Live Week: Your Pet Care Questions Answered with Dr. Jeff Werber

Diet and Exercise

What's the right amount of exercise for a dog to stay healthy?

Of course, it depends on your dog's breed, age, diet, and overall health, but, Dr. Werber recommends two to three 15- to 20-minute walks per day at a minimum. He also recommends more active outdoor play one to two times per week that involves favorite toys, chasing balls or frisbees, or romping with other dogs in a dog park or other safe area.

Dr. Werber recommends you consult with your veterinarian about the right type and amount of exercise for your dog's overall health.

In this episode, Dr. Werber also:

• Gives his recommendations for a healthy diet for your cat
• Weighs in on the pros and cons of raw diets
• Answers which vegetables are best to give your dog
• Advises on how to exercise an elderly dog

Pet Behavior Issues

How do I help my dog deal with separation anxiety?

Dr. Werber says separation anxiety is particularly common in dogs who come from shelter situations. He has two recommendations. First, look for ways your dog can enjoy their home environment without you having to be in the room, such as games or toys that require them to work for their reward or otherwise engage their brain, rather than focus on what you're doing. The idea is to teach them it's ok to be alone.

Second, practice allowing your dog to be alone for short amounts of time. Leave the house for five minutes and add additional minutes as they become used to your absence. Distract them with a toy or small treat and quietly leave the house without making a fuss about your departure. After a few minutes, come back into the house and give no attention to your dog. Dr. Werber acknowledges this can be hard because we want to greet our dogs with the same excited love they're showing us. Instead, go about your business and wait until your dog has calmed down, then greet them with a friendly voice and a scratch behind the ears.

Watch Dr. Werber answer more viewer questions including:

• What is the best way to exercise a hyper dog on a cold or rainy day?
• How do you prepare a dog for the arrival of a new baby?
• How do you get a dog used to a new cat in the family?
• What does it mean if a dog keeps licking its paws?

Pet Cleaning

How often should you give a dog a bath?

This depends on the dog, the breed, and the presence of existing skin conditions. Most dogs are self-grooming, but all dogs can be groomed once or twice a week with a routine that includes brushing long-haired dogs so they don't become matted, removing visible dirt, mud, or debris from the body or paws, cleaning skin folds around the nose and face and wiping ears, if necessary.

Some people like to bathe their dogs once a month, others once a week, and others only when necessary as when your dog has rolled in mud or some other substance. Follow your veterinarian's advice if your dog has a skin condition like seborrhea that requires more frequent bathing.

Dr. Werber also covers:

• How often should you give a cat a bath?
• How often should you clean a dog's teeth?
• How often should I be cutting my dog's nails?

General Pet Health

What are the top three things pet owners should do to keep their pets healthy?

“Good nutrition, exercise, and regular visits to your vet for preventative care are the top three things you can do to keep your pet healthy," says Dr. Werber. That last point is especially important, Dr. Werber explains, because disease in dogs and cats is often hidden, and our pets don't complain in the same way that we might. It's more effective to prevent disease than it is to treat disease once it's already started, he explains.

He also points out that appropriately modifying your pet's nutrition and exercise routines as they age is also important.

Other questions covered include:

• How long should you wait to get something looked at on your pet that's not bothering them?
• When is the best time to neuter your pet?
• What are some key things to look for when choosing a veterinarian?

CareCredit for Pet Care

You can use your CareCredit credit card for veterinary services to help keep your pets healthy,** including:

• Spaying or neutering
• Cat allergies
• Heart disease
• Bloat in dogs (GVD)
• Vaccinations
• Dental care
• Intestinal blockage
• Chemotherapy

CareCredit Financing for Pet Care

The CareCredit credit card provides a convenient way to pay for your pet's vaccinations and other health and wellness expenses, including exams, medications, and products at providers in the CareCredit network.** Apply today and continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App. You can find a provider on the go, manage your CareCredit account, and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts, and videos. Use our Acceptance Locator to find a veterinarian that accepts CareCredit to help keep your pet healthy and happy for a lifetime of love.

Author Bio

Anne-Marie Kennedy is a freelance writer with more than 15 years covering health and wellness, personal finance, real estate, and more Her work has been published by Forbes, Newsweek, MSN, Care.com, The Colorado Business Journal, and others.

Meet the Expert

Dr. Jeff Werber has been a practicing veterinarian for 39 years. A 1976 graduate of U.C. Berkeley, he earned his veterinary degree at the University of California-Davis in 1984. Dr. Werber is the founder of the AAHA-certified Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles, which he sold in 2018. He is currently president of “Dr. Jeff Enterprises" and continues to see his patients at Value Vet in Westwood, California. In 2019 Dr. Jeff co-founded Airvet with his son, Brandon, which is now the Nation’s largest pet Telemedicine/Telehealth platform.

In September of 1997, Werber became the pet expert for CBS News in Los Angeles, where he was awarded an Emmy for his pet health reporting. He is currently a frequent contributor to CNN, E! Entertainment, KCBS/KCAL-Los Angeles, KTLA, and Inside Edition. He is also the host of “Ask the Vets with Dr. Jeff," his weekly syndicated radio show on iHeart's PetLife Radio as well as his Instagram Live Podcast.