Healthier Pets Happier Lives #GetHealthyHappy

   

The care you give them makes all the
difference for lifelong health & happiness.

   When you welcome a new dog into your life, there are certain promises that you make.  Looking into those trusting puppy dog eyes, we vow to keep them healthy and happy for life.  There are many ways to ensure that promise is kept.

   Every pet parent needs to have a wonderful trustworthy veterinarian and keep routine visits.  Along with proper vet care, the right food for your dog is crucial.  Take the time do your homework, ask your vet, and make a sure that the food your serve is the proper formula for your best friend’s size, age, and dietary needs.  Hill’s Science Diet offers a wide variety of recipes and is available from vet clinics and specialty pet stores.

   As vital as the care and feeding of our pets is, there is another element in

♥ Happy, healthy, and loved ♥

making their lives complete.  That is all of the “little extras” we do to make them healthy and happy pets.  I’m not referring to buying exclusive spa treatments or massages, although those are certainly wonderful.  I’m talking about the loving touches, the games of chase, the warm towel wrapping them after a bath.  These gestures don’t cost anything, but are priceless in bonding with our dogs.

   At our home, it is belly rubs and hugs that make Bentley smile.  He is also a huge fan of grooming.  You may not envision a Basset Hound enjoying primping, but he loves taking a nice bath, getting his teeth brushed, having all of his loose hair brushed out, and his ears wiped clean.  It is not unusual for him to go sound asleep during his blow-drying/ brushing session.  We consider it our homemade spa time.  This togetherness gives me a chance to check for any bumps, bites, or changes on his body.  When brushing a dog’s teeth, it is important to get the back teeth where tartar can hide.

 

"If I bite here, my fox squeaks."

 We have a toy box full of fun toys of every description.  Bentley has his favorites and each one of them have something in common.  They all squeak and he loves making them squeak repeatedly.  He enjoys playing tug o’ war with his dad and playing catch the ball with me.  A tennis ball is the perfect size for most dogs and we have them in the house and yard for quick “pick-up” games.  Toys as simple as a ball or one of the more complex puzzle games, can keep your four-legged friend physically and mentally stimulated.  It is important to observe your dog and discover what makes their tail wag when it comes to play.

   There is not much that makes Bentley happier than treats.  If we listened to

These are a favorite at our home.

him on the treat front, he would get one every few minutes.  For this reason, we limit them to no more than 10% of his total daily caloric intake.  I keep an eye out for the amount of sodium he ingests.  I make sure that any treats we give don’t undermine the purpose of his dietary restrictions.  He really likes the Hill’s Baked Light Biscuits.  I enjoy giving him those for a wake-up or nighttime treat.  Smaller treats such as Hill’s Grain-Free Turkey & Cranberry Treats are the perfect size for training.  Bentley is working on turning in a circle and staying in a down position.  At six-years old, he is still happy to learn new tricks.  A quality dog treat can reinforce good behavior and is a bite-sized way to say “I love you.”

   It is all of these little extras that make sharing our lives with dogs or cats so special.  A stylish collar and leash set, a seasonal bandanna, or even clothes can be such fun if your pet enjoys being a fashionista.  There are so many choices to accessorize; the sky is the limit to pampering and clothing options.  The most important thing is that you and your pet are having fun together.

   To celebrate these little extras, Hill’s is giving away bundles of goodies every pet parent can enjoy sharing with their dog or cat.  The dog bundle includes: a stainless steel dog bowl; a bag of Hill’s Science Diet Dental Chews; a bag of Hill’s Science Diet dog treats, and a Healthier Pets, Happier Lives tote bag.  The little extras bundle for cats includes: a laser pointer toy; a stainless steel cat bowl; eight micro cans of Hill’s Science Diet Grain Free entrees; and a Healthier Pets, Happier Lives tote bag.  You can enter in the Rafflecopter below.

   In addition to the little extras bundles, Hill’s is also offering a $10 off promotion on select Hill’s Science Diet products.  Click here to download your rebate today!  Remember, don’t just get happy. #GetHealthyHappy with Hill’s ScienceDiet. 

This post is sponsored by Hill’s.  I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® Healthier Pets. Happier Lives.™, but M. K. Clinton Barking from the Bayou only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.  Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

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