Ten steps to a happy healthy pet

Tiger takes a leisurely nap in his favorite spot

There are 74.8 million companion dogs and 88.3 million companion cats in the country, according to a recent survey of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA.) Here are ten things they all need.

1. Give your pet love and attention for its lifetime - in sickness and in health, for better or worse.

The happiest pets are embraced as part of the family, rather than simply being a possession. Far too many pets are turned over to shelters because of behavioral issues that are manageable and could have been prevented. Many people fall in love with kittens and puppies and fall out of love when the kittens and puppies grow up. Has anyone given up a child for adoption when he grows from cute infant to a toddler who misbehaves? No. The same devotion ought to apply to pets. Always supervise animals around infants and young children. Toddlers pulling a cat or dog's tail could result in a scratch or nip.

2. Take your pet for regular checkups.

That includes wellness exams, inoculations, dental checkups and visits for specific problems. Know what problems that could occur with your specific breed of animal. German Shepards, for example, are prone to hip and back problems. Manx cats (the tailless breed) are more apt to have back problems and may have trouble with constipation. Gum disease in both dogs and cats can lead to heart problems. Tartar build up and tooth loss occurs in pets the way it does in humans.

3. Exercise your pet and watch its weight.

Most dogs love to go for walks and romps in dog parks. Almost every dog will chase a favored toy. Some cats will play with cat toys or chase a light pointer, but take care to never point a laser pointer directly at the animal's eye. Try to find something that attracts your cat. Try a toy mouse containing catnip. It can be a challenge to get older cats to get up and move around to help keep off the pounds. Excessive weight gain can lead to a whole host of problems, but extra weight – especially on a cat – must come off slowly. Rapid weight loss is not good. Certain breeds of creatures are prone to obesity – Amazon parrots, for example. While all parrots must have a cage large enough so they can climb around and exercise, Amazons are highly likely to develop heart problems if they become overweight.

4. Provide a balanced diet and limit those treats.

Ask your vet what food he or she recommends. The vet may change your pet's diet throughout its life – at least when the pets grow from babies to adults. If your cat has a specific issue, like hypothyroidism or diabetes, the vet will probably suggest a specialized food. Some foods are available by prescription and can only be purchased from the vet and there are also lower calories food commercially available. Limit the treats and know what food your animal can and cannot have. Chocolate can be deadly to dogs. Milk is not good for cats. Junk food is not good for any pet. Avocados are strictly forbidden for all parrots and and all-seed diet is not only bad nutritionally, but it will pack on the pounds. Generally speaking, table scraps are bad for pets and slipping food at the table side during meals will cause the animal to whine for food. That behavior is both disruptive and bad for your pet's health.

5. Spay or neuter your animal unless you intend to breed it.

Doing so can avoid a number of health problems and undesirable behavior. Failing to do so will contribute to pet overpopulation, which is the fault of animal owners who do not spay and neuter. Shelters overflow with kittens shortly after breeding season. Other kittens and puppies are just abandoned or dumped somewhere to fend by themselves. If male dogs are not neutered, the prostate enlarges if gonads are left and that can lead to infection, which can lead to abesses of the prostate and to testicular tumors as the dog ages and also predisposes a dog to perineal hernia. Testosterone can lead to aggressive and mounting and roaming behavior. In cats, testosterone can lead to aggression and territorial marking and can serve as a mating cue. It's important to spay females to eliminate risk of uterine infections and ovarian cancers. In both cats and dogs spaying greatly decreases the risk of mammary tumors and it stops a female dog from discharging when she comes into season.

6. Be informed and stay informed.

Know your responsibilities. Different animals need different amounts of attention. Dogs generally require more active attention than cats. Many companion birds require as much or more attention than dogs. Cockatoos are nicknamed 'velcro birds' because they require a lot of attention, cuddling and handling. If they don't get it, they will develop bad habits like screaming for attention or picking out their own feathers. Some birds stress out so much they pick out all their feathers. The stunning beauty of a cockatoo, a Macaw or an Amazon easily can easily sway someone into purchasing or adopting the bird on impulse. Do your research first or you're guaranteed to regret it. The big birds are not for everyone. An adorable budgie, canary or finch may be more your speed. Birds require vet care as well. Avian vets are not as easily accessible as general vets. Their knowledge is specialized and the cost of bird care can be considerable. Don't forget – once you have your pet as part of your household you owe it to your pet to stay informed, there's always something to learn.

7. Keep your pet indoors or at least limit their time outside.

This will prevent injury and death from so many causes. Indoor life saves pets from not only disease, but injury or death from other animals and people. Cats don't have nine lives. If you do allow a pet outside, provide food, water and some kind of shelter from the weather. Please bring in your animals during extreme heat, cold and other bad weather. If your pet does go outside, make sure they carry identification, or even better, are microchipped.

8. Provide your pet with its own space where it can go to relax or get away from commotion.

Everybody needs a little time away, writes musicians Peter Cetera. Many cats will find their own hideaway under a bed or in a closet. Some hide so well they can't be found. Beware, though, because a pet who constantly hides may be sick. A dog may enjoy its own bed, but chances are it will prefer your bed. Cat beds are often very colorful and pretty - to us. Most often they are unappealing and go untouched, so consider saving your money and let the cat find its own favored sleeping spot, which will likely be on a bed, a sofa, or in the warmest spot it can find. Many cats will change sleeping locations every now and then. Maybe every day.

9. Provide the company of another agreeable pet.

With cats, this can be tricky unless the cats are litter mates. Some cats may like having room mates. Others object strongly and may develop behavior problems. Male cats can get territorial and spray – even if they are neutered. Birds usually do well with roommates, but to be safe, do not house them together without first consulting a vet. Companion birds can be very territorial and they may fight with other birds over territory. With small birds, like canaries or finches, get a cage that allows the bird some area for flight. The largest affordable cage is best with the big birds, such as Amazons, Toucans, Cockatoos, Macaws and African Greys. All birds need room to stretch and move around for exercise and emotional well being.

10. Give mental and emotional stimulation and understanding.

All animals need playtime, be it a run in the park, a game of fetch with a toy mouse (some cats will play fetch,) a game of hide and seek, a running wheel for mice, guinea pigs, hamsters or gerbils, appropriate wood to chew and roaming space for rabbits, chewing and foraging toys for birds; the list goes on. Boredom can lead to sedentary lives, which can lead to being over weight and self destructive behavior. In birds, boredom can lead to screaming, feather plucking and other negative and possibly health threatening behaviors.

Animals act the way they do for reasons. Instead of getting angry at an animal for an undesirable behavior, identify the reason behind the behavior and try to prevent it. Some dogs appear to have suddenly turned on their humans seemingly out of the blue and have caused serious injury. Sometimes there may be medical reasons, but sometimes we'll never understand why. Animals act out when they are upset, afraid or in pain. Some will become depressed, grow very quiet and stop eating and may even harm themselves.

Because humans have domesticated many animal breeds, it is up to us to take care of them to the best of our ability. The means patience, loving care and understanding. For all that companion animals positively contribute to the world, it is not too much to ask.