A Pet Owner's Guide to a Happy and Healthy Companion

A Pet Owner’s Guide to

a Happy and Healthy

Companion

By Kimberly Sarmiento

A Pet Owner’s Guide to a Happy and Healthy Companion

Copyright © 2016 Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Sarmiento, Kimberly, 1975- , author.

Title: A pet owner’s 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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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 child’s first love.

Table of Contents

PART ONE:

RAISING A

HEALTHY DOG

Chapter One:

Dog Personalities

and Why They Matter

Personalities Defined

Dog Breed Characteristics

Dog Traits that Impact Activity and Play

Your Dog, the Individual

Chapter Two:

Keeping Your Dog Active

How Dog Lives Have Changed:

From Domestication to Work Dog

to House Pet

Walking Your Dog

Dog Parks: Doggy Heaven or Hell?

Doggy Interaction & Socialization

Playing With Your Dog

Interacting With Your Dog Inside

Keeping Your Dog Active

While You Work or Travel

Bottom Line — Make Sure Your Dog Moves

Chapter Three:

Activities to Engage Your

Dog’s Mind and Body

Volunteer With Your Dog

Putting Your Dog to Work

Doggy Mental Fitness

Chapter Four:

Canine Dietary Needs

Dog’s Nutritional Needs

The Dog Food Industry

Feeding Your Puppy

Feeding Your Adult Dog

Feeding a Geriatric Dog

Organic Dog Food

Recipes for Homemade Dog Food

Choosing the Food Option that is Best

for You and Your Dog

Chapter Five:

Feeding Schedules

and Strategies

Feeding Strategies

Feeding Mistakes to Avoid

Feeding in a Multi-Dog or Blended House

Feeding a Dog with Special Needs

Snacks With Benefits

Finding the Right Feeding Balance

Chapter Six:

Recognizing Obesity and

Avoiding an Overweight Dog

Contributing Factors to Obesity in Dogs

Recognizing if Your Dog is Overweight

Addressing Weight Loss for Your Dog

Why Weight Matters

PART TWO:

RAISING A

HEALTHY CAT

Chapter Seven:

Understanding Your Cat

Cat Personality

Why Personality Matters

Chapter Eight:

Keeping Your Cat Active

with Personal Interaction

Playing With Your Cat

Cat Training

Taking Cats Outside

Interactive Cat Toys

Volunteer With Your Cat

The Importance of

Personally Interacting with Your Cat

Chapter Nine:

Helping Your Cat

Be Active on Her Own

Creating an Indoor Place for Play

Encourage Cat Exploration

Chapter Ten:

Your Cat’s Dietary Needs,

from Birth to Old Age

Feeding a Kitten

Feeding an Adult Cat

Feeding an Older Cat

or a Cat With Health Concerns

Avoiding an Overweight Cat

Chapter Eleven:

What to Feed Your Cat

Prepared Cat Foods

Natural or Organic Cat Food

The Raw Food Diet

Grain-Free Cat Food

Homemade Cat Food

Choosing the Food Option

That is Best for You and Your Cat

Chapter Twelve:

Feline Feeding Strategies

Feeding Strategies

Feeding Success at Any Age

Feeding Summary

PART THREE:

THE EXPERTS

Chapter Thirteen:

Choosing Your Pet Trainer

Evaluating Trainer Credentials

Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Trainer

Training Methodologies

Trainer Requirements for Pets and Owners

Final Thoughts on Choosing a Trainer

Chapter Fourteen:

Choosing Pet Care Providers

Questions to Ask About

a Veterinary Practice

Choosing a Pet Service

Final Thoughts on Choosing

a Care Provider

Conclusion

Glossary

Bibliography

About the Author

Introduction

This 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 pet’s 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 pet’s 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.

Optimizing your pet’s health is also about choosing the right food and keeping their mind and body well engaged so they do not get bored or lazy. The challenge lies in figuring out how to do that! All you have to do is walk down the pet aisle at your local supermarket to realize how many choices you have in the food department. Heck, there are entire stores dedicated to providing food and toy options for your dog or cat. How do you know what the right food or exercise plan is for your pet?

Rather than having you wade through hours of information online or in your library, I have researched and compiled this book as a source to inspire you and to help you formulate a plan to keep your pets healthy and active. That is why this book examines the various food choices you have as well as activities and toys for both dogs and cats. Furthermore, this book seeks not just to tell you about all your options, but to explain what expert veterinarians and pet organizations say about their benefits.

Part One:

Raising a

Healthy Dog

Tn the first part of this book, I focus on man’s best friend and what it takes to raise a healthy dog. While all dog owners are not created equal, I believe that anyone reading this book truly wants to maximize their canine’s quantity and quality of life. Our pets are not that different than we are in terms of maintaining a healthy life; in fact, our needs are very similar. We both need physical activity, a balanced, nutritional diet, and a strong sense of social interaction.

Within these covers, I provide an examination of a wide-range of strategies and recommendations to enhance your dog’s health, from ways to help your dog exercise to what to feed him from puppyhood to old age. When deciding to become a dog parent, one of the most important things to consider is whether or not you have enough time to keep him active. Dogs need more activity than a quick walk a couple of times a day to allow them to go to the bathroom. Regardless of size, a dog that is penned up all day is not as likely to be as happy and well behaved as one who gets plenty of activity and attention.

If you are fully committed to keeping your pet active and engaged, then there are many activities and toys to choose from. In addition to all the benefits exercise provides for your dog, one of the best upsides of keeping your canine active is the bond that will develop between you and your doggy pal. The bond between dog and man has been millennia in the making, and naturally, the more you do together, the closer you will be. This is as beneficial for him as it is for you.

Of course, you will want to pay attention to what you feed your pet as well. Both exercise and healthy eating are essential for your dog’s health. The biggest advantage to keeping your dog active and providing him with a healthy diet is that it will help prevent obesity. Since the number one health problem seen by most veterinarians for dogs is obesity (Thornton 2005), helping your dog stay active and providing him with a good menu is vitally important to his overall well-being. Other benefits your dog will receive include muscle building, a healthy coat, and strong bones and joints.

This section begins with an analysis of dog personalities and how they can impact the activities you pursue with your dog. Next, I will proceed to detail ways to keep your dog active (some of which might help you stay fit as well), both in terms of play and potential work/volunteer opportunities. I have also presented the pros and cons of different canine diets, tips for healthy eating, and veterinarian recommendations for exercise, food, and toys. If your passion aligns more with the feline persuasion, fear not, just jump to part two!

Chapter One:

Dog Personalities

and Why They Matter

Animal behaviorists have assigned personality types to dogs, just like human psychologists have done with our species. There are many ways to categorize dogs into different personality categories. According to barkpost.com, there are even tests that analyze your personality based on your choice of dog breed. For example:

Love a Dachshund? Your favorite memories are centered on food.

Is your favorite canine a Labrador Retriever? You know what you like and you are cool with not having to test boundaries.

Fancy a German Shepherd? You appreciate knowing what people expect of you and you have no problem with authority, but you are not a push over.

Does the tiny little Chihuahua hold a special place in your heart? You love being the center of attention when you walk in the room. You are resilient and you know how to throw a mean side-eye if you feel like someone deserves it.

Trying to understand your personality based on your choice of dog breed is fun, but not very scientific. However, the effort animal behaviorists have put into understanding dog personalities is based on years of scientific research and analysis. What they have found may surprise you. Despite common stereotypes that are applied to certain breeds, your dog’s personality cannot be completely determined that way; there are several other factors that should be considered.

If you wonder why it is important to break down dog personalities or try to understand them, this chapter is dedicated to explaining how your dog’s natural tendencies might make them a better match for certain activities. If you are considering dog ownership or adding another dog to your family, understanding dog personalities can help you determine the canine that is best for you.

First, it would be beneficial to examine how animal behaviorists evaluate dog personalities. Once we understand how they are categorizing dogs, we can decide how best to apply that knowledge. Both dog trainers and behaviorists use dog personality to help explain how natural-born tendencies in a dog might be used to train the dog and make them an ideal fit for their home. Applying the insights you gain into your dog’s personality can help you determine the best way socialize your dog, how to get him the right levels of activity, and even how to set up a feeding schedule that will not lead to obesity.

Figuring out a dog’s personality before you bring him into your home can be challenging, particularly if you are purchasing a pure breed puppy. While some personality traits tend to show up more in certain breeds than others, dogs are still individuals and their breeds cannot tell you all you need to know about them. On the other hand, you might be able to learn quite a bit about a shelter dog before you adopt her. That is because many facilities foster their dogs or put them in situations where they can observe if the dog reacts well to other dogs, to cats, or to children. You can often find this information on the dog’s adoption card along with their age and name. While some people are hesitant to