• Make one small improvement in your
    pet's diet.
    1. The most important thing most pet owners can do for their pets' health in the new year is improve the quality and species-appropriateness of the food they eat.

      First, find out where your pet's current diet ranks on my list of 13 Pet Foods - Ranked from Great to Disastrous. If you learn that your pet's food is on the lower end of the ranking, set a goal for 2013 to start working your way up the list.
  • Exercise your pet for one extra hour a week.
    1. Regular exercise is incredibly important to the physical and mental health of dogs and cats, and many pets today get very little physical activity.

      One extra hour a week is 60 minutes over seven days, or less than 10 extra minutes a day. If you and your pet take weekends off, you need to add just 12 extra minutes of exercise to your regular routine Monday through Friday.

      Another option is to take your dog for an extra half-hour walk on Saturdays and Sundays. If your pet is a cat, you could add 15 extra minutes of active play four times a week.
  • Schedule at least one wellness exam with
    your veterinarian.
    1. Your visit to the vet shouldn't be for unnecessary re-vaccinations. A wellness appointment should involve a hands-on, nose-to-tail examination of your cat or dog, along with appropriate blood tests to check organ function.

      These visits (I recommend two a year for most pets) are invaluable, proactive tools to stay on top of your pet's health and catch problems as early as possible.
  • Take one step to enrich your pet's
    environment.
    1. Extra time spent with your dog is the very best way to enrich her environment. If you spend that time getting involved in an obedience or nose work class or one of dozens of other dog-centric activities, even better.

      Spending an extra few minutes each day with your cat can also enrich his environment, especially if you use the time to increase his fitness through interactive play. Other ways to enrich a kitty's environment can be found in my article titled Your Cat's Life in Captivity - How to Simulate Conditions in the Wild.
  • Add one thing to your daily or weekly
    pet care routine.
    1. Suggestions:

      • Brush your pet's teeth every day, or at least several times a week.
      • Talk to your holistic vet about adding an appropriate nutritional supplement to your pet's diet.
      • Massage or stretch your dog once a week.
      • Clip a few nails. Clipping a few nails at a time can be less stressful than doing all of them at once.
      • Take your cat for a walk outdoors or a few minutes of fresh air and sunshine once or twice a week.