Pets today are so much part of the family that they're treated the same way when it comes to healthcare as well. Whether it's preventing illness, nutritional concerns, or treatment for a particular ailment, pet healthcare has evolved into a highly organized and lucrative business.

First and foremost, a pet needs a lot of tender loving care. A happy pet is usually a healthy pet. Then, it needs to be protected against certain ailments. As such, there are vaccinations and six-month or annual checks. And there is a continuous need for a nutritionally balanced diet - one that will keep your pet active and yet not overfed. The more energetic the pet, the greater the requirements for protein as well as fats for a stamina boost. For every pound, a dog needs 26% protein and 1,650 kilocalories. A less active pet could do with a lower-calorie diet.

Though the maximum lifespan of a dog is close to thirty years, pets rarely live beyond twelve or thirteen years. This could be due to improper nutrition; more importantly, less protein. Like humans, pets are also susceptible to food additives. Dyes and chemicals could cause harmful side effects in their bodies. In fact, there is a growing group of believers in the back-to-nature rearing for pets. This means feeding your pet raw food, and giving a dog a bone would mean an uncooked one. Processed foods, according to studies, could be the reason for a number of diseases like obesity, arthritis, cancer, etc.

Some pets may not need to exercise at all, but pets like dogs do need to be taken for their daily run. For working couples, an electronic containment fence could be very useful. The pet is free to roam within the safe confines of the garden without the fear of it straying away, or indoors, it can keep your pet away from certain areas in the house.