Did you get a new pet during Covid? What a great idea! However now with you or the kids heading back to school, University, or work this fall you will have to make some changes as to how to care for your pet when you are away. Our Pisces team would love to share some tips and tricks as to how to stay on top of your pet care while being away from them for periods of time. Just because you are away for the day, does not mean your new loved one cannot continue to receive outstanding care!
Dogs
Now who can resist a wagging tail and those puppy dog eyes?! Bringing home a pup is one of the most exciting things, especially when you have all the time in the world to train, bond, and take care of them. However, if you are going to be away from your dog during the day, the biggest tip we can give is to stay on top of their energy levels. Sure, every breed of dog is different and requires their own respective amount of daily exercise. Something that is easier than you may think, is to wake up 20-30 minutes earlier and make sure that the very first thing you do when you wake up is walk your dog. This can be a simple walk on a leash, and social time at the local dog park, or an ambitious 3-5km run. This will help decrease energy levels and helps keep your dog happy and tail wagging. Pairing the morning outing with an afternoon outing for the same duration or even longer will really give you an advantage of staying on top of your dog’s energy levels. Without proper exercise, a dog who is at home all day may start to exhibit behavioral problems such as aggression or even depression.
Regarding products that will make life a little bit easier for both you and your pet when you are away are the Petsafe Drinkwell Pagoda Pet Fountain or the Dogit Fresh & Clear Drinking Fountain. Both products share the same function and that is to recirculate and filter your dog’s water, keeping it clean and fresh while you are not home to change the water.
Your dog will of course have less pee breaks than usual once you head back to work or school. An alternative that will give you peace of mind is the Spotty Indoor Dog Potty. This in-home artificial grass training system is easy to use and clean while giving your dog a place to relieve themselves throughout the day! It also saves you money from having to always purchase pee pads while being environmentally friendly. Double win.
Reptiles
These cute little exotic creatures require a decent amount of care whether it be lights, thermostat changes, misting them, or tending to the humidifier. All are very important, but good news…this can all still be taken care of while you are away from home!
The Zoo Med Repticare Terrarium Timer is a must have for your reptiles’ home! Okay…maybe its not a MUST HAVE but it definitely makes your life and your reptiles’ life A LOT easier. The 24-hour programmable lighting timer will provide your reptile with both a natural day and night cycle.
Another neat and easy to set-up device is the Exo Terra Dimming & Pulse Proportional Thermostat. This beauty controls terrarium temperatures very accurately from 10 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius. Again, this is another device that will make caring for your pet a lot easier for when you are not home to change the temperature.
To maintain and increase the humidity levels inside your reptile’s terrarium while you are away from home, we recommend the MistKing Hydrostat Controller HT-24. This device does the job while you are away by having the ability to set day and night humidity!
Birds
If you got a new feathered friend during Covid, you likely spent a lot of time with your bird outside of its cage. Now that you may have to leave your bird in its cage while you are away from home, its important that you still can maintain a good relationship with your bird while keeping them calm and entertained.
Our first piece of advice is to incorporate a steady schedule with your bird. Like our approach with having a dog, you may spend some dedicated time in the morning before you leave, and then a portion of time dedicated to your bird when you get home. A regular schedule will alleviate stress for your bird. It is important to note that having them outside of their cage all the time when you are home may backfire for them when its time to go back into their cage. Continue to have a balance of “in-cage” and “outside of cage” time when you are home.
While adapting to their day without you being home, we recommend the HomeoPet Multi Species D-Stress Anxiety Relief. These easy to take liquid drops help maintain normal and relaxed pet behavior.
Lastly, make sure your birds are occupied with easy to shred materials such as paper or cardboard. Just like us, birds like to play!
Related Posts
