It’s Back to School Season!

It's Back to School season! Believe it or not, this can affect our pets in many ways! Often, this means a schedule change for us and our four legged family members! That may be feeding times, potty breaks and even play time. Pets, like humans, are very schedule oriented.  While somethings are out of our control when it comes to scheduling changes, it is important to keep some things the same to ease the transition for our pets. 

One of the most common changes is less time for daily play and exercise. Carpools, homework and the evening rush can be stressful. But, our pets still need exercise and mental stimulation. Even 10 minutes of walking or playtime can make a huge difference in the physical and mental health of our pets.  Set a time everyday for this small activity and soon it will be as simple as brushing your teeth – just a part of your daily routine. You will probably also benefit from this activity as well. Pets are a great source of stress relief for their humans (most of the time 😃 ).

Keeping meal time consistent daily is also important. Let’s face it – meal time is most pets favorite time of day!  And, most dogs need to go #2 shortly after a meal. This consistency helps prevent unfortunate accidents. Adjusting meal times to ensure they can be consistent is a great option.

Morning walks are good for everybody!

For many of you – either kids or kids and parents may be home during the summer. Our pets love this extra attention and time spent outside, walking, etc. They may be sad at the sudden change. This will resolve as they become used to the school schedule. However, they may want some extra snuggles when you are home. Try to take a few minutes and give those sweet cuddles and kisses.

If your pet develops separation anxiety when the house goes from chaos to quiet – we can help! There are many ways to desensitize your dog to you leaving help them feel confident and comfortable at home alone. And sometimes medications can help as well.

If you have a sad, bored or anxious pet, please reach out to us and we are happy to provide suggestions for a happier life for all of you!