Kimberly Sarmiento - A Pet Owners Guide to a Happy and Healthy Companion

A Pet Owners Guide to a Happy and Healthy Companion

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Sarmiento, Kimberly, 1975- , author.

Title: A pet owners guide to a happy and healthy companion / by Kimberly

Sarmiento.

Description: Ocala, Florida : Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc., 2016. |

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016037759| ISBN 9781620231319 (alk. paper) | ISBN

162023131X (alk. paper) | ISBN 9781620233955 (library binding : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Dogs--Health. | Cats--Health. | Dogs--Food. | Cats--Food.

Classification: LCC SF427 .S315 2016 | DDC 636.7--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016037759

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EDITOR: Rebekah Sack rsack@atlantic-pub.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Rebekah Slonim rebekah.slonim@gmail.com
INTERIOR LAYOUT AND JACKET DESIGN: Antoinette DAmore addesign@videotron.ca
COVER DESIGN: Jackie Miller millerjackiej@gmail.com

Dedication

One of the most amusing interactions between animal and human that I have ever observed was the curiosity my Siamese cat showed toward my six-month-old daughter coupled with her intense desire to touch him. He would lie down just beyond her reach and watch as she scooted and rolled close enough to touch him. Then, he would get up and lie down again just beyond her reach. This process continued until she learned to crawl.

He had been a part of my family for several years before my daughter was born, and he was simultaneously fascinated and leery of this new being when we brought her home. Of course, she grew up loving him and they formed a special relationship for the next 11 years of her life. He passed away earlier this year, but her love for cats and all animals continues. This book is dedicated to Ramses and all the pets that serve as a childs first love.

Introduction

T his book is written specifically for pet owners who have feline and canine family members. Whether your family member came to you as a fluffy kitten, a wiggly little puppy, or a mature cat or dog that needed a forever home, as a committed pet owner, your first priority is keeping your pet as healthy as possible. If you came across this book prior to buying your first pet, carefully consider the recommendations on the time and attention dogs and cats need. This should help you decide if you have the time to make sure a dog or cat maintains the level of activity they need for a healthy life.

Adding a cat or dog to your home can be almost as stressful as bringing home a new baby. You have to buy supplies and toys, pick out the right foods, safety-proof your home, and make sure they get all the vaccinations they need. Taking care of your cat or dog is an ongoing task that is a daily commitment. Your veterinarian will be able to guide you in terms of shot schedules and preventative medicine, while also making suggestions on food types and serving sizes for your pet. A well-qualified pet trainer will be able to help you train your dog or cat to achieve the behavior you want (or banish the behavior you do not want) in your home. Yet ultimately, you are your pets caregiver; therefore, you must fully comprehend your options and obligations in providing them with a full and happy life.

To make the case for what it takes to keep a cat or dog healthy, I first want to emphasize that just like humans, cats and dogs need to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity is surprisingly common in both dogs and cats. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) reports that more than 52 percent of dogs and nearly 58 percent of cats are either overweight or obese. The potential health risks of obesity include (but are not limited to) stress on muscles and joints, an increased risk of diabetes, and liver problems.

While you might not want to worry about putting your pet on a diet, it will only benefit them if you help them stay in their appropriate weight range. Of course, the cause of obesity in your pets can be more than just overeating. When calorie intake exceeds your pets daily requirements, they begin to store food as fat. The key to avoiding this situation is two-fold: do not overfeed them and make sure they remain active .

Both cats and dogs are natural meat eaters and when feral, they are both hunters. This means that in the wild, your pet would expend a large amount of calories every day just to eat. Experts have found that domesticated cats and dogs still have an instinct to work for their food. As a result, there are many ways you can use to leverage that instinct to help keep your pet fit. These strategies range from making sure you take your dog for a walk before his first meal of the day to using a feeding toy that encourages your pet to bat around and play with a ball to get her dinner.