How to Keep Your Pet Entertained While You’re Away
In a perfect world, we would be able to take our pets with us everywhere we go. What are pet owners supposed to do when they have to leave their pet at home? Sometimes, pets are tolerant of an hour or two alone. Other times, the mere sight of an owner’s car keys can send a pet into a spiral. Providing entertainment options can certainly get a pet through daily bouts of solitude-inducing anxiety and boredom, but it may not always be clear how a pet wants to pass their time.
Variety Is the Spice of Life
Whether you have to leave the house for school, work, social gatherings or errands, all your pet knows is that you’re going somewhere without them. This can trigger feelings of fear, stress, and anxiety, but associated symptoms can be totally avoided with a little strategizing.
Luckily, you know your pet better than anyone, and you can use this knowledge to find creative solutions to necessary alone time. Knowing their interests, skills, and personality can help you decide what options to try. Once you know what kinds of toys your pet enjoys, rotate them out on a weekly basis.
Before You Go
Anytime you have to leave the house, you can try to spend quality time with them before heading out. Your pet may appreciate a bit of a walk, run, game of fetch, tug, or laser tag. Giving them a chance to blow off steam will help reduce agitation when it’s time to leave the house. Be sure they also go to the bathroom before you leave.
Crate training is an exceptional option for many pets, because their crate inspires feelings of safety and security for them. While you’re gone, you can have peace of mind that they aren’t chewing electric cords or eating the couch, and they feel comfortable in their safe space.
Keeping Pets Busy
Fill a size-appropriate Kong with your pet’s favorite food and freeze it. You could try non-fat yogurt, Xylitol-free peanut butter, low-sodium broth, mashed sweet potato, banana, or cheese. This will get them to lick and chew to their heart’s content, while the melting treat delivers a safe food reward over time. Some pets can take up to an hour to get all the treats out, and afterwards they have used enough energy to need a well-earned nap.
Mental Stimulation for Pets
A lot of pets also enjoy different types of food puzzles. If they are on a weight loss plan, you can even save some of their meal portions for these puzzle toys, so they get the chance to earn their calories. Snuffle mats simulate a pet’s natural instinct to sniff and seek out tasty morsels. This can be deeply satisfying to their mental stimulation, while also giving them a tasty treat.
Pet Enrichment
If your pet displays ongoing resistance to your departures, consider hiring a pet sitter or dog walker to come by in the middle of the day. Doggie daycare options help to satisfy the canine need to socialize. These options break up the boredom, give you an extra set of eyes on your pet’s safety and well-being, and provide much needed entertainment during an otherwise humdrum day.
Stay In Touch
Alleviating pet boredom and separation anxiety is a priority at MarketPlace Veterinary Hospital all year long. If you have questions about your pet’s behavior, safety, or health please call our veterinarians at (916) 939‑1705.