Keeping your pet healthy and happy at home
If you’re working from home, sheltering in place or self-isolating, you’re no doubt spending more time with your pets. We can help you can keep them healthy and happy until their next office visit with these 10 pet-care tips, many of which take just 10 minutes.
- Keep your pet’s coat clean and in good condition with regular brushing. Check for parasites, lumps or anything unusual you can report to us at your next visit.
- Give your cat or dog a massage to reduce anxiety, increase flexibility and improve circulation.
- Are you stress baking? Try these vet-approved dog treats for a healthy alternative to commercial treats.
- Keep up with your dog’s regular outdoor exercise routine, maintaining socially appropriate distances from other people.
- Fun exercise indoors: If you have a long hallway or a staircase, toss a toy or a tennis ball for your dog to chase. Offer praise and a treat if he brings it back and drops it.
- Cats chase balls, too – will yours? Give it a try and be sure to offer a tasty treat as a reward.
- Teach your dog a new trick with short positive reinforcement training sessions.
- Keep up with heartworm and flea and tick medications so your pets don’t develop secondary problems like hot spots, allergies and tick-borne disease.
In addition to trying out these tips, you can create a pet profile for an emergency pet caregiver, in case one is needed. Include our contact information, medical conditions and medications, food preferences as well as any behavioral tendencies. If you don’t already have one, create a pet disaster preparedness kit. Include the pet profile you created.
Consider fostering or even adopting a new friend to help your local shelter or make a donation to your favorite animal welfare organization. Keep informed and remember we are here to help 352-347-7387. Visit us at https://www.vetstopets.com/ for a telemedicine appointment or text us at (352) 533-4401 or email us at covc@vetstopets.com. We are here for you and your pets.