The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many pets spending significantly more time quarantined with their owners, for better or for worse! This can be a good or a bad thing for both parents and owners, depending on how you look at it. As a pet supplies store in State College, Pennsylvania, we’re going to treat it as a good thing.
Extra time with your pets is good for both your emotional health and theirs and can reduce anxiety – a huge benefit in times like these! While this may seem like a bad thing, this is actually all well and good for emotional health. However, we can’t forget about the health of our pets and animals as well! We’ve got 4 tips for pets in quarantine to help you keep your animals safe and healthy while you’re staying home and staying safe. Read on for our tips on keeping your pets safe during COVID-19.
1. Refrain from overfeeding
When you work from home or spend more time in the dining room that’s been converted to a home office, you might find yourself reaching for snacks more often than you would at the office or at work. This is quite a common side effect of spending extra time at home – do you ever wonder if you’re hungry, or just bored?
This habit can translate to how often you feed your pet. With nearly 60% of household pets classified as obese, their food intake is definitely worth paying a little extra attention to while in quarantine.
If you think this is becoming a problem, try these strategies:
For all your pet food needs in State College, you can shop at your local pet supply store near you at Wiscoy For Animals, conveniently located at 424 W Aaron Dr # 100, State College, PA 16803.
2. Maintain a feeding schedule
To take this one step further, it’s a good idea to maintain, as best as you can, your pet’s food schedules (and yours, too!). Like humans, pets are comforted by routines and their diet, stress levels, and hormones can be thrown off as a result of the changes made because of COVID-19.
If your pets are used to being fed in the morning and then left at home for most of the day while you worked, it’s a good idea to try to maintain that while in quarantine. Similarly, if your pet is used to playing outside after being fed, try to make that a part of your own routine as you work from home as well.
If you must make a new schedule it’s important that you stick to it as much as you can. When you stick to your new schedule, your pets will sense that this is their new normal and will adjust to this new environment. For specialized help at your local pet store, feel free to speak with a staff member at Wiscoy for Animals in State College, Pennsylvania. We are happy to help!
3. Stay planned for medical needs
Even if your pet hasn’t needed a checkup or veterinary visit while in quarantine, it’s important to know what the new standards and adaptations are at your local veterinary office. Most veterinary offices are still operating but have put measures in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
Call or email ahead to have a better understanding of the new expectations for you and your pet and keep a plan on how you will get care for your pets in case they get sick. You also need to have a pet-care plan in case you fall ill. If you haven’t already, leave instructions for a close friend or family member to disinfect your dog’s paws and fur, their feeding arrangements, where to find pet food, and arrangements for their boarding.
4. Keeping pets entertained in quarantine
This might be the most difficult part of quarantine – keeping energetic puppies and kittens entertained! At Wiscoy for Animals we have dog toys, cat toys, canine enrichment and engagement activities, and more for you to choose from that can keep cats and dogs occupied for hours.
There are numerous ways for your pets to exercise indoors if you must. Feel free to call and ask an associate at Wiscoy for Animals (814-231-8711) for additional ideas, resources, toys, and more. If you want to go outside the box, consider buying a laser pointer, bubble-blowing toys, or stream an animal-related tv show!
Conclusion
As your local pet supply store in State College, we at Wiscoy for Animals are taking our responsibilities very seriously. We know that the COVID-19 crisis is frightening and can be especially so if you are caring for another living being such as your pets and animals. We hope that these 4 tips for pets in quarantine will help you and your animals adapt quickly and safely to the situation.
For pet supplies and resources, questions, accessories, and more in State College, Pennsylvania please contact us at Wiscoy for Animals. You can also order by email online for curbside pickup. Stay home, stay safe, we are with you!