Pet's Keep us Going

Animals make us feel good.  No pet owner needs to be told this.  But we're talking about more than just feeling glad they're around.  Your favorite animal can actually make you healthy and help you stay that way.  You may be suprised at just how many ways a pet can improve your health.  I was!

1. Physical Fitness- In general, dog owners are more physically fit and less obese than those without dogs.  Funny how we seem to understand that dogs need exercise, but we don't give ourselves the same consideration sometimes! This is a win-win situation.

2.- Mood Enhancers- The most natural mood enhancer in the world, aside from physical activity comes from spending time with a dog or cat or even watching fish swim.  Physical changes include lower cortisol and increased seratonin, both associated with a sense of well-being.

3. Lowers blood pressure- One study looked at 240 married couples and measured heart rates and blood pressure during cardiac stress tests.  The pet owners had lower blood pressure and heart rates at rest compared to non-pet owners.

4. Lowers risky of dying- Peope with pets actually have less risk of dying of cardiac disease and strokes.

5. Decreases Depression- Petting an animals has been shown to have a calming effect.

6. Improved Immunity- Some studies have shown that when children grow up with a dog or cat they less likely to develop allergies.

7. Helps Arthritis- People are given the recommendation to stretch whenever they see their cat stretching to keep their joints lubricated.  What a concept!

8. Helps with ADHD- Playing with pets allows for better sleep and they bond in an unconditional way to the child learns self-esteem.

9. Therapy- Dogs are great therapy!

10. Date Magnets- Dogs are great for making connections.  It can help people ease out of social isolation or shyness.
 

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25% off for Dental Month for February

We are offering 25% off for Teeth Cleaning for the month of February.

Call us to inquire or schedule and appointment online.

512.263.2900
or
Go to the contact us page to schedule your appointment online

Thank you
Crystal Mountain Animal Hospital Team
 

Annual Exam Discount-Read Below

To our friends and their furry loved ones,

This past year has been a trying time economically for most of us.  Crystal Mountain Animal Hospital is not blind to this situation.  As a way to help in this situation, we will offer a 20 % discount on annual services (exam, heartworm test, parasite screening, and applicable vaccines) for your loved ones to get them taken care of.  We would hate to see a little thing go unnoticed and develop into an expensive and difficult problem.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Call us to schedule your appointment at 512.263.2900 or request and appointment online.  

Thank you for your trust and confidence in our ability to do what is best for your pet.

Mention this ad in order to receive your discount.

Thank you 
Crystal Mountain Animal Hospital
 

Shed a few pounds!!

Could Peaches stand to drop a few pounds? Does Cali need some calisthenics?

Now that you've been working on your own resolutions for a couple weeks, how about helping your pets with theirs?

Ironically, many of the resolutions recommended for pets are the same we make for ourselves — lose weight, exercise more and generally live a better life. Perhaps a partnership will be good for both of you.

More pets than ever are overweight, according to a recent national study by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. That's 44 percent of dogs and 57 percent of cats. And guess who's mostly to blame?

"The easiest way to help shed pounds off your pooch or kitty is to stop giving too many treats — table scraps, cookies, soft chews," says veterinarian Autumn McKenzie at Oakhurst Veterinary Center in Seminole.
"Each cookie is like giving them a chocolate bar!"

Limit treats to two or three a day and ask your vet about low-fat treats, she suggests.

Another tip: Cut back on meal portions to cut calories. Don't always follow suggestions on the bag of dog or cat food; they may be wrong for your pet's body size, stage of life or metabolism. Ask your vet about the right amount for your pet.

Mealtime shouldn't be a daylong buffet, either, McKenzie says.

"If your dog or cat does not eat their food within an hour, take it away — feed twice a day."

Your vet may also recommend a prescription weight loss diet, one with high fiber that make pets feel full but is low in calories.

Fortunately, dogs love exercise — er, I mean play. Take an extra walk, double the length of your normal walk or find a new dog park for special outings a few times a week.

Cats can be a bit more challenging when it comes to exercise, so you'll have to be persistent and creative.

"Find or create things for kitty that will be environmentally stimulating to reduce boredom and increase their activity," suggests Sonja Olson of Florida Veterinary Specialists in Tampa. For best results, play with your cat. Just tossing a toy and leaving the room is likely to lead to a catnap.


 
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