Animal experts share tips on keeping your pet healthy and happy

Rocky sprawled himself on the ground at the Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market one Saturday morning inviting anyone who walked by to bend over and give him a scratch.

Rocky, a terrier-chow mix, belongs to the Hernandez family. He was adopted from El Paso when he was a few weeks old but now the 7-year-old pooch calls Las Cruces home.

He gets some scratches and a few rubs — what his owner Edward Hernandez said is his favorite part of coming to the market.

“He loves to get scratched,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said he regularly brings Rocky to the farmers market and takes him on walks so he can socialize with other dogs and people, as well as get some exercise.

“We pay attention to him and socialized him early so he would get used to people,” Hernandez said. “I’ve never seen him angry.”

Taking your dog for frequent walks is one way to keep your dog healthy, according to local veterinarians, who said the biggest issue they see is obese dogs.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, an estimated 54 percent of dogs in the country are considered overweight or obese. That adds up to 50 million dogs in the US with an increased risk for health problems.

Dr. Lauren Short, a vet at the Schumacher Veterinary Clinic in Las Cruces, said just like humans, exercise is especially important for overweight dogs.

Similarly, an estimated 59 percent of cats are overweight or obese, according to the most recent data from the APOP.

“We see a lot of obese pets,” Short said. “Owners tend to give their pet scrap food, table food [the pet] shouldn’t be eating. Or, they are way overfeeding them.”

When it comes to pet food, quality is best, according to Short. A lot of science goes into the making of quality pet foods and will provide all the vitamins pets need, she said.

Socializing your pet

Beyond keeping them healthy, regular exercise also helps socialize pets.

Nora Insurriaga, of ACTion Programs for Animals, said one mistake people make when adopting a furry friend is expecting the animal to be “perfect” when they bring them home — such as already being house trained or knowing not to chew on things.

But that is not the case, even with older animals, she said.

“It takes time for a new dog or cat to get acclimated to a new home or environment,” Insurriaga said. “[The pet] has to learn the new schedule or rules.”

Insurriaga said having guests over and taking your pet around the neighborhood are a couple of ways to show them that people, especially kids, are not to be feared.

Yearly checkups

In addition to keeping an eye on your pet’s eating habits and making sure they stay active, yearly checkups are also important when it comes to your pet’s health. Trips to the vet are a good way to make sure your cat or dog is caught up on all their vaccinations and that they are free from any health concerns, such as kidney or liver disease.

Dr. Nancy Soules, a vet at Jornada Veterinary Clinic, said between the ages of six and eight weeks, a puppy needs a series of four booster shots for distemper and parvo virus every three weeks until they are over 16 weeks old. Kittens, similarly, should receive a series of three booster shots every three weeks starting at six weeks old.

“The reason for the series of booster shots is that [the pet] receives antibodies from their mother while nursing that may interfere with the vaccine, so we vaccinate until the antibodies won’t interfere with the vaccine, which could be between six and 16 weeks, but we don’t know when that is,” Soules said.

Both dogs and cats should also get a rabies shot within their first year and periodic boosters, Soules said.

For dogs, Soules said she often sees cases of parvo virus and kennel cough. She said catching these early are key as it can get very expensive to treat.

Soules said if a pet has trouble breathing, vomiting they can’t control, diarrhea or a large laceration, it’s recommend to see a vet as soon as possible.

“If it’s something you would go to the hospital for yourself, it’s the same with the pet,” Soules said.

Grooming for health

Taking your dog or cat to the groomers regularly is another way to ensure the longevity of your pet’s life, as often times groomers are the first to spot any issues with your pet, such as lumps or skin issues.

“Often times we see the pet more often than the vet, so we see bumps or issues like ear infections,” said Kat Lacy, owner of Better Life Natural Pet Foods.

In addition, Lacy said taking your pet to a groomer prevents malting or tangled fur. It also allows them to remove grass burrs or stickers that may have been embedded in their paws, which can cause infection or posture problems as the dog offsets their walk to avoid the pain.

Even short-haired dog or cats, who are thought of as self-cleaners, should be taken regularly, Lacy said.

“Pets need regular grooming, regular maintenance to keep them healthy,” Lacy said.