• Allow your pet outside only under your
    control or supervision.
    1. This means your dog is in either a fenced yard or on a leash, and your cat is on a leash or in an enclosure he can't get out of, and other animals can't get into.

      There's a lot to be said for allowing animals to roam free so they can express their innate drive to explore, run, climb, hunt prey, and be their natural selves. But on the flip side, we should remember our pets' wild counterparts spend the majority of their lives seeking what house pet Fluffy or Fido already enjoys — a secure, warm home with safe food to eat and clean water to drink.

      Allowing a pet dog or cat to roam free in a city or suburban neighborhood, while it might seem healthy in theory, is actually inviting trouble. That trouble can come in the form of predators, traffic, temperature extremes, rotten food in outdoor garbage cans, poison bait, toxic chemicals, polluted water sources, all kinds of diseases that pass easily and quickly from one animal to another — the list is endless.
  • Feed your dog or cat a balanced,
    species-appropriate diet.
    1. When it comes to helping your pet live as nature intended, one area where you can exercise enormous control is with the food you feed your companion.

      There are dozens of videos and articles here on the site that provide detailed information and tips on how to feed your dog or cat balanced, species-appropriate nutrition.

      If you're just beginning to explore the topic of pet nutrition and don't know the quality of food you're feeding your pet, take a look at 13 Pet Foods -- Ranked from Great to Disastrous to see where your pet's diet falls on my scale of best-to-worst.
  • Don't allow your pet to become overweight.
    1. Pet obesity is such a widespread problem many pet owners don't even realize their dog is grossly overweight, or their 'cute' chunky kitty is at risk for a long list of obesity-related diseases.

      Feeding too much food and the wrong kind (biologically inappropriate) is how the problem starts. Dogs and cats are carnivores. The foundation of their diet should be animal muscle meats, organs and bones. Unfortunately, the foundation of most popular, affordable commercial pet diets is grains, carbs and fillers — the exact types of food dogs and cats can't even process well. This isn't species-appropriate nutrition and can contribute not only to obesity, but also to a long list of illnesses and diseases.

      Lack of adequate exercise is also a big risk factor in creating a too-heavy cat or dog. Every animal is designed to be physically active for optimal health. Not only does lack of exercise help to pack on the pounds, it can also cause extreme boredom and lack of mental stimulation, which in a dog in particular, can result in a whole host of behavior-related issues.
  • Refuse unnecessary vaccinations.
    1. By unnecessary we mean yearly re-vaccinations of the core vaccines or any non-core vaccines your pet doesn't absolutely need.

      Over-vaccinating can create serious short and long-term health problems. Yes, many pets have enjoyed long lives despite yearly re-vaccinations, but many others have developed vaccine-associated sarcomas, autoimmune disorders, and other life-threatening diseases. In fact, we may never know how many conditions seen in today's pets were caused by too many vaccines.

      Vaccine-related illness is almost entirely avoidable, because as more and more pet owners and vets are coming to understand, there's simply no need to re-vaccinate for the same diseases year-in and year-out.
  • Perform at-home exams and schedule
    regular wellness visits with your vet.
    1. Dogs, and especially cats, are stoic when they don't feel well. And of course your pet can't talk to you and tell you she hurts or feels sick. That's why it's so important for pet parents to do routine at-home wellness exams on their companion animals.

      Often pets aren't seen by a vet until an illness is in an advanced stage. This usually means the animal has been suffering for some time, and sadly, it often means there's no way to stop or reverse the progress of the disease. Not every condition can be detected by a physical exam, of course, but you'd be surprised how many potential health crises have been averted by an alert pet owner who detects a problem and makes an appointment with the veterinarian.

      Our recommendation for veterinary wellness exams is twice yearly in a healthy pet. Pets with chronic conditions may need to be seen more often. If two visits a year isn't feasible for you, I strongly urge at least an annual wellness visit to your vet. This is especially important as your pet ages.

      A holistic vet, an animal chiropractor, a veterinary acupuncturist, an expert in physical rehabilitation for pets -- these practitioners can offer a wealth of healing therapies to relieve the suffering of sick animals and keep healthy pets well.