National Holistic Pet Day is coming up on August 30th. National Holistic Pet Day is the perfect time to celebrate your pets' health and wellness!
WHAT IS NATIONAL HOLISTIC PET DAY?
When you think about caring for your pet, what comes to mind is probably good nutrition and exercise. After all, going for daily walks helps keep you both in shape while encouraging you to eat healthy food. But you may not consider the term "holistic."
What exactly does the word "holistic" mean? According to Merriam -Webster:
Holistic is "relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or dissection into parts."
When you take that "whole" view, it makes sense. Everything is connected, so it makes sense that getting enough exercise, eating healthy foods, and spending quality time together will make for a healthy individual.
Looking at the "Whole" Picture
National Holistic Pet Day highlights the importance of focusing on your pet as a whole. Focus on preventative health in food, body, mind, and spirit. Unfortunately, many of us wait until something is wrong before taking our pets to the veterinarian instead of preventing issues in the first place.
Food
Like us, our pets need a healthy and balanced diet to stay healthy. Unfortunately, many pet foods on the market contain additives that may cause allergies and digestive issues. Many people have started making their own dog food and treats to keep their pets healthy.
Supplements can protect our pet’s immune system from being compromised and prevent potential threats. Salmon oil for dogs and cats provides omega-3 fatty acids, which help ease joint pain, heart disease, and kidney disease.
Body
Every pet has its own physical characteristics and potential health concerns, so knowing your pet and what to look for can help them stay happy and healthy. Exercise is essential to staying healthy. Activity is vital for our pets to maintain a healthy weight and joint health and release pent-up energy. Dogs especially need a good outlet for their energy, or they may become destructive. A tired dog is a good dog!
Mind
Pets can get stressed just like humans. Keeping our pets mentally stimulated is just as important as keeping their bodies healthy. Bored pets can often become destructive, so it's crucial to provide them with toys and activities to keep them occupied.
Spirit
Our pets are more than just animals; they are family members. Providing them with love and attention is essential to their well-being. Pets that feel loved and secure are often calmer and happier than those that don't.
Keep in mind that your pet is only part of your world. But you are their WHOLE world. You are their access to food, the outside world, and happiness. They want to communicate with us; we just really have to listen. Take the time to really get to know your pet and their habits and see what they are trying to tell you.
National Holistic Pet Day is a day to celebrate all aspects of our pets' health and wellness. We can give our pets the best possible lives by focusing on the mind, body, and spirit. Take some time today to just be with them and show them how much you appreciate them and that you will always be there for them!
