Top Tips for Working Pet Owners

When you have a hectic schedule and are dashing between appointments or school runs, ensuring your pet is adequately cared for can be difficult. For all pet owners, the duty of care for an animal is a big responsibility. To make sure you are the best owner you can be, and that your pet is happy and well adjusted, planning your life is incredibly important. Follow these simple tips and make sure that your furry friend is catered for, even when you aren’t there yourself.

1. Bonding time

Any busy person knows that sometimes, when you have loads on your plate, personal relationships can take a bit of a hit. While partners and children can understand the source of your stress, pets cannot. Whether you have a hamster or a poodle, a rabbit or a cat, contact with your pet is important for them and you. The pet is relaxed and socialised, preventing any nipping or nibbling, and you will benefit too. Cuddling pets triggers the ‘love hormone’ oxytocin to be released in our brains and has been shown to have a calming effect on people in all different states.

2. Meal Times

Domesticated animals thrive with a routine. If you feed your dog and cat at a consistent daily time they will be a lot calmer than if their feeding schedule is all over the place. Even if you are rushing doing different things each day, make sure your pet knows what to expect. Dogs without an organised life can become anxious about their next feed, and cats are typically disloyal, and if you neglect them they will just move-out! Even if you have rodents or other caged animals, making sure they have a consistent supply of nibbles if crucial. If you notice that your pet is not eating as much as usual, be sure to visit thevet.co.uk, and if you are worried, speak to somebody about the behaviour.

3. Care at home

If you are out all the time, who is looking after your pet? Although some households have at least one person at home during the day, for many there are long stretches of the day when their house is unoccupied. If you are a cat owner, installing a cat flap will suffice to make sure your pet is occupied during these times; however, leaving a dog at home is different. Make sure you have somebody you trust popping in regularly and walking them. If you have a young pup or a challenging canine, be sure to tell whoever is walking your pooch exactly what your commands are and how you communicate. Different commands and approaches can confuse your pet and make them harder to train.

Remember, pets are the anti-dote to a life of labour. So long as you can provide for them properly, they will always be there for you when you get home after a long day. If you find yourself very stressed by the responsibility, or if because of a change in circumstance you are no longer able to care for them, look into rehoming options. No pet should be unhappy!