October is National Pet Wellness Month. From preventive care and dental hygiene to weight management and geriatric support, pet owners regularly look for the best care to extend their animal friends’ lives
A writer for Rowan Today sat down with two Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine faculty members— Kaitlyn Krebs , DVM, associate clinical professor of primary care and Peter DiGeronimo , VMD, service chief and clinical associate professor of zoo and exotics—to discuss what people can do to keep their pets healthy
Krebs: Brushing your pet’s teeth is one of the most important things you can do for their oral health. Just like humans, pets can have tartar buildup on their teeth, gum disease and infections in their mouths. Dental disease is very common in both dogs and cats, and regularly brushing their teeth can help slow the buildup of tartar. Ideally, you should brush your dog or cat’s teeth daily using a pet safe toothpaste (human toothpaste is toxic for pets!). Even brushing a few times a week can be helpful
Krebs: There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to exercise for pets. The best exercise is whatever type your pet enjoys that is appropriate for their life stage and health. For dogs, daily walks are the most common exercise activity, but other activities like fetch and swimming can also provide excellent exercise. For cats, interactive toys, climbing structure