Words cannot express the role our beloved pets play in our lives. They are much more than just animals. Their presence provides unconditional love that is shared and understood only among pet owners. I am sure you agree, pets have not only filled our hearts with joy, but help ease our pain and suffering during unfortunate times. They help us to overcome hardships, illness, depression and divorce. Owners have shared countless stories with me demonstrating how pets have uplifted their lives with laughter, tears, joy and life-long memories. Pets are truly our soul mates.
We have the responsibility to maintain the health of our wonderful four-legged friend. Pet Soul Mates 4 Life (PSM4LIFE) wants to educate owners on different ways to promote a good, healthy live for our pets. Steps include providing a healthy and natural diet, encouraging annual physical examinations with a veterinarian and scheduling routine screening blood work for early detection of illness.
Diet is vital in combating illness as it impacts our pets’ lives daily and influences the development of many disease including diabetes mellitus and pancreatitis. When prevention is not possible, early detection of illness and cancer is critical in the management and survival of our pets. Routine screening blood work may provide the first indication that there is a significant problem that warrants further testing.
Ultimately, preventive medicine and early detection of disease provides the cornerstone for insuring a long and healthy life for our pets. PSM4LIFE not only hopes to educate owners on how to prevent and detect illness and cancer but also donates a portion of the proceeds of its products to cancer research.
Ronald D. Hodges, DVM, DACVIM, President