b'Keeping Your Pets Healthy Keep your dog active. As the saying goes, tired dogs areGoing through treatment for cancer is a very difficult and happy dogs. When dogs dont get enough activity, they may challenging time in your life. The company of pets can help ease start to act out or misbehave. Make sure your dog gets plentythe burden and be a source of support. Caring for a pet can also of exercise, including extra walks if possible. Have a friend,help you stay disciplined and encourage you to go outside for neighbor or dog walker help you as needed.exercise and fresh air. Take steps to ensure your pet stays healthyStick to a routine. Dogs are creatures of habit, so try not to and happy so it can be a calming companion throughout your alter their routine too much. They are happiestand most cancer experience. able to deal with new thingswhen their routine is stable. (On a related note, this is not the time to bring a new pet intoStart from a healthy place. Have a veterinarian examine your the household.)pet to make sure its healthy and up-to-date on its heartwormLock up your medications. Drugs designed to help humans and intestinal parasite preventatives and that it is protected can harm or even kill animals. Make sure your medications areagainst fleas and ticks. Ask a member of your vets staffcompletely inaccessible to your pets. If you are using any typeto provide you with a schedule for future preventatives and of medicinal cream, dont let your dog or cat brush up against to contact you when any update is needed. You can also set a or lick the area where it is applied. If your pet does ingest reminder in your smart phone or in a physical calendar.some of your medication, call the veterinarian immediately (and call your own doctor to get the medicine replaced).Close your toilet lids. Drugs dangerous to dogs and cats may be excreted in your urine and traces may remain in the toiletbowl even after you flush. Be sure to keep the lid tightly closedand consider investing in a toilet lock. Keep doors to the outside closed. Remind your visitors tomake sure they close the door behind them when they arriveand when they leave. If you have a gated yard, keep the gate closed and locked as a precaution against your pet wandering outside the yard (this also prevents uninvited dogs from entering your yard).Make sure your dog is bathed regularly. This is a perfecttask to delegate to a friend or family member. Regular baths help keep your pet healthy and provide it with personal attention and affection. 6 WWW.CANCERCARE.ORG CANCERCARE|CARING FOR YOUR PETS WHEN YOU HAVE CANCER 7'