{"id":67897,"date":"2018-01-03T13:53:04","date_gmt":"2018-01-03T21:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bendpetexpress.com\/?p=67897"},"modified":"2018-01-03T13:54:49","modified_gmt":"2018-01-03T21:54:49","slug":"new-years-resolutions-pet-owners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bendpetexpress.com\/2018\/01\/new-years-resolutions-pet-owners\/","title":{"rendered":"New Year&#8217;s Resolutions for Pet Owners"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s that time of year again when we take a look at where we\u2019d like to improve in the new year. And although it can be tough to create new habits it\u2019s true that you can teach an old dog new tricks. \u00a0So how will you try to be a better pet owner in 2018? \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Feed your pet the correct food.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is your pet eating the right food for his age, weight, and health? Pet\u2019s dietary needs will change over the course of their lifetime, so we have to stay on top of it. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Feed your pet the proper amount of food.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why is it important not to feed your pet too much?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the short term, their bodies can\u2019t process too much food which results in an upset stomach and soft stool. In the long run, they will gain weight which causes a whole host of health problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We often feed our pets too much because they always want to eat! \u00a0Don\u2019t worry, most pets have the drive to eat more. It\u2019s our responsibility to regulate them by following proper feeding guidelines (which is on your pet food packaging). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An easy way to make sure your pet isn\u2019t eating too much is to use a pet measuring cup. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ll even give you one for free.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Order home or office delivery in the new year and you\u2019ll get a free measuring cup on your first food order. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Exercise your pet mentally and physically.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dogs and cats need mental and physical stimulation<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few of our favorite ways to exercise dogs and cats:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Walk your dog while doing good for charity by using the resqwalk app. <a href=\"http:\/\/resqwalk.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/resqwalk.com\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hide treats and kibble for them to find. Put a treat on top of the cat tree or hide kibble in a corner, which forces them to find the food and run to get it. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ditch the bowl. If you feed your dogs and cats kibble, it\u2019s time to get rid of a bowl and get creative. Use a puzzle feeder, interactive game or play \u201chide n seek\u201d with their food. This allows them to use up more energy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teach an old dog a new trick. As a bonus, training is a bonding experience for you both. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Brush their teeth and coats.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need to brush your teeth and hair every day, so do they. Poor dental health can turn dangerous and not brushing could lead to painful dreadlocks. Brush their teeth, give them a kelp supplement and chew toys.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Schedule a checkup.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As humans, we visit the doctor regularly and so should our pets. Dogs and cats can\u2019t tell us when they aren\u2019t feeling well. Sure, there are signs to look for but they often come once a problem is more severe. Regular checkups let your vet know a baseline for your pet and allows them to check for common problems before they get out of hand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Update tags and emergency contacts.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you moved or changed emergency contacts? Make sure all your info is up to date in the new year. A few minutes can mean a big difference in an emergency.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Commit to cleaning bowls, toys, and bedding.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cleaning pet toys isn\u2019t something we normally think about, but they host a ton of bacteria that can make pets and humans sick. Here are simple guidelines as to how often to clean.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily: bowls and dishes<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weekly: beds, blankets, crates and water fountains<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monthly: toys. The new year is also a good time to look at replacing old toys. Old toys can harbor germs and toys that are falling apart can be a choking hazard. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which resolutions will you add to your list?<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s that time of year again when we take a look at where we\u2019d like to improve in the new year. And although it can be tough to create new habits it\u2019s true that you can teach an old dog new tricks. \u00a0So how will you try to be a better pet owner in 2018? 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