Tag Archive for: pet tips

The Importance Of Keeping Your Pets Hydrated

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The Importance Of Keeping Your Pets Hydrated

We all know the importance of drinking water daily. But did you know it’s just as important for your pets to stay hydrated as you?

  • Water maintains healthy cell function: Just like in humans, water makes up the majority of our pets cells and is essential to keeping healthy cell function.
  • Helps aid in digestion: Water plays a function in helping your pet digest food. Not enough water means they may have digestive issues.
  • Helps aid in nutrient absorption:  Similar to digestion, water helps your pet absorb nutrients from their food.
  • Makes movement easier: Water helps to lubricate your pets joints and helps to cushion them. Without enough water your pet may have trouble moving and may be in pain.

As you can see, water provides essential functions for life. Make sure your pet is getting between .05-1 ounce of water per pound of body weight each day to help maintain healthy functions.

Here’s some of our favorite ways to help keep your pet hydrated!

  • Add more water bowls: Want to change it up? Try out a fountain with your pet or add ice discs to keep the water cool.
  • Freeze wet dog food to create a pupsicle: Stock up on wet food that comes in a pouch this season. Cut a small hole into the pouch, add a bit of water (ideal for pâté food), and insert a popsicle stick. Let freeze until solid.
  • Add water to your pets food: A simple trick to get more water into your pets diet, add a few teaspoons or tablespoons of water to their food.
  • Fresh fruit as a treat: Blueberries, apple slices, seedless watermelon, and cantaloupe are all hydrating and healthy treats for your dog.Pet Hydration Ideas Infographic

Have you tried any of these ways to keep your pet hydrated? Let us know your favorite methods in the comments!

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Tips to Get Your Dog to Go Outside in the Cold

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We all know it’s not very pleasant to use a cold bathroom in the middle of winter.  So, it’s no surprise to know that our dogs feel the same discomfort when it’s cold outside.  Often dogs refuse to go potty outside in the cold or rain. This causes them to hold it all day and have accidents in the house.  This is harmful to your pet and not to mention bad for your rugs, that’s why we have a few tricks to get you through!
 
Want to watch this blog instead of read? Check out our video below.

Top 3 Tips to Get Your Dog to Go Outside in the Cold

Shovel a Spot

Uncover a small grassy area for them to use, it should be big enough for them to turn around a few times and sniff the area.  It’s best to do this in an area that they have used before. They will get the “green light” to go if they can pick up the scent of past potties. Also, make sure to bundle them up in jackets and sweaters that fit snug to avoid accidents.  You may want to invest in little booties for them as well for days where the ground is frozen.

Is your dog already a pro at going outside in the cold? Need an extra hand during those mid-day potty breaks? We have recommended schedules for dogs.

 

Give Out Treats

You can help train your dog to go on command by using cue words such as “Go Potty or Time to Go”. Cue words help them know when it’s time to potty.  In my house, we say, “Let’s go do a good boy” to let our dog Rigsby know when it’s time head out for a bathroom break.   Once you use the verbal cues, make sure to dole out treats. It may be cold for you outside as well but stand right next to them to hand them out as soon as they go.  Don’t until they return to the doorway. They may think they treat is because they are coming to you and not because of the potty break.  

brown and black long coated small dog

c: tamasp

Make an Indoor Potty Place

What if the weather is terrible outside for weeks and your dog refuses to use potty outside? You can make an indoor bathroom for your dog. Be aware that if you do this, it can be very hard for them to be house trained to use the bathroom outside again.
 
It does, make sense for some families to set up an exercise pen or baby gate in the garage/laundry room. This makes a special area for them use. Put real grass bathroom patches or a pee pad in the area. Your dog will know that they have a safe space to use in the home and leave your carpets safe from accidents.
 
It can be hard on pets and pet parents in the winter months. Following these tips will help you get through until spring. Don’t forget to let us know any tips that work for you in the comments!

5 Tips on Feeding and Medicating Pets

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All of our sitters at Sidehill have lots of experience working with animals in various settings. Over the years we have picked up some tips for a variety of pet care topics such as feeding, medicating, walking and playing. This article will focus on feeding and medicating pets.

Feeding

Your Sidehill sitter will always follow the feeding directions you give us, but here are some tips we have picked up over the years.

Wash out food and water bowls at least once a week.

After about a week a slimly layer of germs will build up in your pets water bowl, not only is this gross but it could make your pet sick. If you feed wet food, food bowls can end up with a lot of dried food stuck in them. All this dried food gives bacteria a good place to hide. Washing out food bowls removes these bacteria.

If you feed wet food, add water.

This tip has two positives, the first in cleaning and the other in pet health care. Adding about a tablespoon of water to wet food makes it much easier to clean. The food does not dry our as much so you can simply rinse the bowl rather than having to scrub dried food off. The other positive is that it tricks your pet into drinking some extra water.

Add water to an older pet’s dry food.

Dental disease is very common in pets, particularly older pets. This can cause their teeth to be sore and make it hard to eat dry kibble. By adding about a tablespoon of water and letting it sit you will soften the food and make it easier to eat. Many people find that this makes a huge difference in that amount of dry food their dog will eat.

Medicating

Your Sidehill Sitter is a pro at medicating dogs and cats, here are some tips on how we do it.

Hide the pill.

The easiest way to medicate a dog or cat is to hide the pill. There are a million different ways to hide the pill and what you choose depends of what food your dog or cat likes to eat. Choose a food that your pet loves and will gobble up without a second thought. Many people sneak pills into their dogs food and mix it up with wet food, this works really well for dogs who love their food. What I have found to be the most effective method for dogs is hiding the pill in a teaspoon of peanut butter. Most dogs LOVE peanut butter and its sticky texture will keep the pill from falling it. Be sure the peanut butter you use is dog safe (see our article on Xylitol in a previous blog). Cats can be a littler trickier to trick into eating a pill. Many pet owners have found success using pill pockets or placing the pill in a soft treat. Another good option is mixing the pill in a tiny bit of canned tuna.

Tickle your pet.

This one sounds really odd but it is a good option for pilling dogs and cats. This method involves putting the pill in your pet’s mouth then making your pet swallow it. For dogs and cats who do not run away when you try to pill them, walk over and open your pet’s mouth. Put the pill of the as far back on your pet’s tongue as possible. Close your pet’s mouth and hold it closed. Now for the tickling part; while holding your pet’s head tilted up, stroke his or her throat with your finger. This will cause your pet to swallow, and swallow the pill. Be sure to watch your pet for a minute after to make sure he or she did swallow the pill and did not spit it out. For pets who are prone to running away as soon as they see a pill bottle do the same steps, but start by straddling your pet between your legs.

Hopefully these tips will help make pet care easier for you and leave more time for having fun with your pet. Tips on other pet care topics will be in future blogs.

Do you have any helpful advice for feeding, medicating pets or other pet care tips? Write them on our Facebook page or email them to us! We would love to hear your tips.