Hello! Welcome to the June edition of my latest project, Dr. Pet Mom’s Delightful Pet Menagerie (DPM) Newsletter. Summertime is fun time and this edition is about giving your pet a good quality of life.
What exactly is a good quality of life? It’s about remembering the small things that make your pet happy. Quality means the daily routines and surprises that keep your pet happy and healthy. And good health means regular mental and physical stimulation.
Quality of life looks are your pet’s overall mental, social, and physical health. There’s even a quality of life scale to explore your pet’s current condition. As a pet parent, your expectations are also important.
Fun Time for Cats
Hunting Games: Fast & Slow: Cats are natural hunters. And when she’s hunting in nature, prey moves fast and slow.
If you’re using an interactive toy like a bird, don’t keep the toy flying all the time. Place the toy on the ground so that you kitty feels she can capture the prey, not just chase it.
Chase and Capture: While your kitty loves to chase, she also loves to capture. She will enjoy and feel confident when she “captures” the toy. You will also create a human-pet bond and she will look forward to more fun time with you.
Warm Up & Cool Down: Start playtime slowly and build up to wild chases. Keep your kitty chasing toy mice and balls, then slowly end the session with slower motions. Warm up and cool down will keep your kitty healthy.
Regular Playtime: Cats love routines. Two play session each day is great. If you schedule a morning or evening play session, your kitty will be active and more awake. If you only have one session, evening is best to be sure she is relaxed and tired for the night.
Fun Time for Dogs
Hide and Seek: A wonderful indoor games for your dog is playing hide and seek. Tell your pet to stay while you find a hiding spot. Hide yourself or a favorite toy and call your doggy.
Shower your pet with praises when he finds you or the toy. Don’t be surprised is this game is a big hit with your doggy!
Food Puzzles: Mental and physical stimulation are key to any pet’s quality of life. A treat dispenser gives your dog a problem to solve. And it builds in extra mental stimulation in her daily routine.
The more mental stimulation your give your pet, the less you have to worry about excessive barking, boredom and chewing.
Couch Cuddle Time: Couch cuddling is a great way to get your doggy to settle down at the end of the day. Dogs love routine and spending time watching tv with you lets her know that it’s close to bedtime.
Practice this evening routine and your doggy will look forward to a restful sleep.
Different Walking Routines: Just like people, dogs get bored with the same routine. Walking the same route everyday is boring.
Try walking in a different neighborhood, find a new park, or let your dog lead the way. You owe it to your dog and yourself – keep your walking routine fun!
Book Update: Excerpt from Dr. Pet Mom’s Pet Parenting Guide
Each month, I will give you a special gift! When you sign up from my newsletter, I will give you a micro-excerpt from my latest book, Dr. Pet Mom’s Pet Parenting Guide: How to Enjoy the Love and Friendship of Your Senior and Special Needs Pets.
The book is planned to launch in summer 2022. Stay tuned for more details!
Please enjoy a short excerpt from my new book. Thank you!
5 Myths About Senior Pets
Myth #1: Senior pets will cost a fortune in veterinary bills.
All pets are different. You can’t judge the cost of veterinary bills based on a pet’s age. Get a veterinary checkup before you adopt. Remember that kittens and puppies can also develop health problems.
Myth #2: I’m not qualified to foster a pet.
Anyone can be a foster pet parent. Shelter and rescue staff can help you with any questions, especially first-time foster pet parents.
Staff will help and remind you of the important role of fostering shelter animals. Many shelters give you supplies, and food and cover the cost of any veterinary bills.
Myth #3: Senior pets are problem pets.
Most of the time, animals are living in a shelter because their pet parent lost their job, or had failing health.
Please don’t blame the animal for being in a shelter. Keep an open mind when thinking about adopting or fostering a shelter animal. They deserve the second chance that you can give them.
Myth #4: I can’t foster – I’d keep them all!
A “failed foster” is not a failure. Failed fostering happens when people chose to adopt their foster pet. Foster families help socialize shelter animals who live in their homes. Foster pet parents learn the animal’s personality and improve the animal’s chances of adoption.
It’s okay to want to keep a foster pet and be a “failed foster” pet parent. Adopt as many as you can. The more pets you adopt, the more space opens up in the shelter for other homeless pets.
Myth #5: I don’t want to have to say goodbye too soon.
No one wants to lose a pet too soon, but there are no guarantees in life. Create memories with your pet.
Remember that you are saving a life when you adopt a senior pet. Give them the best quality of life that you can for however many years they have with you.
5 Myths About Special Needs Pets
Myth #1: Disable animals can’t have a good quality of life.
Special needs pets can enjoy a full, active and happy life. They love to play and enjoy the outdoors as much as any other animal. Special needs pets don’t feel sorry for themselves and will love you for giving them a second chance to enjoy life.
Myth #2: Special needs pets have a lot of medical problems.
Any pet can have medical problems at any age. Special needs pets may need extra help (carts, pet wheelchairs, prostheses). They may need more training such as clicker training (sound, smell) for blind pets, and sight signals (light, movement) for deaf pets. Your patience can help special needs pets adapt and be happy in any home.
Myth #3: Special needs pets are hard to care for.
One thing special needs pets ask from you: Patience. For example, paralyzed animals need help with mobility, or wearing their doggy diapers for incontinence. They will need time. And with your help, special needs pets can adjust to their new home.
Myth #4: Special needs animals are more likely to snap and bite.
Snapping and biting are behavioral problems not related to a pet’s special needs. Animals might snap or bite because they are blind or deaf. Or if you suddenly wake or startle them, they might snap at you. Remember that many able-bodied dogs also bite or snap.
Myth #5: Blind dogs cost more and they’re not healthy.
Blind dogs are not more expensive or unhealthy than seeing dogs. Some blind dogs may cost more because of eye surgery or eye medications. But sooner or later, many dogs may need drugs or surgery. Like any other dog, a blind dog can have a variety of health issues.
I hope you enjoyed reading another excerpt from my new book, Dr. Pet Mom’s Pet Parenting Guide: How to Enjoy the Love and Friendship of Your Senior and Special Needs Pets.
Monthly Email Invite
I invite each of you to join my monthly newsletter email list and enjoy another update from Dr. Pet Mom.
My next book excerpt will explore another key to happiness for your human and furry family members.
Thanks for stopping by!
Dr. Pet Mom
“Pets understand humans better than humans do.”
–Ruchi Prabhu
Sources: Playing With Your Cat: 10 Things You Need To Know
25 Easy Ways to Keep Your Dog Happy
Playing With Your Cat: 10 Things You Need To Know
Playtime With Your Cat: Making the Right Moves