Healthy Daily Routines for Busy Pet Owners

Daily routines that help your pet stay happy and healthy don’t have to take up too much of your time; just think about a few habits you can do daily that give your pet some stability. 

By focusing on a few key habits, like what you feed them (nutrition), how you keep them mentally engaged (enrichment), and how often you see their vet (vet care), you’ll be able to provide your pet with all the things they need to stay happy and healthy.

How does daily routine support?

Your pet feels most safe when their day-to-day routine is predictable, which means that having a daily routine will help your pet know exactly when to expect to eat, when to go to bed, and when to get excited. 

While you may not have hours to spend with your pet, establishing a routine of doing the same thing at approximately the same time each day can greatly reduce your pet’s anxiety and reduce the amount of stress that your pet experiences due to anxiety.

Having a structured daily routine also allows you to recognize quickly if anything has changed with your pet, such as changes in appetite, energy levels, or bathroom habits that could indicate an illness. The consistency that comes from developing a routine will allow you to build trust with your pet and support your pet’s overall health in the long run.

Nutrition habits that work even when you’re short on time

Nutrition is one of the simplest ways to maintain your pet’s health and you don’t have to make a big deal out of it. As a busy owner, you can easily rely on a high-quality, commercially available complete diet that meets your pet’s life-stage requirements and nutritional needs, and by using a single diet instead of changing recipes constantly, you’ll avoid confusing your pet and causing digestive upset.

Some easy daily habits that you can establish are:

• Fed at the same time(s) each day to support digestion and eliminate begging/food-seeking behavior
• Premake and preportion meals in containers 1-2x per week to ensure “grab-and-go” convenience during busy morning and evening routines
• Utilize automated feeder systems for pets that require strict feeding schedules and then visually inspect that the pet is consuming its full ration.

Always measure food when serving to avoid the temptation of eyeballing the serving size, as even small overfeeds can lead to weight gain over time. If your pet requires weight management, your veterinarian can assist you in determining your pet’s required caloric intake and recommend a suitable diet based on your lifestyle.

Daily built-in physical activity

Pet owners typically have the opportunity to give their pet(s) several shorter periods of active time instead of just one longer period of time, which makes it easier to fit into a busy owner’s lifestyle. Providing exercise throughout the day will keep your pet healthy and at a proper weight, support the health of your pet’s joints, and reduce problem behaviors that are caused by boredom.

• Here are some ways you can add to your pet’s daily active time:
• During the morning: Take 10-15 minutes to go for a fast paced walk or to throw a ball for your pet before going off to work.
• During the evening: Go for another fast paced walk or do an indoor play session with your pet with a flirt pole, wand toy, or hallway fetch.
• Micro sessions: Take a break from work and take 2-3 minutes to play with your pet during a coffee break or wait until dinner is ready, and then take another 2-3 minutes to play with your pet.

When you don’t have enough time at home to provide your pet with regular exercise and bathroom breaks, consider hiring a reputable dog walker, dog daycare service or hiring a pet sitter to ensure your pet receives the required amount of physical and mental activity and has their bathroom needs met.

Enrichment and Mental Stimulation in Minutes

Mental stimulation can be as exhausting as physical activity and is ideal for busy owners who have limited time available. A mentally stimulated pet is much less likely to develop boredom related problems, will have better cognitive abilities and will experience less stress and anxiety, especially if they spend most of the day alone.

Some quick and easy ways to enrich your pet include:

• Puzzle feeders or stuffed food toys that require mental and physical energy to get the meal out of the toy and into your pet’s stomach.
• Providing sniffing activities, such as spreading the kibble around the house or yard or providing a snuffle mat for your pet to use for a few minutes each day.
• Focused short training sessions (2-3 minutes), including basic obedience commands such as “sit,” “stay,” and “go to bed,” which will strengthen your relationship with your pet and build their self-confidence.

To keep your pet engaged and interested in their toys, simply rotate their toys every few days and limit the number of toys you purchase, but make sure to buy sturdy, species-appropriate toys to prevent any potential hazards.

Quick Health Checks and Grooming

Preventive care is about being consistent rather than spending a lot of time, and many tasks can be completed in under 5 minutes. Doing preventative care tasks along with your regular cuddle time with your pet makes doing the tasks even easier for both you and your pet.

Your goal should be to:

• Run your hand over your pet’s body daily to detect any new lumps, sore areas or changes in the skin.
• Take a moment to look at your pet’s eyes, ears, mouth, teeth and paws when interacting with your pet daily to check for redness, odor, discharge or cracked nails.
• Briefly brush your pet’s teeth daily with a pet-specific toothbrush or dental product to help minimize tartar buildup and reduce the risk of dental disease.

Regular short brushing sessions will also help you manage your pet’s shedding and allow you to identify any parasites, such as fleas or ticks early on.

When Your Pet Needs a Veterinarian’s Help

Your pet’s best home-care program can never be replaced by the help of a veterinarian, especially when it comes to detecting diseases as soon as possible. The general rule of thumb is that adult pets should have at least one wellness checkup per year, and senior pets, along with pets that have chronic health issues, should have wellness checkups much more often.

You should seek veterinary help immediately if you notice:

• Any sudden changes in your pet’s eating habits (either an increase or decrease), drinking water, or your pet’s weight.
• Persistent vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, or sneezing.
• Lethargy, trouble breathing, pain while moving, or noticeable changes in your pet’s behavior (such as hiding or showing aggression).

As one veterinarian from Modern Vet Clinic said, “Consistent checkups and honesty about your busy schedules allow us to develop care plans that actually fit into your family’s busy schedules.” This concept fits perfectly with the team of Dubai Vet here at Modern Vet Clinic

Expert Comment

A veterinarian’s primary concern isn’t making your pet perfect; it’s creating a reliable and consistent pattern of care for your pet. Many times, creating a routine for your pet, such as measured portions of food, 10-15 minutes of daily activity, and providing some type of mental stimulation, will result in better outcomes for your pet than having an occasional “perfect” day, followed by weeks of neglect.

Conclusion

Developing healthy daily routines for busy pet owners does not require an elaborate or complex program. Establishing a routine for your pet based on regular feedings, short periods of exercise, easy ways to mentally stimulate your pet, and periodic health checks will create a foundation for the physical and emotional well-being of your pet.

The last component is establishing a strong working relationship between yourself, your pet, and a trusted veterinary team that is aware of your lifestyle and can assist you with all aspects of your pet’s life stages. Spending just a little bit of time now to evaluate your current routine and scheduling a wellness visit through your preferred vet clinic’s website will ultimately contribute to a longer, healthier, and happier life for your pet.