October is National Pet Wellness Month. It’s the perfect time to make sure you’re giving your pet the preventative care they need. This is the easiest way to help your pet live a longer and healthier life! National Pet Wellness Month is a national campaign sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and something we are happy to promote!

We put together a list of tips to help you prioritize your pet’s wellness:

Annual exams

Pets should visit the veterinarian at least once a year. Annual exams are a great opportunity to check on the overall health, and check on vaccination status.

Spay/neuter

Not only do the procedures prevent individual medical problems such as mammary and testicular tumors and uterine infections, spaying or neutering also helps curb pet overpopulation. Spay and neuter surgeries can be safely performed as early as 8-12 weeks of age.

Weight management

Veterinarians classified 53 percent of adult dogs and 55 percent of cats were classified as overweight or obese. Prevention is much easier to accomplish than treatment. Make sure your pet is eating the right food and getting enough exercise.

Balanced diet

Commercial pet food makes it easy to provide a nutritionally balanced and complete diet. Pet foods contain all of the nutrients pets need in the appropriate quantities. If you’re feeding your pet homemade food, ask your veterinarian for a supplement recommendation.

Dental care

Have your pet’s teeth and oral health checked annually. If left unchecked, dental disease can lead to kidney problems or nutritional issues if the pet cannot adequately chew and digest food. Brushing your dog’s teeth at home is a great way to keep this in check.

Senior pets

As animals age, their dietary requirements and their ability to digest certain foods changes. As pets age, they lose some ability to concentrate urine, so they need to produce more, and need more water intake. Talk to your veterinarian about feeding your pet better quality proteins and avoiding red meats like beef and beef by-products. Doing this will decrease the workload on the kidneys and help prevent diseases and health issues from developing.

Pet comfort

To make senior pets more comfortable, consider purchasing our pet hemp products. CannaCrush and CannaCrush Immune Supporter are excellent for aging pets who need a little extra pep in their step. For younger pets who need help with situational anxiety, pain or other elements we have a range of hemp products to choose from. If you need help choosing the right hemp product for your pet, we are here to help! Just ask.

September is Happy Cat Month!

Created to spread the word about the health, happiness, welfare and value of companion cats. Cats are often viewed as self-reliant and less in need of medical care than other pets. This is simply not true! Cats deserve proper care, good nutrition, routine veterinary care and the ability to live a happy and enriched life.

Here are five ways you can improve your cat’s happiness:

Cat Health

Find out how frequently your vet clinic recommends coming in for wellness visits. This will depend on the age and condition of your feline friend, so be sure to ask. Make sure your feline is being seen regularly by your veterinarian. If your cat is taking medication(s), make sure they haven’t expired and aren’t missing doses. If you’re looking for holistic ways to treat your cat for a variety of conditions, check out our ground option for pets: CannaCrush. We also have Salmon CannaDrops and Salmon CannaSpray, both applications are great for felines!

Cat Identification

Verify that you have a correct address and phone number on your cat’s collar and tag. Consider Microchipping your cat as well. If your feline friend escapes or gets lost, having this type of permanent ID will make a reunion between you and your pet much more likely.

Cat Nutrition

Are you buying high quality cat food? Cats are carnivores and don’t always thrive on a grain only diet. Cats are the healthiest and happiest when they get protein-rich food. If your cat normally eats dry food, add some canned food as an extra treat! The canned cat food is higher in protein and comes with the benefit of extra hydration that cats need.

Cat Entertainment

Make sure your cat has spaces to explore, climb, and hide. You can even entertain your cat with television! Cats can also be walked on a leash with a harness. This helps so they can periodically and safely experience the world outside their window. If unable to walk your cat outdoors, consider setting up a perch near a window so they can see outside.

Cat Hunting

Yes, you read that correctly. It’s likely your pet eats out of a dish or bowel, which doesn’t encourage a cat’s natural hunting instinct. Consider finding a food toy that lets you hide dry cat food inside, so they can hunt for food.