Pet owners are often targets of the latest wellness trends for their furry friends.
A survey from the U.S. News and World Report earlier this year found that 1 in 3 pet owners spend more on their pets’ health and wellness each month than they do on their own.
So what, if any, of these items does your dog or cat actually need?
To parse it out, GBH’s Morning Edition spoke with Kelly Fishman, a veterinarian and founder of Strut Animal Mobility Specialists.
1. Fancy water fountains
Fishman says providing a moving water source may be appealing, but doesn’t mean your pet will necessarily be more hydrated.
“It’s true that dogs and cats love to drink from a flowing water source, especially cats. But do you need that? Well, no, you just need to give your animal clean, fresh water,” she said. “And that’s all they really need to get them enticed and to do things to prevent diseases and to stay hydrated. That’s all. What they really need is just nice, clean, fresh water source.”
2. Special diets
For cats in particular, Fishman says there’s also a lot of messaging around what type of food you should be feeding them — with some suggesting to avoid dry food altogether.
“The reason is cats get a lot of their water content from their food, and a canned food that’s nice and soupy and wet provides that water content, versus a kibble — there’s no water in that. That’s just eating like a bag of chips. You know, that’s very dry,” she said.
She added that cats are historically poor drinkers because their tongues are not designed to lap up water in the same way as a dog’s tongue.
3. Supplements
Fishman recommends taking whatever your dog or cat is eating already and then fine-tune supplements based on specific concerns your pet has — rather than following what other pet owners are doing online.
“If you have a dog that has allergies, supplementing with a probiotic is really beneficial because you colonize the gut with bacteria that will help your dog respond better to allergens,” she said. “Versus if you have a dog and they don’t have that condition and you’re supplementing for something that they don’t have, maybe that’s not so smart.”
She added that supplements are not regulated — and that people should do their own research and speak with their veterinarian to determine if supplements are safe and effective.
Some supplements she recommends include salmon oil, green-lipped muscle, and fortetropin for mobility and arthritis, and turkey tail mushroom in conjunction with chemotherapy cancer treatment.
4. Pet workouts
Some of the best things pet owners can do for their cat or dog are completely free of charge, according to Fishman.
“People do not realize that they could do strengthening exercises with their dog for free at home with absolutely no equipment. You just need a carpet or a yoga mat or some grass,” she said. “First of all, a really good way to work with your dog on really hot days where you can’t do a walk and they have so much energy. Also, it’s a really good way to get your dog strong.”
Dog exercise tutorials including planks, push-ups, and side steps can be found on Fishman’s Instagram.
Some research shows improving strength and mobility in dogs in particular can lead to a better quality of life, longer lifespan, and decreased risk of injury.
