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Wednesday, January 3, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Paw
Prints
Jodi Schneider McNamee
Columnist
New Year’s
resolutions for
your pet
Ready to take on the
new year? Resolutions are
a great way to start the year
off, whether they are a list of
things to accomplish or fun
ideas to make 2018 your best
year yet.
So many of you are ani-
mal lovers and pet parents;
shouldn’t you be including
your furry friends among
your top priorities for the new
year?
Just as your pets can im-
prove your physical and men-
tal health, there are many
ways that you can improve
the lives of your cats and
dogs in return.
Make this new year a fresh
start for your pet that needs a
change in his routine — such
as a new diet and exercise
regimen or more play time
with you. Whether you need
to get back on track with his
daily walks or make that vet
appointment you’ve been
meaning to schedule, there
are plenty of ideas for goals
to help your pet have a hap-
pier and healthier 2018.
One resolution could be to
be more aware of how much
your pet is eating. And one
way to do that is to measure
out their food each day. Ac-
cording to PetMD many own-
ers “eyeball” their pet’s daily
intake and pour that into their
food bowl, usually resulting
in overfeeding and weight
gain. Try using a measuring
cup. Cut down on how much
you dish out treats or con-
sider swapping in a fresh treat
instead such as blueberries or
small pieces of sweet potato.
Another resolution is to
give your pet more exer-
cise. Exercise is beneficial to
keeping your pet happy, ac-
tive, and at their optimal body
condition.
Take a walk each day with
your pooch, or spend time
playing with your cat around
the house. Cats love the thrill
of chasing a laser toy and
toys that trigger a cat’s preda-
tory instinct are a great way
to get them off the couch and
engaged in a little aerobic
activity.
Exercising with your pet
will increase your bond while
adding some physical activity
into both your lives. Play also
keeps your pet’s mind sharp,
even five minutes a day spent
tossing a ball or dangling a
toy mouse can mentally stim-
ulate them.
Pets can get bored with the
same old routine day in and
day out. Resolve to try a new
activity with your pet in the
coming year. From hiking to
kayaking, camping to run-
ning, try incorporating your
pet into a new exercise rou-
tine. It will get you both out
of the house, and both pet
parent and pet will reap the
rewards of a healthy physical
activity.
As your pet gets older, his
medical needs can be quite
expensive. Another great
resolution is to start saving
up now. Just as parents save
money for their children to
go to college, pet parents
should start a special account
just for pet-related expenses
down the road. Having a
savings account for your pet
will ensure that you never
have to compromise when it
comes to getting your furry
family member the best care
possible.
Resolve to groom your pet
every day. Brushing your cat
or dog serves many purposes.
It removes excess fur from
the coat, reducing the amount
you find on your clothes and
furniture. It helps distribute
oils from the skin to the fur,
keeping the coat shiny and
healthy. Lastly, daily groom-
ing is also a bonding activity
that demonstrates to your pet
how much you love him by
taking care of him in a sooth-
ing manner.
Studies show that men-
tal stimulation can help re-
duce cognitive deterioration
in aging animals. In other
words, keeping your older
pet’s brain active can make
it healthier. Resolve to teach
your pet new tricks and prac-
ticing those he already knows
is a great way to keep those
neurons firing. Puzzle feed-
ers, which force a pet to think
through a task in order to be
rewarded with a treat, are also
an excellent way to keep your
furry friend’s mind engaged.
Resolve to bring more joy
into your pet’s life this year.
And one easy way is by set-
ting up pet play dates. Play
dates for your furry friend
will help socialize him and
get Rover used to new faces
and other animals and people.
Call up a friend with a dog
that is similar in size to yours
and get together at a nearby
park. Interaction with other
animals is great for your pet’s
mental health, and can help
vastly improve their social
skills.
And perhaps the most im-
portant resolution for any pet
PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER MCNAMEE
Resolve to take your older dog to
the vet twice each year.
parent to make is to bring
your pet to the veterinarian
this new year. Make your
pet’s health one of your big-
gest priorities!
Just like humans, pets
need to visit the vet once per
year; for older pets, the vis-
its should be more frequent
(about twice a year). Many
medical conditions such as
diabetes, arthritis, or obesity
are common in aging pets
and much easier to manage
when detected in the early
stages of the disease process.
Veterinary visits are also the
perfect time to ask for advice,
update your pet’s food, or get
an expert opinion on any be-
havioral issues that may be
affecting your bond with your
pet.
ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS
Remind the people of Sisters to
BUY LOCAL
for Products & Services
Studies show that when people “shop local”
their money circulates at least three times in
that community. Help the people of Sisters
learn what’s special about you and your
business or service so that they can shop
local now and year ’round.
When: January 17 & 24
What: AT YOUR SERVICE
two-week full-color ad special
(with mini-story & photo one week)
Cost: $245. You save more than
50% off of regular ad rates!
Ad size 3" wide by 3.31" tall
Call Karen at The Nugget, 541-549-9941,
and she’ll help you with your ad. Professional design is free!