Challenges All New Pet Owners Face

 

Pro Tips For New Pet Parents

 

Whether you are a first-time pet owner or haven’t had a dog or cat for a while, bringing home a new furry friend can be exciting yet challenging! While this is especially the case with puppies, kittens, seniors, and special needs animals, all pets and pet owners go through an adjustment period in the beginning. At Texas Ruff House, we get lots of questions from our clients in Pflugerville, TX and the surrounding areas of Round Rock, Georgetown, Hutto, and North Austin about health, behavior, and everything under the sun! Once you get into a routine that works for you and your dog or cat, you will find that the challenges you go through will actually help you become a better pet owner!

When is the right time to call the vet?

As new pet parents, we may constantly find ourselves questioning whether something is normal all the time. It’s very common for pet owners to overreact and run to the vet for an issue that can be managed at home. Therefore, we always suggest seeking professional advice first, and if you can troubleshoot your dog or cat’s problem at home with your vet’s approval, great!

 

 

 

Uh oh, my pet doesn’t like the groomer!

If your pet does not seem to be having a positive experience with their groomer, perhaps your dog or cat is over or under stimulated before their grooming appointment. Take a look at what happened during the day leading up to the visit to understand if an activity or event may have impacted how your pet felt at the appointment.

My pet is super picky with their food.

This is a common problem that pet owners end up trying to solve by appeasing their pets into eating their food. There are so many dry and wet food options on the market, which may lead pet owners to try several kinds to discover the one their dog or cat will gladly eat. We encourage you to also explore other complete diets, like home cooked, freeze dried, and raw options. These are more expensive, but pet owners have also had success feeding hybrid diets combining kibble with one of these options. 

Help, my pet has separation anxiety!

The last 20 months have presented a wave of issues for both new and longtime pet parents to navigate with their dog or cat. Now that we are post-lockdown, it’s critical to address these issues and help our pets continue to adjust to the ever-changing definition of “normal”. As a pet parent, you may be feeling nervous and sad about leaving your dog or cat home alone all day. Separation anxiety is a real problem and it’s fueled by sudden changes to a routine and pets having less attention.

 

Training your pet before going back to the workplace or school full-time can make a significant impact on your pet’s separation anxiety, which affects dogs and cats alike. Begin practicing leaving your pet alone for short periods of time, and gradually work your way up to longer periods. Before implementing your new full-time schedule, start adding elements of it to establish a routine specific for your pet, whether it consists of new mealtimes, playtimes, walks, etc. Consistently do these activities at times that will fit your schedule going forward.

The goal is to keep your pet happy and healthy, so look out for signs like your pet going to the bathroom where they shouldn't, acting out, differences in mood or behavior, and not eating food while they're going through this adjustment.

Our team of pet care providers can help!

As a local pet care business, we would be amiss not to mention our services to help you through this time! At Texas Ruff House, we offer pet sitting in your own home, dog walking, and cat care that gives your pet the care and attention they need and leaves them feeling fulfilled and satisfied until you come home. If you are a multi-pet household, we can tailor services to allot enough time to care for each of your pets. Our team of professional pet care professionals go above and beyond to provide enrichment and meaningful interaction for your pet in addition to fulfilling their basic needs.

 

One thing that never changes is that our desire for companionship will always be a driving factor for bringing home a new pet. Bookmark this article for reference and share it with a friend who plans to get a pet in the near future! As always, we invite you to reach out to our team at Texas Ruff House to answer your pet parenting questions, as we’ve seen it all! We’re here to support you and your cherished pet.