Would You Notice A Change In Your Pet?

We share a common characteristic with our pets. We are both creatures of habit.

Dogs love to go on the same exact walk around the neighborhood each day. Cats love to lay in the same spot day after day. We have our favorite places and foods to eat, as do our four-legged family members.

A Sudden Change

I have heard stories throughout the past month of pet owners who noticed a change in their pets daily routine, but really weren’t too alarmed. I have been guilty of the exact same thing. In multiple cases the pet was very sick and required in depth treatment.

When the dog doesn’t want to go on his typical walk, we chalk it up to the cold winter weather. When the cat doesn’t want her favorite treats, we think they must have gone stale or something.

However, it’s rarely in our best interest to chalk up a change in behavior to a coincidence. It’s typically our pet trying to tell us something is wrong.

What To Look For

The most common aspect to change when a pet isn’t feeling well is their appetite. If your dog who usually eats his bowl of food in 30 seconds, is now letting the food sit all day something could definitely be wrong. Don’t wait all week to see if he feels better. Call your vet and get him checked out.

If your cat religiously uses the litter box, but has started to go elsewhere, it is most likely a warning sign. It could be a sign of a urinary tract infection, or a number of other conditions.

While You’re Away

As your Myrtle Beach pet sitter, we are always trying to learn about your pet. When we meet with you for the first time, we always like to learn the feeding habits, normal energy levels, and exercise routine of your pet.

It is typical for your pet to act a little bit different when you leave town for an extended period of time.

Many cats and dogs will go on what I call a “mini food strike” which normally lasts about 24 hours. Once they realize the pet sitter is their friend they end the food strike quite quickly and go back to a normal routine.

Our goal when providing pet care is to keep your pet on their normal routine. If we feel something is different than what you, as the owner, explained to us we always let you know!

Be Engaged

Make it a point this week to notice the routine of your pet. Always be aware of a change, and contact your veterinarian when you notice one. It could literally save your pets life.