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We asked holistic vet, author, and member of Rover’s Dog People Panel, Dr. Gary Richter, what New Year’s resolutions he would recommend for all dogs. Read on for his thoughts on how you can help your pet put their best paw forward in the new year.
New Year’s Resolutions for Dog Parents
Dr. Richter’s resolutions focus on regular health care, which gives your dog the best chance at a long and happy life. Let’s take a look at what he recommends.
Brush Teeth Daily
Oral care for dogs is an easy, but often overlooked, key to a long and healthy life. Here’s the scoop on how to get started: How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth (and Keep All Your Fingers). Regular, professional cleanings can also help stave off plaque and infections.
This tooth care kit has all you need for keeping your dog or cat’s teeth healthy: toothpaste, a dual-sided ergonomic toothbrush, and a finger brush. The toothpaste is poultry flavored and gets its powerful enzymatic action from glucose oxidase, which helps to remove plaque and freshen breath.
Change to a Fresh, Balanced Diet
Dr. Richter is a big proponent of fresh, whole foods for our pets, and offers many ideas for incorporating these ingredients in our pets’ diets in his book, “The Ultimate Pet Health Guide.” Can’t afford or don’t have the time to prepare a fresh or raw diet at home? Small changes can make a big difference.
Consider adding fresh or freeze-dried fruits and veggies to your pet’s current diet (there are some great suggestions here). You can also try a fresh dog food delivery company such as Ollie, which offers fresh-cooked food, or A Pup Above.
Cooked low and slow to lock in major flavor, these patties arrive frozen and can be thawed in the fridge before serving. They’re made from wholesome ingredients in BPA-free packaging in a USDA-inspected kitchen.
Verified Review: “Our dogs could not get enough of A Pup Above. They soon learned just what it meant when one of the packages came out of the fridge, and they gobbled it up—all three flavors were equally loved. Unlike other brands, A Pup Above cooks their fresh dog food sous vide. This cooking method, popularized in high-end restaurants, is purported to help food retain more taste and nutrients. A Pup Above puts their AAFCO-balanced foods into BPA-free vacuum-sealed bags and cooks them in a 180-degree water bath. While my dogs don’t know about sous vide, they did seem to notice the extra flavor.”
Twice-Yearly Checkups
Just like the old saying goes: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Regular vet checkups can extend your pet’s life. Routine weight checks, going over your dog for lumps and bumps (here’s how to do it at home, too), keeping vaccines and medications up to date, dental cleaning, and nail trims, all keep your dog in tip-top form.
Plus, it’s nice to know you have a second pair of eyes on your best friend. Sometimes slow changes over time can be hard to notice in our loved ones, and an outsider can quickly notice a change in behavior or appearance that we haven’t consciously seen.
Stay organized with this all-in-one calendar and planner, in a sweet theme, to keep track of your dog’s appointments and to write down reminders related to your dog’s health.
Get More Exercise
It’s good for you and your dog! Make it a point to spend time enjoying your local trails and parks. You won’t be just making a healthy choice, you’ll be making memories with your best friend. Spend time daily tossing a ball, playing tug-o-war, or chasing each other a little bit. It’s good fun, good exercise, and a bonding experience.
Make exercise fun for you and your dog with this combo Chuckit launcher that comes with three rubber balls. Durable and highly visible, the balls can also float if your dog enjoys playing fetch in the water.
Regular Brushing and Massages
Brushing your dog is not only good for skin and coat care, but it’s also a great bonding opportunity. Regular brushing prevents mats and snarls in longer-haired dogs, and helps keep fur from taking over your home.
Giving your dog a massage can be a wonderful opportunity to connect, as well, in addition to providing health benefits such as muscle relaxation and relief from joint pain.
These heavy-duty grooming gloves work wet, for scrubs during bathtime, or dry to detangle and remove excess fur from your oh-so-furry friend. Available in five different hand sizes, stainless steel bristles with rubber nodules ensure an effective grooming session that also feels like a massage for your dog.
Consult this reference manual by massage therapist Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt to learn techniques that will help your dog with relaxation, pain alleviation, and injury recovery.
Do Your Homework Before Every Vet Visit
Before you go, be sure to prepare lists that include the type and amount of food and treats you’re feeding your dog, all of their medications and supplements, and any questions or concerns you have. This way you can make sure to have all of your questions addressed.
Keep all your pet questions, lists, dietary changes, and health observations in one place for that next vet visit, or in case of emergency, with this handy, pet-themed notebook.
Prepare for Changes in Routine
With a vaccine for COVID-19 on the horizon, pet parents should be thinking about how their schedules and routines are going to change—and how this will affect their pets. The good thing is that you can help curb separation anxiety in dogs who have become accustomed to their favorite people being home consistently. One approach is to intentionally leave your dog home alone for progressively longer periods, in order to get them used to you going back to work (or someplace other than home). You could also try a pet camera such as the Furbo, that helps you keep an eye on, and engage, your pet while you’re out of the house.
Furbo’s camera lets you keep an eye on your buddy and even interact from away, which may be important as you both get used to new routines. Stream 1080p footage at any time with a 160-degree view that includes night vision. You’ll receive barking alerts and be able to talk to your dog—and also toss them a treat when you’re far from home!
Verified Review: “The Furbo is the ultimate “didn’t know I needed it until I got it” pet tech. This treat-shooting pet spy-gear has easy set-up and a user-friendly app. You can shoot treats at your pet, talk to them through the microphone, and sneak a peek at them while you’re away via the built-in camera. I love it because (1) I now have confirmation that my dog seems pretty content when I’m not around. (2) It sends me a push notification whenever he’s barking so I can turn on the camera and see what’s up. (Spoiler alert: It’s always the mailman.) and (3) I can remind him any time, from anywhere, that I love him. That’s definitely the best part.”
And that’s it! What’s on your list for your dog this year?
Further Reading
Featured image drgaryrichter.com