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pets
3 cornerstones to a longer, healthier, happier life for your pet
Your pets are members of the family.
Th ey are the source of some of your best
memories, they are your travel companions,
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your confi dantes and your evening
snuggle partners. You love them and you
want them to live the longest, healthiest
and happiest life possible.
Like it is for you, achieving the healthiest,
happiest life for your pet is directly
tied to the cornerstones of preventive
care, nutrition and exercise. To provide
insight into how each of these can benefi
t your pet, Dr. Kurt Venator, chief veterinary
offi cer for Purina, off ers this advice:
Regular veterinary exams
Your veterinarian and his/her team are
the experts when it comes to the health and
well-being of your pet. Prevention is a key
component of regular vet visits; the earlier
a potential problem is identifi ed, the easier
it is to treat and the greater the chance
of success. Th e physical examination, routine
diagnostics, vaccinations, heartworm
prevention and parasite control will help
keep your pet in tip-top shape. You can
also work with your veterinarian to create
a tailored health plan for your pet that
takes into account their age, activity level
and any medical considerations.
Nutrition
In a recent Purina survey, three in fi ve
dog and cat owners (60 percent) would
consult their veterinarian for food safety
and quality advice, while just about
half refer to their pet food companies’
websites. Furthermore, when it comes
to nutrition, it is important to work with
your veterinarian to select the ideal diet
for your pet that is appropriate for their
life stage (i.e., puppy vs. adult) and lifestyle
(couch potato vs. sporting dog). It
is also important to look beyond just the
ingredient list and marketing claims on
the bag.
Th e nutrients inside should also meet
or exceed AAFCO, USDA and FDA standards.
Many pet owners are unaware of
the rigorous process that goes into ensuring
quality and safety in pet food, with
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three in fi ve pet owners admitting they
didn’t know about the process aft er learning
more about what goes into the pet
food quality-checking process. For pet
owners, it’s also important to take the
time to look at the company’s manufacturing
reputation, along with safety and
quality standards. Ask these key questions
when evaluating diff erent pet foods:
• Who formulates the food and what
are their credentials? Look for brands
with nutritionists and veterinarians on
staff to formulate the diets. Purina has
over 500 pet experts globally, including
nutritionists, veterinarians, behaviorists
and immunologists who use their
expertise to improve pet nutrition and
care.
• What are the company’s quality and
safety standards? Purina conducts more
than 30,000 quality checks involving
ingredients, packaging, receiving, processing
and packing in a typical 24-hour
production period.
• Where is the food produced? Does the
company own their manufacturing
facilities? At Purina, 99 percent of our
food sold in the U.S. is made in our own
facilities.
Exercise and enrichment
An appropriate amount of daily exercise
can help reduce the incidence of
common behavioral problems in pets.
Th is includes excessive barking, inappropriate
chewing and general hyperactivity.
In addition, exercise - combined
with appropriate diet quality and quantity
- can reduce the incidence of obesity
and associated health conditions, such as
osteoarthritis in dogs and diabetes in cats.
Physical exercise can take on a variety
of forms, from leash walks to ball fetch to
playtime at the local dog park. For those
dogs with a predilection for the water,
swimming can off er a fun and eff ective
alternative. And don’t forget that mental
exercise is just as important as physical
exercise. Obedience training, food
puzzle toys, chew toys and trick training
- such as roll over or paw - are all benefi -
cial for pets.
Before starting any exercise regimen
with your pet, be sure to consult with
your veterinarian to fi nd answers to your
questions and learn what activities would
best support your pet based on their
breed, age and needs.
Taking steps to improve
your pet’s health today
Your pet gives you so much and you
naturally want to return the favor. You
can do so by following the three simple
suggestions above. Do so and you
and your pet will be able to live a longer,
healthier, and happier life together.
Courtesy BPT