We collected advice and information for the new year—primarily for novice pet owners, since so many of you have added new pets to your families in the last two years, even though you may have little recent experience with companion animals. We highlight some new products for pets first.
Then we’ll talk a tad bit more about making reservations and appointments for your pets.
Lick Mats
Groomers and trainers have long recommended a smear of peanut butter or squirt of squeeze cheese on the side of the refrigerator for your dog to lick while you brush him, or on the inside of your bathtub or shower enclosure for your dog to lick while you’re bathing her.
That advice has been upgraded in the last few years. Pet-product manufacturers have invented a number of handy items to hold lickable rewards longer when stuck (by suction cups) to an appliance or tub, also making clean-up much easier. Search online to see what’s available!
Trillium Schlosser (Oregon) Lick It Mats. I don’t know how long they have been around, but I discovered them this year. I recommend two. The first are the small mats—a perfect size to keep the dog distracted for a toenail trim. You spread a little peanut butter on the spikes and you have a good 10–15 minutes to get your trim done. The second are the flat ones for heavy chewers. They are great for a nighttime relaxing lick in the kennel or bed to get them settled in. I use fruit or peanut butter. Their favorite is a smooshed banana though.
Remember, however: Xylitol poisons pets.
Peanut butter, chewing gum, candies may contain it. Keep all such products safely out of reach of pets.
Connectable Toys
Denise O’Moore (Ireland) The new K9 Connectables range is fantastic. Only released this year. They ship internationally.
Photo by Denise O’Moore
Water Intake Measure
A cat water container designed so you can see exactly how much water your cat drinks between refills. It’s low-tech and inexpensive, although obviously meant for access by one cat only. You could probably do-it-yourself for a similar set-up to measure water intake accurately for any “only” pet.
Washable Rugs
What have we heard about washable rugs? Start with a small one to see how it works for you. The washable layer of the rug attaches firmly to the bottom pad (not washable), but the larger the rug, the more difficult it may be to re-attach the top after washing, especially with just one human to work on it. Help may be needed!
Also, consider what your laundry set-up can handle in size or “wet” weight.
Washable Big-Dog Bed Covers
How about dog beds for big dogs—beds with washable covers? Practical, again, if they work for you. The washing is not usually the problem. The difficulty comes when putting the washed and dried cover back onto the very solid inside. The bed will look great if you can get the cover back on properly, but it can take a great deal of exhausting physical effort to pull the cover into place snugly and neatly. Again, the re-covering of the bed goes much more easily if you have another able human helping you do it. Expect a learning experience the first few times you re-cover!
Photo by CC Harrison
Boarding/Pet-Sitting Reservations
This year, novice dog owners who adopted during the pandemic are finding out how early they must book boarding for the holidays. More experienced dog guardians know that making reservations well ahead of time (as in months or even a year early!) is very important to assure available space for their dogs at the kennel they favor.
Even during the early shutdown, many boarding regulars kept in touch with kennel management, not just to cancel stays but also to express support and sympathy. Some regulars even paid ahead for boarding in the future . . . when no one knew when “the future” would arrive.
Now that they’re traveling again, the regulars are using those pre-paid stays, filling up the kennels.
Pet-sitters, too, may already be fully booked long before what are again “busy” times.
If a novice owner has not already made the necessary arrangements—to meet with a prospective pet-sitter, to introduce the pet, to acclimate the sitter, to complete several practice visits—it may not be possible to book pet-sitting immediately, because the proper intake has not been completed.
If you fail to find a fitting pet-sitter with openings for the winter holidays, novice owners are well-advised to start what may be a time-consuming process now, taking all the requisite steps to assure pet-sitting reservations for spring vacations!
Veterinary Appointments
Pandemic pups and, to some extent, pandemic kittens, no doubt account for the difficulty pet owners—novice and experienced—are encountering now in making appointments for veterinary care.
In part due to the difficulty of keeping a full roster of staff working full-time, veterinary clinics and pet ERs are swamped. Some have decided they cannot take new clients, and many longtime clients must wait for appointments that may be months out.
To get a “new pet” veterinary exam completed before they take a newly adopted pet home, which is always advised for safety’s sake, adopters report that clinics where they were clients with former pets cannot take them now—or maybe for weeks. But waiting isn’t an option.
When adopters find a clinic that is taking new clients, they’re likely to end up going there.
Local regulations allow veterinary clinics in some areas to admit owners with their pets now, although operating in the “old” way of welcoming human clients inside the clinic, accompanying their pets, is not currently standard operating procedure in all vet clinics in all locations.
Calling around may be the answer to finding a vet clinic with pandemic protocols that meet your wants and needs. Be patient, be positive—you may find a change for the better.
