I figured out my technique. Since the stats for the pet are in numbers, this should be easier to explain.
Health will take a bit to get up there but it has to go up on its own. First once you have fed and played with your pet so those stats are 100, leave it alone unless it needs a nap pr poop or whatever. I suggest leaving said pet alone for 30 minutes to even as long as not much after an hour...or wait till food and happy numbers get betwen 40-70 range. Then deal with it. I notice if you over take care of it, it actually gets worse.