Q: I love my dog, Jack, and my cat, Annie. They are important members of my family, and I want to keep them with me as long as possible. What are the best ways to help them live long, healthy, happy lives?
A: This is the ideal time to make your New Year’s resolutions about pet care. Start by resolving to maintain your pets’ body weights within the normal range, which is the easiest and least expensive way to prolong their lives. Research shows that lean dogs live up to two years longer than those that are a bit overweight. To determine whether your pets are overweight, visit AAHA.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/weight-management/weightmgmt_bodyconditionscoring.pdf.
