A pet can bring so much joy to your life, and people are getting more and more aware of this fact. According to studies about dogs, millennials adopt pets at the highest rates. Baby Boomers and Generation X are closely following. What is the main cause of this? During the pandemic, people claim that having pets made them feel less lonely. Hence, they chose to become pet parents.
A pet parent is a person who loves and cares for their pet. Like any other relationship, being a good pet parent takes work. It means making sure your dog gets exercise and playtime, measuring his meals to make sure they’re healthy, and keeping him clean and well groomed.
But there are more things you can do as a pet parent that will help enrich your dog’s life and keep him happy.
Exercise
Exercising your dog is important because it can help her burn calories and stay healthy. How much exercise you should give your dog depends on her size, age, and how active she is in the first place. It is quite beneficial for dog parents as well. With regular walks, there is mounting evidence that owning a dog may be especially beneficial. Dog walking has been suggested as a way to give older people more chances for social engagement and boost their psychological well-being.
You can also take into account any medical conditions that may limit the amount of activity she can do. The best way to know whether or not your dog has enough exercise is simply by observing her behavior during walks and playtime with other dogs. If she’s panting heavily or seems exhausted after playing for just five minutes, then it’s likely that she needs more physical activity than what you’re providing right now (even if it means going for longer walks).
Play Dates
Play dates are a fantastic way for dogs to socialize, and they’re also good for owners who want to learn more about their dogs. You can do them in groups or one on one, but it’s important that you don’t use play dates as an excuse to neglect your dog’s training and behavioral needs.
Here are some tips for setting up play dates:
- Ask friends if they have time for a quick play date with your pup (you should also ask them if their dogs are friendly). They may say yes. If not, try other friends or neighbors who have pets and maybe even kids.
- Find out whether the person has children (or small pets) around before you bring over your own animal. An unruly child can frighten a sensitive puppy, while an overeager cat might make things more stressful than they need to be.
- Set up two different times so that both parties can arrange their schedules around this meeting point. If possible, do this outside in an open area where there aren’t any distractions nearby like loud traffic noises or people walking by smoking cigarettes while carrying bags of groceries home from the store next door.’
Measure Meals
As a pet parent, it is your job to ensure that your furry friend gets all of the nutrients they need. To do this, you will need to measure their food. The amount of food that should be given should depend on several factors: the type of dog’s age and size (if they are an adult or a puppy), how many meals per day you feed them, and how many calories each meal contains.
Once you have weighed out the correct amount of food for your pet using a kitchen scale or measuring cup with measurements marked clearly on it, place it in their bowl and let them eat.
Enrich Your Dog’s Environment
Let’s start with the basics: dogs need toys. Toys can help keep them physically and mentally active, which means they’ll be less likely to get into trouble chewing on furniture or developing other bad habits. Just make sure the toys you provide are safe for your dog. That means no choking hazards like squeaky tennis balls or chewable treats (though an occasional treat isn’t going to kill them).
Instead, try some of these options:
- A Kong toy filled with peanut butter or frozen dog food
- A rope tug toy
- An interactive treat dispensing toy
Separation Anxiety May Affect your Dog
We all know how having a dog is the best for your mental health. Interacting with dogs results in a surprising decrease in anxiety and elevates the mood. But do you know dogs can have anxiety, too? As a pet parent, you know that your dog is a part of the family. You wouldn’t leave them at home alone for long periods of time or take them with you everywhere you go. However, there are some dogs who develop separation anxiety when left alone.
If your dog has an anxiety disorder, they may exhibit symptoms such as excessive barking or howling at the door, chewing on furniture and other items in the house when left alone, diarrhea and vomiting, and even becoming aggressive towards people entering and leaving the house (such as friends who come over to visit).
While these conditions are highly individualized and can vary from one household to another, the important thing is that if your dog is showing signs of distress while they’re separated from their owner(s), it’s important to seek professional advice immediately before it becomes worse.
Keep Your Pet Well Groomed
Grooming your pet is more than just a matter of vanity. It’s also an important part of keeping them healthy, happy, and comfortable. Grooming can be a great way to bond with your pet and help them feel secure. The type of grooming you do will depend on the breed and nature of your dog. For example, some dogs require frequent bathing or brushing, while other dogs may only need basic nail trimming every few months.
However you choose to groom your dog, there are some basics that everyone should follow:
- Always clip nails when they’re not wet or damp (they’ll be harder to cut)
- Check ears regularly for signs of infection: if you see any discharge or redness in the ear canal, then take your dog to the vet immediately because this might indicate mites (which could lead to more serious issues)
Routine Checkups Help Make Sure Your Pet is Healthy
A dog is like having a best buddy. They enjoy following you around and paying close attention to everything you say and do. Your pet, however, has all of a sudden become exhausted and is not moving as swiftly as they once did. Dog owners who are used to their pets being energetic and outgoing find this to be very alarming.
Dogs are subject to the effects of aging just like humans are. For instance, osteoarthritis starts to manifest in many elderly dogs. Dogs with osteoarthritis may experience discomfort, suffering, and an overall lack of well-being. Sadly, there is no known cure for this chronic illness. The good news is that there are methods to halt the disease’s course, reduce suffering, and support the management of other symptoms. If your dog is in pain or is having any kind of inflammation, the vet can suggest pain relief medications like previcox for dogs. In dogs with osteoarthritis, Previcox can block the receptors that cause pain and inflammation. The medication also helps with post-operative pain.
It is always better to get your checked by a vet instead of trying to give them medication by yourself. A yearly checkup helps ensure that your pet is healthy and can help identify any potential problems before they become serious issues. A routine exam will include blood tests, dental checks, vaccinations, heartworm testing, and more.
In the end, being a good pet parent takes patience and love. You can’t force your dog or cat to be a certain way, so it’s important to realize that they may not always act as you want them to. However, by being understanding of their quirks and giving them plenty of affection, you’ll find that raising them becomes much less stressful overall. We hope these tips help make caring for your furry friends easier and even more rewarding than ever before.