PETE WEDDERBURN Animal Doctor

2. Give us good food, but don’t give us too much.

Pet health is not rocket science: it’s veterinary science. Joking aside, the science is important. These days, especially with the internet and social media, it’s easy for people to believe half-truths and downright lies that are peddled as “the real truth”. There are crazy conspiracy theories about harm caused by modern medicines and pet foods, but they are never based on science. Some people like the idea of “pure” and “natural”, and that’s understandable. But there’s no reason why pure and natural should not be allied with good science at the same time. Science is based on the principle of cause and effect, observed and proven by repeated experience. It is difficult for pet

4. Include us in your financial planning

There’s no public health service or medical card system for pets: if they have accidents or fall ill, you need to pay the costs of getting them treated yourself. It’s predictable that most pets will need veterinary help at some stage in their lives, and if you don’t plan for this, your pets will suffer. The most effective way to prepare is to take out pet insurance: you pay a small monthly sum and the pet insurance company promises that it will cover the costs if your pet needs the vet. If you won’t take out pet insurance, you should put a monthly sum aside in a special “pet fund” in anticipation. The aim is to avoid a situation where a vet is saying: we can help you, but it will cost €2000 (or whatever), and your response is “I can’t afford that, so I can’t give my pet the help they need”.

5. Love us as the animals we are

To give pets the best lives, we need to treat them as dogs, cats or whatever they are: find out what the real needs of their species are, and make sure that you supply those. They are not little humans and we should not treat them like “fur babies”, pretending that they are little people.

Resolve to be your “best self ” for your pets this year.