Despite the best of intentions, 43% of people give up their New Year’s resolutions after only one month.
But before you throw in the towel, keep in mind that the key to sticking to your goals is finding a way to be accountable! A great way to do this is to ask a friend (or friends) to join you. This will add accountability while also creating a little friendly competition to keep you motivated. And for those who are more tech oriented, there are lots of great apps available that you can tailor to your specific goals to help you stay on track.
But if you’re a pet parent, there’s an even BETTER way to stick to your plan and accomplish your New Year’s goals, and that’s to make resolutions that include your fur babies!
While friends and apps help, nothing has the ability to motivate us, or hold us more accountable than our pets.
8 Practical and Fun New Year’s Resolutions to Share with Your Pets!
1. Be More Active
Make a plan to be more active this year!
Whether it’s to lose some weight, or just feel better overall, walking is an easy and surprisingly effective way to do both.
Dogs LOVE walks for physical exercise, mental stimulation, and because they genuinely enjoy hanging with their pack, aka, YOU!
While cats may not come to mind when you think of walking a pet, if you have a cat that is interested in being outside, you can try walking them on a leash. Keep in mind that for some cats, it may take a little time for them to acclimate to a leash.
And if your cat is not the outdoorsy type but more of a homebody, that’s fine too. There are plenty of indoor activities you can engage in to encourage both physical exercise and mental stimulation.
Looking for ways to help your cat to lose weight? Check out our related blog: How to Get Your Cat to Lose Weight
2. Improve Daily Diet
We can all benefit from healthy eating, and our pets are no exception. But if you’ve taken the time to read the ingredients that go into many commercial pet foods, you know they contain some pretty scary stuff, with a long list of words you probably can’t pronounce.
If you want to feed your pets high-quality food, take the time to do some research by talking to your vet, asking friends, and using online resources.
Feeding high-quality kibble that is free of fillers and by-products means your dog will not need as much food to feel full, while still receiving all the calories and nutrients required for optimum health.
If your dog could benefit from a daily food that also provides digestive support, try a kibble that is made with lean proteins, healthy grains, and coated with probiotics and bone broth.
3. Add Wellness Supplements
Just like people, cats and dogs benefit from wellness products that enhance their overall health.
Supplements, as the name implies, have been developed to “supplement” a regular diet with a nutrient boost. This may include additional vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids and more.
UTW has a full line of Vet-formulated supplements for cats and dogs that are available in chews, gels and powders.
4. Visit Your Vet
If you have not been to the vet in a year, congrats, and consider yourself lucky! But if you want to keep your good luck streak going, then it’s time for a yearly check-up!
Sometimes we forget that cats and dogs live much shorter lives than us. And as they don’t have the ability to tell us if they’re not feeling well, being proactive and scheduling an annual exam is important. Health issues, when caught early enough can extend their lives, an amazing gift for us both!
5. Practice at Home Health Basics
Basic health maintenance is an essential part of your pet’s overall health and hygiene. Maintaining basic grooming needs includes brushing, bathing, nail trimming, and don’t forget brushing their teeth to promote oral health.
Adding reminders to your calendar is a great way to remember to keep up with these basic health needs.
6. Be Prepared and Plan Ahead
Our lives are busy, and let’s face it, planning ahead often gets, well, left behind!
But as we all know, when our pet has a sudden health issue and we are not prepared, it just makes everything more stressful for us, and especially for them.
One of the most common issues dogs experience is digestive upset, and one of the easiest ways to be prepared is to have some Bland Diets in your pantry. Under the Weather Bland Diets are freeze dried and re-hydrate in minutes, just add boiling water!
One of the best resolutions you can make is to be proactive when it comes to being prepared! Move into the New Year with peace of mind knowing, that if unforeseen health issues arise, you have the necessary items on hand to address them!
Related Product: Be Ready Bundle!
7. Review Safety
Just as the “changing of the clocks” is the time to check our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, why not start a new tradition by making New Years the time to do a safety check for our pets?
-Make sure your pet’s ID tag is easily read.
-If your pet is micro-chipped, log into your account and check that your info is all up to date.
-Review your vet contact info, and if you have not already done so, add the phone # to your contacts, as well as any ER vets that may be in your area.
-Make sure your pet’s vax and medical records file is up to date and easily accessible.
-Have a current photo of your pet in an online file you can access quickly in the event they go missing.
8. More Bonding Time
And finally, make a New Year’s resolution to spend more time together.
Whether it’s physical outdoor activities, playing indoor games, or snuggling on the couch, remember there is nothing more important to your pet than just spending time with you.
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If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet.
