Even the most well-meaning dog or cat owner is probably going to make a mistake every now and then.

Maybe you chose the wrong brand of kibble in the beginning, or let your pup off his or her lead when they weren’t ready.

We’ve all been there.

The mistakes that you really need to look out for are the ones that you don’t realise you’re making.

Healthy Pets asked “what common mistakes are we making with our pets?”, and received more than 9 000 answers from vets and pet health experts.

Using that data, they put together some of the most common mistakes that pet parents make with their fur children.

Letting Your Pet Get Overweight

Many pet owners are oblivious to the fact that their cat or dog is overweight. What you might see as a little bit of chubbiness on your pet could be an early indicator that they’re putting on too much weight. This can lead to respiratory disorders, orthopaedic disease, chronic inflammation, cancer, and metabolic conditions.

If you struggle to manage portions consider investing in a PETKIT food bowl, which is anti-bacterial and has a built-in digital scale.

Using the PETKIT app, you can calculate exactly how much food you should be giving your pet based on their age, weight, and breed.

It even takes the brand of food that you’re using into account.

I get it – when they give you that face, you can’t help tossing a treat their way – but while it might cause temporary happiness and much tail-wagging, the long-term effects can be devastating.

Not Taking Care Of Teeth And Nails

I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but you have to brush your dog’s teeth.

Most pets have signs of periodontal disease by the age of 3,3 which increases their risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes, not to mention leads to bad breath and pain for your pet.

While animals fed a species-appropriate, fresh food diet tend to have lower rates of dental disease, even this isn’t a guarantee that your pet’s teeth will remain perfect without any intervention.

Regular brushing is an extremely important part of keeping your pet’s teeth clean and minimising dental issues, which can lead to health problems later on.

Blaming Your Dog For Bad Behaviour When They’re Bored

Most bad behaviour can be solved with exercise. Under-exercised dogs often develop behavioural problems because they’re bored and restless. Many dogs are lacking the heart-pumping, not to mention mentally stimulating, exercise they need.

Make sure that you walk your dog regularly (on a leash!) and that they have plenty of toys.

If your pup chews through toys faster than his or her dog biscuits, consider a Natural Rubber Chewing Bone. It’s durable and it will last.

Not Socialising Your Puppy

Puppies who aren’t properly socialised in the first three months have a higher risk of developing behavioural problems.

Dogs with problems stemming from lack of early socialization fill animal shelters and rescue facilities, through no fault of their own.

The fact is, your puppy goes through several important development stages in her first weeks and months of life, and it’s up to you to be sure she has a variety of positive exposures and interactions during this time.

Introduce your puppy to as many healthy and safe people, puppies and places, situations, sights and sounds.

Look for pet-friendly restaurants and bars near you, where you’ll find likeminded people and well-behaved pets for your pup to interact with.

Not Changing Your Pet’s Water Often Enough

Without sufficient water, your pet will get dehydrated which can lead to urinary and kidney problems. Many pet parents will only change their dog or cat’s water when it’s running low, when in reality it should be changed every day.

One of the ways to ensure that they’re getting the best is to swap out their regular water bowl for a PETKIT Eversweet Smart Pet Drinking Fountain, which is available at Pet Culture.

Here’s an adorable cat to show you how it works:

We could all use a few more cat videos in our lives.

If you’re out and about with your pupper, also make sure that you have a Pet Travel Bottle so that your pooch stays hydrated and happy.

Just a few simple lifestyle changes, and a little extra knowledge, and your pet will be in fighting form.

You can get everything you need to make that happen, online, at Pet Culture.

From water bottles to doggy car seats, they’ve got you covered.

Be the best pet parent you can be.

[source:healthypets]