5 Fun New Year’s Resolutions for Pet Owners
We love a good goal setting session, but here’s the thing about New Year’s Resolutions: they have received a bad rap over the years.
Sometimes they feel unreasonable, unattainable, unappealing and just downright boring.
How many times have you tried setting the exercise or healthy eating resolution and not followed through?
Our hypothesis is that we often set goals from a place of guilt and “not enoughness,” which is not motivating in any way!
So this year, let’s do something a little different. Let’s focus on joy. And we can’t think of a better way to embrace joy than to include our pets in our 2023 vision.
The key is that these resolutions are guilt-free because your pets are already having the time of their lives just by being yours.
Here’s 5 ideas from our Revel Vet staff for more joyful pet ownership in 2023:
1. Dedicate 5 – 10 minutes per day to petting and playing with your pet.
Of course your pets will love this, but even more profound is the influence on your own health.
Research has shown that petting a friendly dog or cat decreases blood pressure, relaxes muscle tension and reduces stress-related hormones. In fact, playing with a dog or cat actually helps raise our serotonin and dopamine levels, which are linked to happiness.
Good for your health and your pets will love it, what could be better?
2. Commit to one adventure per month with your pet.
Don’t get overwhelmed, this could be as simple as a drive in the car!
The truth is our pets love to be with us and sometimes just making an effort to go on a hike in a new location, or go for a fun drive with the windows cracked open is all you need to change things up and get a new perspective.
You can also take this to another level and go on an overnight trip with your pet, if their personality and destination allows!
3. Make your annual appointment at the vet now.
Truthfully, it is difficult to remember to book your own annual physical exams at the doctor, so we understand. Let this serve as a gentle reminder that booking ahead helps relieve you of the stress of “having to remember.”
You can book your annual appointment online here or by calling 480-701-8609.
4. Look into interactive, brain game toys for your pet.
One of our veterinary technicians, Natalie, says that brain games are a great way to improve your pet’s mental stimulation and cognitive function. Also, they can be a lot of fun for you and your pet!
There are lots of different options, so enjoy experimenting and discovering which one suits your pet the best.
Here are a few ideas:
- Puzzles
- Activity or ‘snuffle’ mats
- Slow feeder bowls
- Hide and seek toys
- Treat dispenser activities
- And more!
Remember, this should be fun. You can also play interactive games with your pet yourself! For example, if you are in a safe location, you can play hide-and-seek with them or be creative and teach them a different game.
5. Go for more walks.
This sounds obvious, but even going for a quick 10 minute stroll in the middle of the day can make a huge difference.
Our practice manager, Margaret, says that going for more walks is always on her mind because it’s great for her own health and wonderful for her pets!
Get more fresh air with your furry loved one, it’s beneficial for all.
And there you have it, 5 guilt-free resolutions for you and your pet in the New Year.
We are always open to suggestions, so if you have some other ideas on how to make 2023 the best year ever for owning pets, please share it with us so that we can pass your great tips along to the rest of our community!
What will you try first? We can’t wait to hear from you. Call 480-701-8609 today!
