All of us who have a furry friend know for a fact how their behaviour gets affected by mood or the time of the day, just like us. This is why it’s important to feed them food that is healthy and ideal for them.

A hungry pet who won’t eat is every pet owner’s worst nightmare come true. On one hand you’re worried for them, on the other you’re frustrated at their stubbornness.

I know you care a lot about your pet and wouldn’t feed it something knowing that it would cause harm but the fact of the matter is that most dogs with picky eating habits are used to “luxurious” food items such as table scraps that they receive at the end of our meal.

Here are a few strategies that involve trying different types of food and understanding the difference so that the next time you pick up something to feed your friend, you’d be reassured knowing that they’d love it.

Human grade dog food for the spoilt friend 

Given that most of us feed table scraps to our pets, it’s not strange for them to develop a taste for it. Once your pet develops a liking for food that we eat, it will be very tough for them to look at that bowl of dog food with the same excitement.

An alternative to feeding them something that they’d consider bland or not worthy of their palate could be the perfect substitute.

The next time you’re in the supermarket look for dog food that’s using human-grade food materials or simply put, food ingredients that are fit for human consumption. Such delicacies are bound to reduce their dislike for dog food.

Cucumbers, carrots and everything veggie

Our paw buddies aren’t able to tell you verbally whether they’d prefer a veggies based diet or a meat-based diet or a blend of both. We just try to figure that out as we try giving them a little bit of everything in the hopes that they’d eventually love something.

My friend had been facing the same issue which is when they tried offering cucumbers and other salad grade food which their pet devoured and since then, in addition to the regular dog food, some form of salad is always given to ensure that they get that extra hit of fresh veggies while getting the nutrition that’s needed.

The basic point, experiment with fresh food and see how they respond to it.

Natural ingredient based diet

With ingredients being the main focus of our discussion, I’d be remiss to not add another factor. How much of your dog’s food is based on natural ingredients and how much of it isn’t.

If you read the ingredients section of any packaging you’d find yourself as surprised as I was the first time I read the backside of one of those packages. Barring the basic raw material, there is no relevant information like where was it sourced from, how long was the raw material processed for or what form of processing was undertaken to obtain the final product.

It’s easier to do that in a supermarket, how do you manage to do it with online pet stores? The best place to start would be by reading product reviews or the list of ingredients and where you find them.

You could begin your journey from here to understand what to look for when you’re buying pet food online.

Avoid corn

A corn-based diet is healthy for humans but when it comes to dogs, feeding them corn won’t be doing their digestive system any favours.

If you’ve noticed your dog’s eating behaviour change after being introduced to new dog food, you’d want to check the list of ingredients to be sure.

It’s also possible that the dog food that you’ve been serving them all along has made changes to its ingredients, so be sure to look out for that as well.

Go easy on the treats

Another proven fact is that dogs who get habitual to eating treats often develop a flawed eating habit which prevents them from looking at their designated meals with as much gusto as they’d eye a treat.

Try regulating the treats and you’d notice a world of a difference when it comes to eating that same “bland” food regularly.

Dogs are dear friends and need to be treated with love, but too much of anything is never a good idea which is why, if you truly do care about your pet you’d be a little stern with them every once in a while.

If you’d like to understand more about what causes a change in the eating habits of your pet, read this article wherein  Lousie Murray, a doctor of veterinary medicine explains the various factors affecting a pet’s behaviour.

Conclusion

The basic takeaway from this article should be that love can not always be gentle, it needs to be stern as well, to help your paw friend develop good eating habits. The other main thing to look out for is which ingredient suits your pet and what doesn’t. I hope you find what you’re looking for as does your pet.

Our furry friends are not just our companions. After a while, they become our beloved children, needing proper care and attention. Your dog’s health depends on a lot of factors, such as its diet, the amount of exercise it receives, and its grooming schedule.

If any mishap occurs, your dog will not only fall prey to illnesses but you’ll also have to end up paying hefty bills. Did you know that in the US, every 6 seconds, a dog owner has to pay a vet bill of $1000? If you want to keep your little baby happy, here are five ways.

1. Exercise daily

Just like humans, dogs, too, need to exercise every day in order to maintain a healthy weight. One of the commonest problems dogs face later in life is obesity. Daily workout sessions with your dog will keep both of you fit and prevent a host of heart and cholesterol diseases in your baby.

Depending on the breed that you have, you need to set a specific time limit for exercising. Larger breeds require almost a full hour of exercise, while small or toy breeds need just about 20-30 minutes.

You can either take your dog for a walk in the park every evening or play a few games like fetch or jump-over-the-obstacles in your backyard (if you have one).

2. Take it for regular checkups

Regular checkups are a must to see how your dog is doing. Most owners only take their vets once or twice every year to the vets for vaccinations. But this is a mistake you must avoid.

Dogs can suffer from many underlying diseases like diabetes or arthritis that cannot be detected early if you don’t take it for regular checkups. Ideally, you must go to the vet about once a month but once in two months is also acceptable.

On top of this, make sure your pet undergoes an annual wellness exam that consists of some health screens. Your vet will check your pet’s temperature, heart rate, paws, and fur to see if anything is wrong or not.

3. Vaccinate it

Along with regular checkups, vaccination is another big area of concern. Dogs can suffer from deadly diseases like parvovirus, rabies, or canine distemper.

If you’ve brought home a puppy, take it to the vet and get it vaccinated as soon as possible. If you have rescued an adult dog, make sure its vaccinations are all up-to-date. If not, then you must schedule vaccinations periodically.

Some of the common diseases against which your vet will provide a vaccine are bordetella, canine hepatitis, coronavirus, and heartworm. It’s important to remember that there is no fixed vaccination schedule for a dog. It will vary depending on where you live and your pet’s individual risk factors.

4. Provide nutritious food

Dogs have a pretty restricted diet but you’ll have to make the most out of all the options that you have. Depending on the breed and age, you need to provide a balanced and nourishing meal so that your puppy or dog can stay healthy and happy as long as it lives.

Like humans, dogs require a balance of proteins, carbs, fats, vitamins, and minerals, along with ample amounts of water.

With so many different kinds of dog foods on the market, you might get confused as to which brand to go for. https://www.petstock.com.au/dog has an amazing collection of not just dog food, but also dog essentials to keep your pooch happy.

5. Make it social

Socializing skills of your dog also have an impact on its physical and mental health. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, early socializing skills and proper exposure to various people can help to keep your dog healthy.

The more people your pet meets, the less fearful it will be. It will also reduce tendencies like antisocial behavior, aggressive barking, and biting strangers.

So make sure to get your dog accustomed to your family members, friends, or other people. You may also wish to socialize your dog with other dogs in the neighborhood so that they can play together and stay fit.

Over to you…

These are the five healthy ways in which you can improve your dog’s health and make sure it lives a long, happy life. If you see any discomfort in your dog, rush to the vet immediately before things get worse.

Being a pet caregiver might seem like a fairly easy task, but it’s actually not. Professional pet sitters like the ones at https://www.happyhousesitters.com.au/ have to keep a lot of things in mind while taking care of the tiny-little furry being.

After all, there’s a reason why the demand for pet sitters is expected to rise by a CAGR of 8.7 percent between 2020 to 2027.

Instead of hiring an expert randomly to take care of your pet, pet owners often contact the agency from which they adopted their pet. The agency connects them to professional pet caregivers who will commit to their job roles.

So, if you’re willing to opt for a pet sitting job, there are some things that you must know, including:

1. Pet Grooming

A professional pet sitter, when given the duty of watching over a person’s pet, is responsible for every aspect of a pet’s life, and that includes grooming too.

Tasks like fur trimming, cutting their nails, giving them a proper bath, and so on are a few of the most important tasks you have to master while you take up this job. Grooming is required for a pet’s healthy growth and if that’s not done properly, they can fall sick frequently.

2. Pet Diet

This is the most important part of being a professional pet sitter. Diet constitutes the main aspect of a pet’s life, and it’s important for you to know the right nutritional combination for a particular pet.

You must have a thorough knowledge of what the animal likes, dislikes, and what are the items that cause allergies and other diseases. You can also ask for the diet chart and weight management plan from the pet owner, and supervise the pet’s diet accordingly.

3. Pet Exercise

The pet must be healthy and fit at all times, and you as a professional pet caregiver should make sure of that. Generally, maximum information about their health and lifestyle are provided in the diet chart and you should accordingly ensure that the pet stays active.

Other than that, you must also check out various parks and open spaces near the locality and make sure to take your pet (if it’s a cat or a dog) on daily walks. Allow them to socialize with other pets.

Playing in the open can point out various underlying problems in the pet and if there are any, you can contact a vet accordingly.

4. Pet Medication

Many pets are born with various health problems due to which they’re prescribed medications. If that is the case with the pet that you’re sitting with, then you need to be ultra-cautious and keep yourself educated about the pet’s condition.

5. Emergencies

I am sure you don’t want it, but emergencies don’t come knocking at the door. So, in case, the pet meets with a sudden mishap, you should have a planned strategy that ensures maximum safety for the pet. Always keep the vet’s contact number on the speed dial so that you can reach out to him in an emergency.

6. House Rules

Every pet owner has their own set of house rules laid down for the health and safety of their pets. Even if you’re a professional, make sure to abide by these regulations so that you don’t offend the pet owner. Apply your knowledge in the areas such as diet and exercise, but make sure to take the house rules into consideration.

7. Communication

You’re a pet sitter, who is given the duty to take care of the owner’s pets in their absence. So, it’s normal if the owners try to contact you at frequent intervals to know about their pet’s whereabouts. Understand the importance of good communication with the pet owner, as this will facilitate them being content with your service.

8. Pet Behaviors

Being able to study a pet’s behavior is also another important quality that you should possess as a professional pet sitter. Behavioral changes in the pet often indicate that something is wrong, and if you’re able to study them effectively, you’ll be able to identify the problem and make them feel at ease.