RESOLUTIONS? completing a workout can
makes a huge diff erence in
both your days. Even on those
lazy weekends that you don’t
feel like gett ing off the couch,
trust me, your pet will! Also,
we should remember that our
pet’s health is a family aff air.

Everyone who cares for our
pet during the day has a role
to play — whether it’s the dog
walker, the nanny, friends or
relatives. We all need to take
our pets health seriously and
communicate to each other
what we are feeding them.

ANY FINAL TIPS?
your pet a huge disservice. If
you consistently round out the
food, that’s roughly 25 percent
more food per day than they
need. The extra calories will
soon add up, just like how
those extra cookies do for us.

Additionally, table scraps,
extra treats and unintentional
snacks can be horrible diet
choices for your pet, not to
mention toxic. If you want to
give an occasional treat,
make sure it’s healthy and
that it factors into their daily
caloric intake. If possible,
homemade treats are best —
try some boiled chicken, fresh
sardines or even a spoonful of
peanut butt er.

HOW CAN PET OWNERS
GO ON A JOURNEY OF
WELLNESS WITH
THEIR PETS?
There is no bett er exercise
buddy than your dog! A
tired dog is a happy dog, and
appointment with your
veterinarian to check their
weight and determine their
body condition score. Be
sure to also bring your pet
food label so your vet can
see exactly what they’re
eating. They will be your
best defense at getting
“Fido” back into fighting
shape. It’s never too late to
start on a journey of health
and wellness, even for our
four-legged friends!
Melanie Switz er Reilly is
a Northern VA-based mom,
television producer and
print journalist.

I’d love to see pet owners
work closely
with their
veterinarian to determine
their pet needs,
while also
rethinking the
idea of treating.

A treat could be
a walk outside,
a run to the post
offi ce, window-
shopping or
whatever gets
both of you up
and moving.

When our pets
are long gone,
what we’ll
regret is not
having spent
more time with
them, not the
extra biscuits
we held back!
If you think
your pet might
be overweight,
“We should remember that our pet’s
make an
health is a family affair.”
washingtonFAMILY.com January 2019
27