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As tempting as it is to feed your favorite old dog leftovers, you are really doing him a disservice. Veterinary medicine has advanced so much that even big dogs are living to be 12 to 15 years old. However, they will still suffer from the ailments of old age. You can ease their discomfort by keeping that old pet’s weight down.

Fat Pets are Like Fat People

If you think fat people have health problems, then why would you think a fat pet wouldn’t? If fat people have difficulty carrying their own body weight, then fat pets will, too. By keeping your dog’s weight normal into old age, its quality of life will be better. It will be able to take that daily walk with you for much longer. It will be able to get up and down stairs easier. If you see your pet struggling to move, do a reality check on its weight.

Pets can also have heart disease, cholesterol problems and cancer. Weight affects all of these. If you’re not sure how to control an older, slower pet’s weight, consult your vet.

Pet Food Is Better

Although you may think you’re cooking is healthy, pet food is better for pets. It is formulated to give the animal the proper vitamins, minerals and calories that it needs for optimum health. Unless the vet tells you to add certain people foods to your dog’s diet, always feed it dog food.

Avoid the occasional people food treat because you may not realize just how often you’re giving it. As a rule of thumb, no people food. Feed according to the instructions on the pet food container, and exercise you pet.

 

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If you think hiding the litter box will make things better for you and your cat, just ask a friend that comes to visit. They’ll tell you just how awful that smell really is. If you hide it because you don’t like to clean it often, then that’s a sign you need some remedial lessons in cat ownership.

Scoop Daily

Actually, scoop every time you see waste in the box. That’s why you don’t want to hide it. Just put it somewhere your guests don’t go. Put a small trashcan with a lid and lined with a plastic bag next to it. Every time you walk past the box and see something in there, scoop it out and put it on the trashcan.

If you insist on hiding the box, then you have to make it a daily chore to scoop it. The litter will last longer, your cat will be happier, and your house won’t stink.

Inexpensive Clumping Litter

If you’re scooping daily or more, you won’t need expensive litter. You can buy the inexpensive clumping kind and it will do just fine. No matter how much you pay for it, there is not a litter on the market that can handle a lazy cat owner.

To keep the box ultra clean, totally change litter every few months, and when you do it, bleach the box. It’s your cat’s bathroom, so just like you clean your bathroom, clean your cat’s. The cat will be happier, your guests will be happier, and you will be, too.

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