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Wednesday, December 26, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Paw
Prints
Jodi Schneider
Columnist
New year’s
resolutions for
pet people
Almost half of Americans
make New Year’s resolutions.
These resolutions range from
losing weight, to quitting
smoking, to spending more
time with family. However,
we often forget to include our
furry friends in the resolu-
tions. This New Year, aim to
make a few resolutions that
will improve the relationship
between you and your pet.
When you find yourself
getting caught up in life, take
a breath and spend a little
more time with your pet. It’s
easy to get distracted by all
the important events going
on, but don’t forget that
every time you head out for
a dinner with friends, you
are leaving your furry fam-
ily member behind. Devote
more play time with your pet
and try to stay in one or two
nights to show your pooch
or kitty how much you care
about him.
Rain or shine, Rover
deserves his exercise. Not
only will this get you and
your dog away from being
couch potatoes, it will also
allow for some much-needed
bonding time for the two of
you.
Get away for a weekend.
Find somewhere that will
accept your dog as well!
Try renting a pet-friendly
Airbnb to get away from
the hustle and bustle of your
life and give your dog a new
experience.
The start of a new year is
the right time for a fresh start
for pets needing a change in
their routine. For example,
with over 50 percent of pets
in the United States classi-
fied as overweight, there’s
no better time for pet parents
to commit to a new healthier
diet for their furry family
members.
From walking to hiking,
skijoring to kayaking, it’s
easier than ever for people
to incorporate their pet into
a new exercise routine. It’s
a great way to bond, it will
get you both out of the house
and you both can reap the
rewards of being physically
active.
Resolve to groom your
pet every day, especially if
you have a long-haired dog.
The knots in their hair can
become very painful against
their skin. Brushing your dog
a few times a week will dis-
tribute oils evenly along their
coat, which will make them
shinier. Not only will you
have one good-looking dog,
but he’ll feel better too!
Don’t forget your cat!
She also needs some daily
attention and exercise. Toys
that trigger a cat’s preda-
tory instinct are a great way
to get them off the couch
and engaged in a little aero-
bic activity. Experiment to
see what really gets your cat
going – in addition to laser,
catnip toys, crinkly balls and
climbable cat trees, a card-
board box can become a cat
cave that satisfies a cat’s
desire for a hiding place.
Studies show that mental
stimulation can help reduce
cognitive deterioration in
aging animals. In other
words, keeping your senior
pet’s brain active can actually
make it healthier. Teaching
your pooch new tricks and
practicing those they already
know are a great way to keep
those neurons firing. Puzzle
feeders, 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 pet’s mind
engaged.
Over the course of a year
a lot can change — people
move, get new phone num-
bers, and forget to update
their pet’s tags. Often, they
only remember once their pet
is lost. If any of your contact
information has changed in
2018, don’t wait — update
their tags and microchip
information today. It’s the
best way to ensure a lost pet
makes their way safely home.
Resolve to bring more joy
into your pet’s life this year.
PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER
Harry is ready for a winter hike with his pet parent.
One easy way is by setting
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 ani-
mals is great for your pet’s
mental health and can help
vastly improve their social
skills.
Perhaps the most impor-
tant resolution for any pet
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.
Pets need to visit the vet
once per year; for older pets,
the visits should be more
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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
dietary needs, or get an expert
opinion on any behavioral
issues that may be affecting
your bond with your pet.
Whether it’s putting a few
dollars in the “homeless pets”
jar at the pet store check-out
line, or volunteering to walk
dogs at your local shelter a
few days a week, make sure
to give back to those four-
legged friends who don’t
have as much as your own
furry friends.