We all love our furry companions, but for many owners it can be difficult to find the time to give their dogs the kind of attention and care they need to stay happy and healthy pets. The average lifespan of a dog varies from 8 to 16 years, depending on breed, size, genetics, and proper pet care. However, a pet that doesn’t get the right amount of exercise has the real threat of obesity, which can severely reduce a dog’s lifespan.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, dog obesity is one of the most common ailments; 35 million of the 77.5 million dogs in the U.S. are considered overweight. Of those that are overweight, 6.7 million are considered clinically obese. Obesity in a dog can lead to a variety of other issues, such as increased infections or other medical problems. If your dog is overweight, here’s what you can do to help them stay healthy.

Increase their Walks
The best way to get your dog to lose some of their excess weight is to slowly increase the intensity and length of daily walks. Typically, a casual daily walk isn’t enough to give a dog any aerobic activity. Owners with obese dogs should aim for 30 minute walks each day, with a brisk pace. Not only will this give your dog more exercise, but it can help you as well. A study of over 2,000 adults showed that dog owners who walk their dogs are much less likely to be obese than those owners who let someone else walk their dog.

Change their Diet
An overweight dog is more than likely eating the wrong kind of food. In order to give the proper overweight pet care, an owner must be willing to work with their dog to find the diet that is right for them. The greatest way to help your dog cut down on unnecessarily calories is to start measuring their food. The amount of food your dog should eat is determined by their weight, age, and nutritional value of their food. There are many dog food calculators that can help determine exactly how much food they’ll need.

Give them Supplements
Just as humans benefit from supplements, dogs can also take supplements to help them keep their health. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements and fish oils can help prevent certain diseases, and will help ease painful joints, which may make it difficult for your dog to participate in daily walks. If you are unsure about the kind of supplements your dog will benefit from, ask a veterinarian for suggestions for the best pet care supplements.

Despite many pet owners seeing their pets as family members, the number of veterinarian patient visits has been flat nationally for the past couple years. Prices for veterinary services have been growing significantly year over year leading to delays in pet owners seeking medical care for their pets. One study shows that the average time between veterinary visits for typical pet owners is about 17 months which is concerning. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that all dogs and cats get an annual check-up. Because dogs and cats age at a much faster rate than humans, waiting more than 1 year between visits can lead to the late diagnosis of serious medical conditions.

Over 400 pet parents across the nation were surveyed to seek insights on why people are delaying medical care for their pets. Seventy percent of pet owners have a delayed a visit to the veterinarian because of three key reasons: High cost, inconvenient hours of operation, and distance to veterinarian. Fifty-seven (57) percent delayed their visit because of the high expense as nearly 60% of examinations cost between $50 and $100 based on a national sample. $28B was spent on veterinary care in the US in 2013 and the average annual spend per client on dog wellness visits (non-surgical) was $227 according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Thirty (30) percent delayed a vet visit due to the inconvenient hours of operation as pet owners are often busy and prefer to see the veterinarian after work hours and on weekends. In addition, the majority of pet owners have to wait anywhere from 3 days to more than 4 weeks for a veterinarian appointment, not to mention the wait time in the waiting room. Lastly, 1 out of 3 pet owners travel 20 minutes or more to get to their veterinarian.

Based on all of these findings and real-life experience, it is obvious that there is a significant market need for making pet health care much more convenient, affordable and efficient.

Your life as a pet owner would be a lot easier (and infinitely more amazing) if your pet could talk, but unfortunately that is not the case. Sometimes you know something is wrong, but you just can’t fix it. You need a dependent veterinarian who will take a personal interest in your little friend and make sure they leave the vet in better shape than they came in.

Fortunately, there are affordable veterinary services that will get your pet back to being the healthy ball of joy that you know and love. Keeping tabs on your pet’s health is extremely important to prevent infections and other common ailments. Here are three reasons to make sure you remember to seek the right veterinary services for your pets:

Healthy pet, healthy human
There are tons of incredible statistics that show how important having a healthy pet can be to a family. A child’s risk of developing allergies can decrease by about 33% when there’s a pet in the home. Also, a study of 2,000 dog owners showed that those who walk their dog regularly are much less likely to be obese than those who pass the duties off onto someone else. You can’t walk a sick dog, and proper veterinary services are crucial in reaping these amazing benefits of pets. The healthier you keep them, the healthier your family will be.

Pets need to be checked on regularly
Veterinary care for your pet should start shortly after they are born, getting the proper tests and vaccinations to ward off any potential diseases. Puppies should be getting a “5-in-1” vaccination at two, three, and four months of age, and once annually after that. Vets can also identify things that aren’t apparent to the naked eye such as dental disease, which can develop in pets as young as two years old.

The benefits of spaying/neutering
If your cat or dog isn’t already spayed or neutered, then you need to consider visiting a vet as soon as possible to have the procedure done. Uterine infections and breast cancer are fatal in a shocking 90% of cats, and spaying can help prevent these diseases. Also, besides unwanted litters, neutering a dog or cat eliminates the risk of testicular cancer if done before six months of age.

These are just three of the endless reasons that you should be seeking the highest quality veterinary services possible for your pet. Make sure you find a vet that is affordable, convenient, and will love your little buddy just as much as you do.

We are a society that loves our pets. One survey found that 66% of people consider their pet their best friend. Whether it’s a dog or a cat, the companionship and responsibility you gain from owning a pet is really only surpassed by having a kid of your own. That’s a lot more work (and money), and requires you finding someone you’re comfortable with potentially spending the rest of your life with. So for those that aren’t quite ready for that, a pet is the next (some would argue the) best option. If you want to join the millions of other pet owners in this country, here are the three veterinary services you should immediately consider.

1.) Spay/Neuter: If Bob Barker left a legacy other than being the host of one of the most beloved game shows in existence, it was this. Don’t forget to spay and neuter your pets. Any veterinarian will agree it’s very true though. Not only are you helping to control unwanted births of baby pets with potentially no owner, you’re also helping to prevent some serious health risks. Spaying reduces the chance of uterine infection and breast cancer, which ends up being fatal in 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. If done before the age of six months, neutering can prevent testicular cancer.

2.) Shots: Pet vaccines are very important to help prevent the contraction and spread of a variety of diseases. Vaccination recommendations for baby pups is to receive what’s called a 5-in-1 shot, a combination of vaccines, at two, three, and four months and then once a year. Virtually all vet services can provide these.

3.) Dental: This one is a little less serious than the previous two, but can still be very beneficial to your pets well-being. Veterinary services can detect dental disease in pets as early as age 2-3. It’s not just dog breath you should be worried about in your pet’s mouth. They could have a serious issue that will be difficult to even know is there without the help of a professional.

No matter if it’s a dog or cat, if you choose pet ownership it’s crucial to take care of them properly. Find quality veterinary services near you and schedule an appointment as soon as you bring the new family member home.