Pets are like a part of the family: They bring comfort to those who need it, they remind us to get up and take a relaxing walk and they give unconditional love to everyone who meets them.
During the COVID-19 quarantine, pet stores are allowed to stay open as essential businesses in Michigan. One retailer, Pet Valu, is working with “pet parents,” as they call them, to find products they need to feed and care for their furry friends.
Pets are good for your mental and overall health. Try to find time for your dog, cat, bird or even those calming fish. They may need reassurance that everything is alright, and hanging out together certainly will improve everyone’s overall mood.
Here are some suggestions from Pet Valu and Michigan pet owners on how to take care of your animals during the weeks and months to come along with some suggestions on how to stay busy during these at-home times.
Pet Food: Experts suggest maintaining a stock of two weeks’ worth of pet food on hand and suggest considering air-tight containers or other storage solutions to keep food fresh.
Water: CDC recommends keeping about two weeks’ worth of water on hand for your pet in addition to water your family might consume. You can also keep your pet’s water fresh from becoming still and accumulating bacteria.
Identification: With few people outside or able to help, having a lost pet in a quarantine can be difficult. To avoid and alleviate any issues, consider proactive solutions for identification and tracking. If your pet doesn’t have a microchip, consider an engraved tag.
Health and Wellness: If your pet takes recurring medication or supplements, consider talking to your veterinarian about increasing the pack size to ensure your stock will last until your next appointment. Your vet is considered essential, but good to have in case you or your vet is unavailable.
Waste Management and Litter: Waste management might not be a “fun” part of quarantine, but let’s make sure we keep our community spaces and homes smelling and looking clean.
Pick up a healthy habit: Been meaning to start brushing your pet’s teeth or an at-home grooming routine?
Learn new tricks: Head to YouTube and learn how to teach your dog (or cat, or even fish!) a new trick. This is a great activity for older kids as well.
Have a spa day: Give Fido a bath, trim their nails), give them a good brush and towel dry (that is sure to bring on the zoomies) and reward your pet by learning pet massage techniques on YouTube.
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