Can dogs, cats get the flu?

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Courier Post Online

As people take steps to stay healthy this cold and flu season, pet owners should do the same for their dogs and cats, since our furry friends can be susceptible to the same sniffles, sneezes, coughs and runny noses as humans, according to Dr. Tod Schadler, associate dean of clinical studies at Ross University's School of Veterinary Medicine.

Schadler offers the following tips:

Keep your pet's vaccinations up-to-date.

Try to limit your pet's exposure to extreme weather.

If your home is dry, put a humidifier in the area your pet most frequently occupies. Keep your floors as clean as possible. Remember, airborne irritants settle where pets tend to live.

If you notice your neighbor's animal looking a little under the weather, you may want to re-think a friendly get-together between pets. While your animals can't get you sick, they can become infected from animals of the same species.

If pets continue to exhibit symptoms, schedule a visit to your veterinarian. In many cases, antibiotics can help your pet make a full and rapid recovery.

Another vital aspect of a healthy pet is keeping them slim and trim. Dog and owner need to consider their daily diet. Many pet owners need to realize people food does not meet the nutritional needs of animals. Usually, it's just adding calories and fat to their diet, leading to refusal to eat pet food and the addition of extra poundage.

Pet food companies have developed a variety of product lines and formulas that provide complete nutrition for your pet at various stages of life. For example, Diamond Pet Food offers a low-fat formula to help reduce your dog's caloric intake while still providing high-quality ingredients and much-needed nutrients. Maintenance and adult dog formulas are available when your dog has reached his ideal weight.

The Diamond Web site (www.diamondpet.com) helps identify the formulas best suited to your pet's needs.

As with humans, portion control is a vital piece of the weight loss puzzle. Follow the suggested feeding rations on the dog food bag to keep your dog healthy and satisfied without providing him with excessive calories.

Even the most dedicated human workout buddy will have conflicts or reasons to break your exercise plan. Your dog is ready for a walk or run whenever it works for you.

[calgal]

It started to sound pretty interesting till it came to the part where people food doesn't meet the daily neutrition and it only adds fat. That is NOT true at all if you feed the right food. I can see this was just as ad for dog food which he thinks feeding dead and diseased animals to our pets is healthier than free range and organic foods. What a crock!