Start the Year Off Fresh with Your Pets
As I was thinking of a blog post for the new year, I was also making a checklist of all the things I wanted/needed to do for my own fur babies. I try to do these things every year so we can all start the new year off fresh!
You may be asking yourself, what am I talking about? Well, some of them could be considered new year's resolutions, while others are very practical and easy to implement today!
Join me as I dive into Chloe Cole’s top 5 things you can do to start the new year off fresh with your pet.
- Schedule a visit to the vet
- Replace old cat litter boxes
- Check old toys
- Upgrade your pet’s chip info
- Brush your pets more often
Schedule a Visit to the Vet
Make sure you call your vet to schedule an appointment as soon as you can in the new year. An annual visit to the vet not only helps to keep your pet healthy, but, quite frankly, is the best tool you have for preventing and/or reducing the risk of any serious health problems that may surface during their lifetime.
For senior dogs and cats, it’s recommended that you should have at least two vet visits per year.
Replace Old Cat Litter Boxes
Sometimes we can forget what’s actually happening in that litter box because it becomes so routine. However, I recommend that you replace your litter box at least once per year and now is a good time to do it!
There are several factors as to why you need to replace them each year and here are the main ones:
- Cat scratches
- Odor absorption
- Plastic can break down
You may have more wiggle room on how often you need to replace yours if you get a more expensive litter box.
Check Old Toys
Now is the time to go through all your fur baby’s toys and double check them to see if they are broken or ripped. You’ll want to look for toys with dangling string or rope, especially as they can become a choking hazard. Get rid of any ripped or broken toys now so your pet can safely play with them.
If you need to replace any of your pet’s toys, you can check out our selection of dog and cat toys in the shop.
Upgrade Your Pet’s Chip Info
This is oftentimes forgotten because, let’s face it, it’s kind of out of sight, out of mind. However, it's a good idea to update your contact details if they have changed over the last year. You can contact the pet microchip registry your pet is enrolled with or visit the company's website for information on how to update your pet's record online.
If your pet does not have a chip, well, now is the time to get one. There are so many pets that go missing, but if your fur baby has a microchip, they can easily be found. It could end up saving your pet's life.
Brush Your Pets More Often
This one is a mix between a resolution and a to do. Regular brushing of your dog or cat removes dead hair and helps distribute natural oils to promote a clean and healthy coat.
It also stimulates the surface of your pet’s skin to help get rid of any dead and dry skin. It’s also a great time to check over your pet’s body to make sure there aren’t any rashes, mats, burrs, or fleas and ticks. This time also helps you become familiar with your pet’s body.
Regular grooming relaxes a pet who's used to it, plus it can become a special time that you can both share together.
As you can see, these 5 things are simple and easy to do, with only one requiring you to do it more than one time. So what are you waiting for? You and your pet can now step into the new year fresh and ready to go!
