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Five. Brush Their Teeth. According to Banfield Pet Hospital, 68 percent of cats and 76 percent of dogs have dental disease,
给他们刷牙。根据班菲尔德宠物医院，68%的猫和76%的狗都有牙齿疾病，
and it may be linked to the development of heart and kidney disease.
而且它可能与心脏病和肾病的发展有关。
To avoid that, brush your pet's teeth every day. It's not as daunting as you might think!
为了避免这个，每天给你的宠物刷牙。这没有你想象中的那么难！
Kneel behind your pet and gently lift his or her lips, then brush the teeth and gums with a pet-friendly toothbrush or finger brush and pet toothpaste.
跪在你的宠物后面，轻轻地抬起他或她的嘴唇，然后用宠物友好型牙刷或手指刷和宠物牙膏刷牙和牙龈。
(Dogs especially dislike the taste of mint, and you don't want Fido swallowing fluoridated paste.)
(狗狗尤其不喜欢薄荷的味道，你也不希望他们吞下含氟的牙膏。)
You should also get your pet's teeth professionally cleaned by your vet at least once a year.
你也应该让你的兽医给宠物做专业口腔清洁，每年至少一次。
Six. Consider Pet Insurance. Think about what kind of care you want to provide your pet.
考虑宠物保险。考虑你想给你的宠物提供什么保险。
Some policies cover only accidents; others cover everything, including wellness care. All have deductibles.
有些保险只涵盖意外事故；其他的则包含所有项目，包括健康保健。所有的都有免赔额。
"If you're a do-it-all pet parent, then insurance will take most of the financial concerns out of your mind," Dr. Lands says.
兰茨医生说，“如果你是个包办一切的宠物家长，那么保险会让你免去大部分财务方面的担心。”
Premiums obviously vary, averaging about $10 a month for limited coverage and $100 a month for comprehensive care, according to petinsurancereview.com.
根据petinsurancereview.com网站的数据，保费显然有所不同，有限的医疗保险平均每月10美元，综合医疗保险每月100美元。
Seven. Protect Against Parasites. "All pets are susceptible to infectious diseases and parasites," Gale says.
预防寄生虫。盖尔表示，“所有的宠物都容易感染传染病和寄生虫。”
For example, according to Lilian Wong, DVM, a veterinarian with Banfield Pet Hospital, you'll find heartworm wherever you find mosquitoes.
例如，根据班菲尔德宠物医院兽医莉莲·王的说法，无论你在哪里找到蚊子，你都能找到“犬恶丝虫”。
Check your pet for ticks regularly and ask your vet about preventive tools such as medications and monthly injections.
定期检查宠物身上的扁虱，并向兽医咨询预防措施，如药物治疗和每月注射一次。
Eight. Think About a DNA Test. It may sound crazy, but pinpointing your dog's true genetic history can help protect against breed-specific diseases.
考虑做DNA测验。这听起来很疯狂，但是精确的查明你的狗的真实的基因历史可以帮助防止特定品种的疾病。
For example, Labrador retrievers and German shepherds are likely to develop hip dysplasia.
比如，拉布拉多寻回犬和德国牧羊犬有可能出现髋关节发育不良。
DNA tests aren't 100 percent accurate—neither are the commercial tests for humans—but they'll help narrow down the possible breeds.
DNA测验并不是100%准确的-对人类的商业测验也是如此-但是他们能帮助减少可能的品种。
For $189, the Embark Dog DNA Test screens for breed traits, ancestry, and risk of more than 160 genetic canine health conditions.
只需189美元，登船犬DNA测试就可以筛查犬种特征、血统和160多种犬类遗传健康状况的风险。
Nine. Help Them Age Gracefully. Cats reach senior status when they're 11 to 14 years old; for dogs, it's around 7 or 8.
帮助他们优雅地老去。猫在11岁至14岁时会进入老年；狗则大概是7、8岁进入老年。
If your cat has arthritis, consider a litter box with lower walls. Has your pet's vision deteriorated?
如果你的猫有关节炎，那请考虑高度低一些的便盆。你的宠物的视力下降了吗？
Place extra lights on stairs and in dark hallways. Finally, put rugs on slick floors and baby gates at the top of stairs to prevent falls.
在楼梯和暗黑的走廊里安装更多的灯。最后，把地毯铺在光滑的地板上，把婴儿门放在楼梯顶部，以防摔倒。
