The coronavirus pandemic has caused a lot of struggle for people around the globe – the economic shutdown has left people financially stranded, and scrambling for ways and means to cope with forced resignations and separations. But apart from the monetary setbacks, it’s the mental and emotional toll that this is taking on individuals whether old or young, that can be a bigger cause for alarm. Mental health is at an all-time low, and the grief for the way things used to be has been devastating for a lot of people.
Social contact has been one of the most pertinent things that have been taken away from our emotional diets – and this has led people to turn to the people they live with to fill the void. But apart from striving to be ever more connected to housemates, there has also been an increase in attachment to one’s pets for refuge, therapy and stability, with pet adoptions seeing an increase in society significantly. You can check on foufou puppies as well
With this being the trend, it is best to remember that even our pets may be feeling the change in the atmosphere too. It would be wise to give more attention to taking extra care of them now – the need for nurturing can only be beneficial if it is a two-way street.
Here are the important points you need to remember in taking proper care of your pet – newly adopted or otherwise – as we all go through this pandemic and the accompanying quarantines and lockdowns together:
Though you may be tempted to stock up on the most amount of food for the least amount of money, this tends to also be the least healthy option for your dog, with kibble of this variety tending to have more extenders and preservatives in them. It is best to pick more nutrient-filled alternatives for your dog – those that supply a more balanced diet for better nutrition and immunity. There are brands such as Earthborn Holistic that you can check out for your needs, if you can’t prepare a home-cooked meal every time for your pets.
Your feline or canine companions still need some Vitamin D, just like us humans, so it would be good to set a schedule where they can be out in the sun for an adequate amount of time every day. Since it is best to get exposure in earlier parts of the day, hit two birds with one stone by making it a habit to be out with your pet at this time of the day as well.
Staying in a cage isn’t going to do any good for you or your pets. Make sure they get to roam around and bond with you and your family with significant amounts of touch and snuggling. This is mutually therapeutic for both you and your pet.
If you have multiple pets at home, it would be good that you let them get friendly with one another or at least socialize with one another during this quarantine, as they can’t do much of that with other animals for this period. If you can bring them out to the neighborhood and if it’s safe to mingle with pets of other neighbors, then you can set some time for this as well.
These are just some ways you can take proper care of your pet during these uncertain times. Remember that they can also feel anxiety just like you, so do your part in treating them as humanely and as equitably as possible. Their good mood can likewise uplift you when you yourself are feeling a bit down from all this disengagement from the outside world.