron, for example
Water – the most critical ingredient, water accounts for between 60 to 70% of an adult pet’s body weight

A Balanced Diet for Your Pet

As you can see, it’s imperative to cover all nutrients to ensure your pet’s well-being.

You can do this by providing a well-balanced diet that includes the major food groups needed by dogs and cats. You can achieve this with high-quality premium pet food brands appropriate for the age and lifestyle of your pet.

Natural foods, in the way of raw meats, bones and vegetables, can be used to supplement pet diets. It’s best to choose high-grade raw meats for human consumption for the best nutritional value.

Professional Guidance for Your Pet’s Diet

If your pet is sluggish, low in energy or carrying a lot of excess weight, it’s probably best to talk to a qualified veterinarian about improving their diet. Your vet will recommend foods designed for your lifestyle and to help treat chronic conditions.

It’s always good to get regular vet check-ups for your pet, as preventative healthcare contributes to a happier, healthier life for your best mate.

At Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital, your pet can receive regular professional care under an affordable monthly payment system that suits your budget and guarantees ongoing good health for your cat or dog.

Offering a range of wellness packages, your pet will receive regular check-ups to ensure ongoing good health and prevent illness and disease. With compassionate and skilled vets always on hand to guide you on areas such as diet and nutrition, you know your pet will be in good hands.

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