It's a NEW day and that means a NEW post about something NEW from your old pal here at Scribbles N' Bits. Sometime over the next couple of days people all around the world will spend at least a moment or two focusing on one topic....New Year's Resolutions. Some will write theirs down in an effort to cement them in stone and thus make them last all year long. Others will break them minutes after they are made and then will make them again....and then will break them once more after a few more minutes. Still others will languish on and on about just what they want to change until they eventually realize that February is simply too late to start anything new. For pet owners Lorraine Corriveau at Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine suggests that a separate list of resolutions be made to ensure that their beloved animals stay healthy in 2009.
1. Spay or neuter your pets, adding more years to their lives and improving their behavior.
2. Provide them age-appropriate health care so that you develop a good idea about their health and build a relationship with your veterinarian.
3. Give them a diet suited to their age and medical condition. Pets kept at their ideal body weight live longer. Look for foods designed for different stages of life and medical conditions.
4. Give them medicines regularly to prevent heartworm and fleas.
5. Groom them at home, especially the minor grooming procedures, because it causes less stress.
6. Exercise and play with them more often, each day if possible.
7. Ask your veterinarian or seek expert advice on behavior problems. A basic training class might be useful, especially for a new puppy.
8. Socialize pets with other animals and people by enrolling them in a dog park, an agility/training class or socialization classes.
9. Donate time, effort or resources to a local animal welfare group.
10. If your pet is especially social, patient and people-oriented, consider certifying it as a therapy animal. Studies have confirmed that pets increase a person's life span, help speed recovery in case of young and old patients, and are a great moral booster to people in various psychiatric and medical programs.