Pets Healthy Family Wash Hands Touching Important Prevent

Pets can appear to be healthy even when they have "germs" (very small and harmful substance that causes illness or disease). Here are a few tips to keep you and your family healthy.

Always wash your hands "thoroughly" (completely and in detail) with soap and water right after touching a pet, their "housing" (where they live or sleep), or anything that "comes in contact with" (touches) them or the areas where they live. It is especially important to wash your hands after touching a pet and before preparing, serving, eating, or drinking.

Another way to keep you and your pets healthy is to make sure your pets get their "vaccines" (shots to prevent disease), is dewormed (treated to remove or prevent worms), and don't have "fleas and ticks" (small insect that feeds on animals). Provide your pet with a good "diet" (what they eat and drink), fresh water, clean "bedding" (soft material that one sleeps on), and exercise. By keeping your pet healthy, you keep yourself and your family healthy. Regular "veterinary" (animal doctor) visits are "essential" (necessary; very important to good pet health.

There are many health benefits of owning a pet. The "companionship" (feeling of friendship) of pets can help keep away "loneliness" (feeling alone) and "depression" (strong feelings of sadness and hopelessness over a period of time). Pets can increase your opportunities to exercise, participate in outdoor activities, and "socialize" (being friendly with other people). Remember that healthy pets "equals" (is the same as; results in) healthy people!