Making the Most of Quarantine with Your Pets

While COVID-19 quarantines continue across the country, you may be spinning your wheels to stay busy, productive, and positive. Luckily, our pets provide a great deal of comfort and companionship despite the isolation and stress caused by the Novel Coronavirus. As dogs and cats get used to having you at home, you may need to add some new activities to your repertoire to help keep them busy and make the most of your time together.

If you’re up to seven walks or tried to get your cat’s attention for the fifteenth time today without success, here are some great ways to make the most of your quaran-time with your furry family.

1. Become a Busy Bee & Get Back in the Garden

It’s likely you’ve heard that yards across America will never look better than they do right now. If you haven’t taken the opportunity to enjoy the spring weather and get your hands dirty in the yard, it’s time to get started. You can even make those pet-friendly changes to maximize your pet’s enjoyment of the front or backyard.

Getting outside with your dog or cat has profoundly beneficial psychological and physical effects for you and your pet. This can be both restorative and uplifting during this tense and stressful time. The mental stimulation also adds variety in your pet’s day. And the fresh air is great for you all.

Be sure you protect your pet from fleas, ticks, and heartworms with prescription-strength prevention. These pesky and potentially disease-causing bugs love to lurk in the grass and bushes.

2. Get Fit with Fido or Toned with Your Tabby

It’s a great time to invest some time in getting in shape with your dog or cat. Add extra time to your regular walks or start a new running routine. Keep in mind, that dogs should have an hourglass shape from chest to waist to hips and not all dogs are cut out for running. We can assess your dog’s health and body weight to help determine a fitness plan and fitness goals.

While your cat could probably care less about going for a run, she may enjoy a bit of yoga. Cats and dogs both seem to love when we get down on their level and enjoy some cat-cows and downward dogs. Open the windows for a bit of fresh air and focus on a positive affirmation to make the most of a yoga practice.

3. Help Prepare Your Pet for Your Return to Work

Your current pet coworkers may be a bit fuzzier than those at the office, but they’re probably a lot needier. Your pets likely love having you home. Unfortunately, this could backfire when it comes time to return to 40 hours or more at your job.

To reduce the returning-to-work-blues and possibility of your pet developing separation anxiety, try these:

  • Stick to a schedule including mealtimes and walks
  • Try to spend some time out of the home, even if it’s just a solo-walk
  • Create some activities that encourage positive associations with your leaving like hiding treats throughout the house or giving your dog a frozen peanut-butter stuffed toy. Cats benefit from these activities, too.

4. Go Green and Make Some Up-Cycled Pet Toys

It’s probably crossed your mind that pet toys should be considered “essential,” but running an errand just to pick up a few odds and ends isn’t worth the risk. Repairing and making new pet toys is a great way to breathe new life into old toys, keep yourself busy, and reduce waste.

Try re-stuffing a de-fluffed toy and sewing the seam shut. If you don’t have batting, you can fill it with ripped or torn clothes. To help pique your cat’s interest in the new-to-mew toy, add a little catnip to the filling.

Get crafty and create brand new toys from holey socks and other household objects. Collect those extra buttons and ribbons to really jazz up your DIY project.

5. Treat Your Cat or Dog to Fresh-Baked Treats

If you’re a baker, you may have noticed grocery aisles are eerily absent of yeast, bread flour, and sugar. Luckily, these aren’t necessary when it comes to baking healthy pet treats, and treating your pet with wholesome ingredients is much better than stress-eating, right?

Use this time to explore and experiment with some new recipes. Best of all, your pets will love each and everything you make.

6. Work on Unwanted Behaviors and Learn New Tricks

There is no better time than the present to begin working on correcting those small but unwanted behaviors. From your cat sharpening her claws on the sofa to your dog pulling on the leash, you can devote a bit of quaran-time to fixing these behaviors.

Make sure your cat has plenty of options for healthy claw-sharpening. Use those newly acquired DIY skills to make a cardboard scratching post or mat.

As for your dog, you can finally take a walk without rushing and spend the necessary time it takes to stop when he or she begins to pull.

This is also a wonderful time to work on some new tricks to keep your dog or cat mentally active. Cats learn to sit pretty quickly, but can your cat master a new trick each week during quarantine? How about your dog?

If your talented pet already knows more tricks than most, remember practice makes perfect.

We Wish You and Your Pet a Productive and Healthy Quarantine

From our entire team, we wish you and your pet a safe, healthy, and productive quarantine. We also want you to know that we’re here to keep your pet healthy. From your pet’s spring flea, tick, and heartworm prevention to helping alleviate those pesky spring allergies, let’s make this May the healthiest it can be.

Getting Ahead of Fleas: Your Fall Guide to Parasite Prevention

As pet owners, we can attest that flea infestation can not only be annoying but also extremely dangerous to our pets. Fleas can cause severe skin irritation, and anemia, and even transmit deadly diseases. As we approach the fall season, it's essential to be proactive...

Surgical FAQ

Not all clinics are the same… Many pet owners don’t understand that there can be great differences in the quality of care when it comes to surgical procedures and dental procedures between different veterinary clinics. Those differences are often reflected in price....

Ready For Summer? 5 Ways to Help Your Pet

Are you ready to enjoy warm summer days with your furry friend? With summer just around the corner, it’s essential to make sure you and your pets are prepared for some fun in the sun. In this article, we’ll discuss five ways you can keep your pet healthy and safe this...

Keeping Pets Parasite Free Helps People, Too!

While parasite prevention is essential for your pet’s health, it can also play a critical role in keeping you and your family safe. Some of the parasites that affect pets can be spread to people. In this article, we’ll discuss which parasites could be a risk to you...

Love Your Pet? Show Their Teeth Some TLC

Are you looking for ways to show your pet some extra love this Valentine’s Day? While toys and treats are great, there is nothing better than giving your pet the gift of health. February is National Pet Dental Health Month and an excellent time to make your pet’s...

It’s Veterinary Technician Week!

Why Veterinary Technicians Are Our Unsung Heroes The week of October 17-23 is National Veterinary Technician Week, and we love taking the opportunity to celebrate the hardworking veterinary technicians that make our practice the special place that it is. Are you...

The Gift of Health for Your Pet

As you’re shopping for the holiday season, you may ask yourself, “What’s the best gift I can give my pet?” While pet sweaters are cute and can make for adorable holiday cards, we believe the best present a pet parent can gift their pet is a healthy, happy life. When...

Celebrate Thanksgiving with an Attitude of Gratitude

Despite all that has happened in 2020, this year has its hidden gems. From having more time to snuggle with the cat to greeting neighbors working from home on walks with the dog, there is still so much to be thankful for as we approach Thanksgiving. While we usually...

Have a Not-So-Scary October

2020 has been scary enough, so there’s no need for any extra worries this year. To help keep your pets safe this October, we’re offering you our top tricks to keeping the treat in this sweet month. 1. Chocolate, Raisins, and Xylitol When it comes to trick-or-treating...

3 Hidden Summer Hazards That Can Be Fatal for Pets

The dog days of summer are here. For many, this season comes with endless possibilities for having fun with your pets, like picnics, nature walks, and swimming pools. After being stuck at home for so long due to COVID-19, we bet you’re looking to break up the boredom...