New Year, New Pet: 4 Ways to Make Pet Wellness a Priority in the New Year

Admit it: You let some healthy habits slide during the pandemic—and your pet did, too. 

The New Year is the perfect time to make a resolution to prioritize good health. In 2022, follow these four simple strategies for a happier, healthier pet.

Create a wellness plan: Whether your goal is to help your pet establish a regular exercise routine, whittle his waistline, introduce him to new friends or spend more quality time together, creating a wellness plan can help. 

Start by scheduling a vet visit. Your Whistle Health, Whistle Health & GPS and Whistle Health & GPS+ devices include free access to vet expertise via chat, call, video or email, and is an important first step in understanding what changes your pet needs to make to improve their overall wellbeing. 

Use the new Whistle wellness score to monitor your dog’s energy levels as a key indicator of health and wellness. You can track changes over several weeks or months and use data to help provide a Happy New Year for pets.

Set a fitness goal: More than half of dogs are obese, increasing the risk of diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer; overweight dogs are often less active due to aching joints and heat intolerance. 

Aim to walk your dog for at least 20 minutes every day. Active breeds like Poodles, Border Collies and Jack Russel Terriers will need even longer walks. 

Use the fitness features on the Whistle Fit to set activity goals based on your dog’s breed, weight and age. Setting a fitness goal can help your dog achieve and maintain a healthy weight and improve his overall health. Daily walks will help burn energy and boost your pet’s mental wellbeing, too.

Consider a new diet: If your dog needs to lose a little weight, your vet may recommend switching to a lower calorie diet. 

The new eating features included with all Whistle smart devices can tell you whether your dog is eating more or less than usual, allowing you to monitor for changes that could indicate health issues (or be a sign that your dog is at risk of becoming overweight). 

Monitoring behavior changes such as an increase in scratching, licking or drinking, which could be signs of food allergies, can also provide clues that a diet change may be needed. Share the data with your vet to determine if food allergens could be to blame.

Plan an adventure: Social distancing doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun. For a new year, new pet, grab the leash and go for a hike, visit a new dog park or turn the backyard into an agility course. 

New activities provide mental and physical stimulation as well as bonding opportunities. 

Remember to take the Whistle Health & GPS or Whistle Health & GPS+ device on an outdoor Adventure. The smart trackers provide 24/7 monitoring and GPS tracking (plus two interchangeable batteries) to ensure you can locate your dog if he gets lost on an outdoor adventure.

Following these simple strategies ensures that 2022 is a year of good health and good fun for you and your pet.