petsolutions

Just because your pet eats it, doesn't mean he's hungry! Many vets will recommend feeding a cat or dog at least twice a day and checking with the label on the packaging for portion guidelines based on your pet's weight. Although my pup scarfs down all his food in seconds, my vet did mention that I should remove any unfinished portions after 20 minutes to prevent him from overeating from the trough.

Now, you usually have a clue if you have an overweight pet (rounded belly, bulging in the back, etc.), but you may not know what to do about it. Check with your vet about weight-loss and fitness regimes to get a healthy start to our final 2008 petsolution. An easy first step is to limit those treats! Consider it like the difference between you eating a slice of pizza . . . and a whole pizza. If the doggie treat is large, break it up to make several different rewards instead of feeding all at once. Or, when training a pet, considering rewarding with a piece of pet food instead. Coupled with a fitness routine and your vet's recommendations, you can have a slim, trim pet by '09!

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If you're like me, getting more active is high up on your to-do list! Many dog owners underestimate the amount of exercise each pooch needs. Even with a fenced-in area for your pup to frolic in, you both can still benefit from a nice walk. Now city pooches will need more exercise than this to simply do their business, their country cousins should also get at least one 20 minute walk a day. It's a good way to guarantee you'll stick to those resolutions because the pooch reinforces your commitment – he's depending on you and adding that doggone variable can make the difference between getting up and going, and skipping it for just one more day. Hopefully over time, walking will become a habit and you'll start choosing to walk places for daily errands . . . with or without the dog.

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Try to get a new start to '08 by focusing on obedience. Having a well-trained pet makes you (and your pet) look good even to those non-animal lovers, and it's always fun to bond with your pal. Oftentimes, manners issues can be helped with proper socialization – if pooch doesn't play well with others yet, consider bringing him to a playgroup to get him used to the sights, smells, and sounds of other dogs and, if he's timid around people, try introducing him to friends in individual and small group settings on his turf. If need be, take it one step further and enlist outside help. For a pet still working through naughty habits like pulling on the leash or jumping on strangers, take the time to enroll him in an obedience class. For those pups already earning gold stars in the manners department, consider an advanced obedience or agility class. It's a great way to learn to work with each other better!

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Nothing begins a new year better than a fresh, healthy start! First off, make sure pets are up-to-date with all their health care needs.

• Shots. While rabies vaccinations tend to last longer (North's lasts for three years), other shots need to be administered yearly. If your pooch will be around other dogs a lot (at playgroup or boarding), many locations require their bordatella shot (or nasal spray) to be given every six months to protect pup from kennel cough.
• Medications. Be consistent and give pets their prescribed medication as directed. Pets should be on year-round, monthly heartworm preventative – if they aren't, a vet can do a blood test to make sure they are not already infected. Also, all pets (even indoor ones) should still be on flea/tick prevention. Do your part, and make sure you get started (or keep up the good work).
• Vet Visits. Like you, doggies and kitties should see a doctor at least once a year for annual checkups, with older pets benefiting from biannual exams. Veterinarians can check for things that you may not notice at home – lumps, bumps, murmurs, and other ailments. They also, of course, make sure you stay on top of your pets' shots and medications, too!

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To kick off our week of New Year's Petsolutions, I'm ready to tackle the clutter. Although I like my home to appear clutter-free, at some point along the way, I caught a bug of the just-in-cases. Behind the closed doors of my closet are a myriad of perfectly usable items that I simply don't use. So, as I am ready to ring in the new year, I've decided to tackle my linen closet. In an effort to free up space for more useful items that I'll actually use, I gathered my old sheets, blankets, and towels – sadly enough to open a B&B in my apartment building – and brought these extra linens to my local humane society. Animal shelters can always do with these types of things and check with your local establishment for any additional needs. Now go and let go!

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