Spending time with a pet is the most important thing you can do for it. Not only is it good for both of you, psychologically and emotionally, but also it pays to understand your pet's moods and habits.

Many pet owners feel they need to take their pets to a veterinarian before any symptoms of a disease start showing. They may not be able to pinpoint what is wrong. For example, Fluffy doesn't wag his tail when they come home or Whitney didn't seem hungry for her dinner.

For most pets, a change in behavior is your first warning that something is wrong or that a significant event such as giving birth or shedding fur is imminent. Most illnesses cause our pets to change their daily habits in the way we humans react to sicknesses.

Some of our pets aren't far removed from their ancestry in the wild. Birds and lizards, in particular, instinctively hide their symptoms from observers since otherwise, in the wild, they could be targeted by predators as easier prey. Often, by the time a bird or lizard shows a symptom, the illness has progressed dangerously far and the animal is just too weak to hide it any longer. The illness will now be much harder to treat successfully.

By spending time with your pets and getting to know their routines, moods and history, you have an invaluable jumpstart on their care. Take note of your dog or cat's favorite food for example, or what kind of trick or play he enjoys most, or does he bark at strangers. Find out where his tickle-spot is so that you can give it a brush every time he behaves.

Getting to know your pets will equip you with a weapon to anticipate unhealthy and stressful triggers to keep them healthy and happy.