With plants flowering, pollens spreading through the breeze, and our pets exposed to weeds and other grasses in the backyard or on walks, our pets might experience adverse skin reactions to these seasonal environmental changes.
As the weather warms and our pet pals spend more time outdoors, keep an eye out for signs that the change in season could affect your pet. Continue reading “Springtime pet allergies”
Animals use their sense of smell, touch, taste and sound to learn about their surroundings, find food, hunt, play and more. Their senses are attuned to their environments and just like humans, engaging the senses of our pet pals in various ways helps keep their minds engaged and sharp.
There are various ways to engage your pet’s senses. Many of which you may already do. Here are a few ideas to spark your pet’s imagination.
Sight:
Bright colours and moving objects are ideal forms of visual stimulation that will capture your pet’s attention. Interactive toys such as laser pointers for cats or the humble bouncy ball for dogs can serve as visual stimulation for your pet. Colourful bedding and toys not only add a splash of colour to your pet’s special space, it can also attract their gaze and intrigue.
Sound:
Pitch, volume and different noises serve as auditory stimulation for your pet. Many pet parents leave the radio on for their pet pal during the day for familiarity. Music and audiobooks can be another good source of auditory stimulation throughout the day. When a calming mood is needed, sounds of nature help soothe our fur friends.
Touch:
Our pet pals are always eager for a cuddle or a roll around in the backyard. Human touch plays an important role in providing a stimulating experience, in addition to strengthening our bond with our animal companions. Other ways to offer tactile stimulation for our pets include providing bedding or play mats with different textures.
Taste:
Feeding does more than fill our pet’s tummies. It is also an opportunity to engage their sense of taste. Treats and food puzzles make mealtime fun and engaging. Food puzzles also help challenge pets and engage their minds to work for their food. Offering a variety of flavours and textures during mealtimes is another exciting way to engage your pet’s sense of taste.
Smell:
Animals have a very powerful sense of smell. Scented toys can be used to intrigue or soothe your pet. Hiding treats for your pet to find using their sense of smell is also a clever way of keeping them stimulated.
Providing our pet pals with sensory experiences will help keep their minds and bodies active and engaged. Remember to suit the activity to your pet’s unique needs, age and breed. With a little time and thought, offering sensory experiences will enhance your pet’s environment and enrich their life, health and happiness.
For the times you can’t be there with your pet pal, engage a live-in pet sitter to provide sensory stimulation for your doggo or kitty while you’re away.
Their slithery scales and forked tongues may make many of us squeamish, but their cleanliness and easy maintenance make snakes ss-sensational pets.
Around 3% of Australian households play home to pet reptiles with an estimated 538,000 pet reptiles dotted across the country. Snakes are the top choice for reptile lovers with 36% of reptile owners welcoming one – or more! – into their home.
As the most popular reptilian pet amongst Aussies, let’s sense-check our skills in caring for our slithery snake friends to ensure their happiness and everyone’s safety. Continue reading “Sensible snake care”
As the winter chill begins to set in, it’s important to care for our pet pals’ comfort, health and safety needs as the temperature drops. Whether you have a playful pup, a curious cat, or a cuddly bunny, here are some tips to keep your beloved pets warm and cozy this winter.
The comforts of a warm bed
Blankets that pets can snuggle into will help insulate pet pals from the cold. Adding pillows or old towels to their sleeping quarters will help cushion their bodies and provide an extra layer of protection against the chill of the ground. Continue reading “Pawesome winter warming ideas”
Have you ever noticed that the soft, almost inaudible click signalling the TV powering up is enough to summons your pawesome pet pal from wherever they may be? Are your pet’s eyes transfixed on the screen as you watch the latest episode of Neighbours together?
In an age of digital entertainment, where streaming services are entrenched in everyday TV viewing and binge-watching is a cultural phenomenon, it’s not just humans who are attracted to the glowing screen. Furry friends across the country – and the world – are snuggling up on the couch with their humans to watch along for entertainment and stimulation. Continue reading “Do pets love TV as much as we do?”
Heading into the cooler months makes most of us feel like slowing down – and it’s the same for our pets. Here are some tips to help adjust your pet’s exercise routine to suit the weather, terrain and your pet’s individual needs. Continue reading “Pair pet exercise routines for cooler conditions”
We’ve all read the stats and facts that our pets boost our mood, improve our health and bring positivity to our lives. Now it’s time to turn the tables to consider the well-being of our pets and ways we can support them to thrive in life.
As pet parents and carers, we often look to the physical wellness of our pets, rather than dicing a little deeper to see what else could be happening under the surface. Continue reading “Minding our pet’s mental wellbeing”
The best laid plans can change in and instant. Preparing for unexpected situations will ensure fur friends have all the essentials they need for their wellbeing. Check out these tips on how to create an emergency kit for pets.
Container or backpack – Decide on how you are going to store the pet essentials. If you’re home or region is prone to flooding, high moisture or wet conditions, a waterproof container may be a good option. For easy transport in an emergency, a backpack always works well. Consider all the items that you may want to carry during an emergency, and decide on the most suitable option for you and your pet. Continue reading “Pet preparedness: How to pack an emergency kit for your pet”
Taking the time to share a review not only provides insight into the personality of the sitter or home and pet owner but also benefits the wider pet sitting community. A review can recognise effort, provide constructive feedback, or help others understand the expectations and responsibilities involved in a house and pet sitting assignment.
Here are just a few reasons why leaving a review benefits more than just those being reviewed. Continue reading “The power of a review”
The three Cs of pet medication
We love our pet pals, and we want them to live long and healthy lives. Sometimes, that means that they need medication. While it can be a challenging process for both pets and pet parents, it is necessary.
The three Cs of pet medication will help you get through. Just remember calm, confidence, and a little compassion go a long way when administering medication for a pet pal.
Here are some tips to help you safely get your pet to have the medication they need.
If you’re having trouble administering medication for your pet pal, contact your vet for advice. They may be able to provide additional tips or alternative medications that are easier to administer.