Anyone who was a pet knows how special they are to us. As a member of our family, we want of course want to keep them safe and healthy. This is particularly important as our furry friends cannot tell us if there is something wrong, so we want to be sure to keep them as healthy as we can.

Here are 7 tips every pet owner should know in order to keep their pet healthy.

1. Exercise Your Pet

Many pets, most notably dogs, require exercise in order to be healthy. It is important to give your pet adequate exercise. If you have a dog, make sure that you take them for a walk at least once a day.

It is also important to vary the exercise and make it as fun as possible. Play games with your dog, and the same approach can be beneficial to other animals like cats and rabbits. This kind of exercise is particular important if your pet is kept inside your house, or in their own small home.

2. Give Your Pet a Healthy Diet

Just like humans, a healthy, well-balanced diet is essential to your pet’s health. Eating well will make sure your pet gets all the nutrients they need. Additionally, it is important that they avoid eating too many treats, as this can make them overweight which is also bad for their health.

A healthy diet for pets should be high in proteins, good fats and vitamins and minerals. The exact diet will depend on your pet’s needs and any health conditions, so be sure to check with your vet regarding your pet’s own requirements. Ketogenic dog food can help to manage certain conditions, such as obesity and allergies.

3. Keep Your Pet Up-To-Date with Vaccinations

There are a number of diseases that can be very serious and even life-threatening for animals, whether, dogs, cats, rabbits or other pets. Luckily, these diseases can be prevented through vaccinations.

Make sure you visit your vet to give your pet all the required immunisations. This should start when your pet is a puppy or kitten, usually within the first few months. You will also need to go back at the recommended intervals for booster shots to ensure your pet continues to be covered.

4. Maintain Good Hygiene

Good hygiene is also very important for good pet health. Maintaining excellent hygiene for your pet means grooming them regularly and carrying out other hygiene tasks like brushing their teeth, trimming their nails and washing them, depending on the kind of pet you have.

5. Spay or Neuter Your Pet

Spaying and neutering your pets is not only an important part of being a responsible pet owner, it can also help to keep them healthy. This will stop your pet from becoming pregnant, or getting another animal pregnant, and resulting in unwanted animals. In female dogs, spaying prevents them for going into heat and therefore lowers the risk of breast cancer and other conditions. For male dogs, it lowers the risk of testicular cancer, prostate disease and hernias.

6. Have Regular Check Ups

Another part of making sure your pet stays in good health is regular vet visits. This means taking your furry friend to the vet not only when they are sick, but also for check-ups, usually every six to 12 months depending on the animal you have. It is vital that they are regularly checked for early detection of any problems, and you can discuss behavioural changes or any other concerns you may have with your vet. Similarly, if you notice any worrying signs or changes that may represent a health problem, it is important to visit your vet immediately.

7. Be Prepared for Your Pet

Another important aspect for keeping your pet healthy is making sure you adequately prepare for your pet, and make informed decisions before you even decide to get a pet in the first place. In order to be a responsible pet owner, you need to be sure that you can provide your pet with a healthy life, which requires careful thought a rigorous self-assessment.

Every own pet has their own specific needs, so be sure to research into this before you decide to get your pet to make sure you can accommodate their needs. For example, some breeds of dogs need a large amount of exercise in order to be healthy. If you are not going to be able to give them the exercise they need, you will not be able to keep your pet healthy, and so it would be better to choose a different pet.