MIndy’s CallIng

FAMILY&
PARENTING
With all your resolutions
to exercise
an hour a day, say no to
doughnuts, and never yell at
your kids again—even when
they really, really deserve
it—it’s easy to overlook Fido
and Flu� y. You consider
them part of your family,
so why not include them in
your plans for the new year?
Start by resolving to avoid
three common pet-owner
mistakes, thereby keeping
your pet happier and
healthier all year long.
Play well with others.
Did you just adopt a pet
or receive one as a holiday
present? You have a small
but crucial window to make
sure your newest family
member is socialized. This
should happen within the
� rst six to 12 weeks, says Je�
Wells, DVM, a Colorado veterinarian
and author of All
My Patients Have Tales and
All My Patients Kick and Bite.
“From a vet standpoint,
nothing is worse than having
to treat a dog or cat that
hasn’t been socialized.”
Sign your pup up for
obedience school, and try
to introduce your puppy or
kitten to lots of people in
those early weeks. Play with
him o� en, and expose him
to people of di� erent ages.
Nip and tuck. Many
pet owners feel bad about
getting their pets spayed or
neutered, but this is a must.
“There’s an overpopulation
of pets, and it’s a sad situation
for animals that don’t
get adopted,” Wells says.
Your pet can su� er, too:
Unspayed female cats and
dogs are more likely to get
mammary tumors, which
PET HEALTH
Master Plan
WANT TO BE A BETTER PET OWNER THIS YEAR?
AVOID THESE COMMON MISTAKES
By Linda Formichelli
33
are like breast cancer in
humans. Unneutered pets
also tend to roam, putting
them at risk of � ghts and
getting hit by a car.
Give them the runaround.
Just as in humans,
pet obesity can lead to a
host of health woes. Wells
recommends walking dogs
a minimum of half an hour,
twice daily. And buy some
inexpensive toys and play
with kitty an hour daily.
EXPERT TIP
“Taurine, an amino acid, is an essential daily requirement for cats.
It occurs naturally in foods like meat and seafood. Pet owners who
prefer homemade diets must include it in other ways, such as taurine
powder.”—William Draper, DVM
W ebMD.COM JAN/FEB 2013
THREE TO BE
Veterinarian and author
Je� Wells, DVM, o� ers
tips to help you avoid
pet problems.
1. Think before you
adopt. Yes, that
adorable ball of flu� in
the window is tempting,
but it’s never a good
idea to adopt on a
whim. Before you add
another pet to your
brood, research di� erent
animals and breeds to
make sure you end up
with one that meshes
with your family.
2. Plan ahead for
veterinary costs. Start
a vet savings account
to cover unexpected
expenses. If your pet
needs treatment, let
your vet know how much
you can spend. She can
tell you about options at
di� erent price points.
3. Help your pet age
gracefully. Many dogs
are considered geriatric
at 7 years, and cats
at 9. Older animals
require extra tests at
their vet checkups to
rule out age-related
complications like
thyroid disease and
arthritis. You may also
need to switch to a food
formulated for senior
dogs or cats, keep your
pet indoors during hot
and cold weather, and
get him checked at the
vet more often.
Reviewed by William Draper, DVM
WebMD Pet Health Expert
RON SCHMIDT