(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) May 5, 2023—As National Pet Week (May 7-13) approaches, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) invitations the thousands and thousands of pet house owners and pet lovers throughout the nation to affix within the celebration of the distinctive bond between pets and their people by embracing accountable pet possession.
Established in 1981 by the AVMA and the Auxiliary to the AVMA, National Pet Week not solely honors the love, pleasure and companionship pets deliver to our lives, but in addition highlights the significance of offering them with every little thing they want for a cheerful, wholesome life. Through quite a lot of sources, every day themes and knowledgeable recommendation, the AVMA goals to empower pet house owners to be the very best caregivers they are often, making certain a lifetime of affection and care for his or her cherished pets.
“National Pet Week is the proper time to have a good time the particular bond between pets and their folks, whereas additionally recognizing the tasks that include pet possession,” mentioned Dr. Lori Teller, president of the AVMA. “Our pets give us unconditional love, assist and companionship, and in return, it is our job to make sure they obtain the care and a focus they should reside lengthy, wholesome and pleased lives.”
Pet house owners are inspired to go to AVMA.org/PetWeek for extra info on methods to have a good time their pets and sources to assist them present acceptable care. The AVMA can be providing an official National Pet Week toolkit for veterinarians to make the most of in observing the week with their employees and purchasers.
Each day of National Pet Week focuses on a distinct matter important to accountable pet possession. This 12 months’s themes embody:
Sunday – Choose properly: Commit for all times
While the prospect of including a pet to the household could also be thrilling, it is essential that individuals are not impulsive or careless when bringing a brand new pet into their properties. Select the pet that is proper for your loved ones’s life-style and make a dedication to that pet for its life. Even in case you have already welcomed a pet into your home, your veterinarian might help you higher perceive the social and healthcare wants of your particular person pet. View AVMA’s sources on deciding on a pet for your loved ones.
Monday – Behavioral well being: Habits for pleased pets
Keep your pet pleased and wholesome by selling optimistic interactions. Try creating an surroundings that encourages pure behaviors by introducing puzzles, video games and interactive toys, or studying new abilities. Activities like goal coaching are fantastic choices for dogs and cats—and even different pets, like fish! You can even promote good conduct by serving to your pets get comfy in new conditions by safely exposing them to quite a lot of interactions with different animals, folks, locations and actions. View AVMA’s sources on socializing dogs and cats, in addition to a video on socializing pets.
Tuesday – Nutrition and train matter
With greater than half of dogs and cats within the United States thought-about chubby or overweight, and people tormented by this concern as properly, the AVMA encourages pets and their house owners to get common train—collectively. This not solely improves cardiovascular well being, maintains a wholesome weight, and helps good psychological well being for each proprietor and pet, but it surely strengthens the human-animal bond. For tips about walking, working, or beginning one other train program along with your pet, go to avma.org/Walking, and watch AVMA’s National Pet Week video on the significance of correct pet diet.
Wednesday – Love your pet? See your vet!
Everybody loves their pet, but many pet house owners don’t take their pets to the veterinarian except they’re visibly sick or injured. Pets usually conceal indicators of sickness. Regular check-ups are important to catching well being issues early. Not solely can early therapy imply higher well being in your pet, it will probably additionally prevent money. View AVMA’s money suggestions for caring pet house owners.
Thursday – Travel with care
Many folks could also be planning on touring this summer season, making up for earlier journeys cancelled because of the pandemic. Traveling with pets requires advance planning and coordination to maintain all people secure. Whether you take a brief automobile journey or flying to a different state or nation, getting your pet safely to your vacation spot requires particular planning and precautions. Plan forward, and know precisely what’s wanted if you journey with pets of various species. View AVMA’s pets in automobiles sources, and see AVMA’s National Pet Week video on safe pet travel.
Friday – Emergencies occur: Be ready
We by no means know when or the place an emergency will occur. As a pet proprietor, it’s essential plan forward, and embody your pets in your loved ones’s emergency plan. Know what to do in case of an emergency, the right way to assemble first help and emergency kits and the right way to correctly determine your pets so your loved ones could be reunited in case you’re ever separated.
Saturday – Plan for his or her care: Give them a lifetime of affection
Thanks to higher care, pets live longer now than they ever have earlier than—and as pets become old, they want further care and a focus. Regular veterinary examinations can detect issues in older pets earlier than they develop into superior or life-threatening. They can also enhance your pet’s probabilities for an extended and more healthy life. Visit the AVMA’s web page for senior pets to search out out what’s ‘regular’ and what could sign a purpose for concern about an growing older pet.
View AVMA’s “Lifetime of care for a lifetime of love” National Pet Week video.
National Pet Week 2023 is made attainable partly by academic funding from associate, Pets Best.
For extra info, contact Michael San Filippo, AVMA media relations supervisor, at 847-732-6194 (cell/textual content) or msanfilippo
