1. Physical Activity and Exercise:
One of the most apparent benefits of being a pet parent is the increased level of physical activity it entails. Whether it’s taking your dog for a daily walk, playing fetch in the backyard, or engaging in interactive play sessions with your cat, pets encourage regular exercise. Regular physical activity not only helps keep pets healthy and fit but also benefits their human companions by:
Improving cardiovascular health: Walking, running, and playing with your pet can help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, and decrease the risk of heart disease.
Promoting weight management: Regular exercise helps prevent obesity in both pets and humans, leading to better overall health and reduced risk of obesity-related conditions such as diabetes and joint problems.
2. Stress Reduction and Relaxation: Interacting with pets has been shown to have a calming effect on the human nervous system, reducing stress levels and promoting relaxation. The simple act of petting a cat or a dog’s fur can trigger the release of feel-good hormones such as oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, leading to Lowered stress hormones: Petting animals has been associated with reduced levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, leading to decreased anxiety and tension.
Improved mood: Spending time with pets tends to elevate one’s mood and alleviate symptoms of depression and loneliness, providing emotional support and companionship during challenging times.
3. Social Connection and Support: Pets can serve as social catalysts, facilitating interactions and connections with other pet parents and animal lovers. Whether it’s chatting with fellow dog walkers at the park or joining online pet communities, pet parenthood fosters a sense of belonging and community, leading to:
Increased socialization: Taking your pet out for walks or visits to pet-friendly establishments provides opportunities to meet new people and forge meaningful connections.
Enhanced social support: Pets offer unconditional love and companionship, providing a source of comfort and support during times of stress, grief, or loneliness.
4. Mental Stimulation and Cognitive Health: Engaging with pets in training, play, and problem-solving activities can stimulate the mind and promote cognitive health for both pets and their parents. Activities such as teaching tricks, practicing obedience commands, or solving puzzle toys provide mental stimulation and enrichment, leading to:
Improved cognitive function: Participating in activities that challenge the brain can help improve memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills, reducing the risk of cognitive decline and age-related cognitive disorders.
Enhanced learning: Training and teaching pets new skills require patience, consistency, and communication, fostering a sense of accomplishment and mastery for both pet and pet parents.
Pet parenthood provides numerous health benefits, including increased physical activity, reduced stress, improved social connection, and enhanced cognitive stimulation. By welcoming a pet into your home and making it a part of your daily life, you can experience improvements in your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Whether you’re playing with your dog, cuddling with your cat, or enjoying quiet moments together, the bond between pets and their parents is truly something special, and its positive impact on health and happiness is undeniable.
Essential Tips for Better Walks With Your Dog
Taking your dog for a walk is not only great exercise but it also plays a big role in their mental and physical well-being. However, dog leash training can be challenging for new and seasoned pet parents alike. To help you make the most of your walks, we’ve compiled a list of essential tips for you to try.
Basic training tips for new pet parents
Setting a solid foundation is crucial for successful dog leash training. If this is your first time going through this process, these tips will ensure a lifetime of enjoyable and stress-free walks.
Choose the right equipment: Invest in a comfortable and secure collar or harness as well as a sturdy, six-foot leash. We recommend a simple nylon leash rather than a retractable one, as this will give your dog room to explore while still enabling you to maintain control.
Introduce the leash gradually: Before you head out on your first walk, let your dog get used to wearing their collar and leash indoors. You can help build a positive association with their leash by rewarding them with their favorite Freshpet treats for calm behavior.
Start with short walks: Once your dog is comfortable wearing the leash inside, begin with brief walks around your yard or neighborhood to build their confidence. You can gradually increase the length and duration of your walks as your dog becomes more confident.
Practice basic commands: Teaching your dog basic commands is also an integral part of dog leash training. ‘Heel’, ‘sit’, and ‘leave it’ are important commands to help keep your pup safe during your walks. Again, Freshpet treats come in handy to help reinforce the commands during your walks.
Learning a new skill can take time and dogs can sense your emotions, so do your best to stay calm and positive during walks. If you become frustrated or stressed, you risk your dog developing fear and anxiety around their leash or walks in general. Fortunately, a good attitude and these simple tips go a long way in helping your pup learn good leash manners!
How to stop a dog from pulling
Once you’ve mastered the basics, don’t be concerned if you still find yourself struggling to get your dog to walk with a loose leash. One of the most common challenges in dog leash training is stopping your dog from pulling. The good news is that there are a few effective strategies to address this issue.
Consistency is key: When your dog starts pulling on the leash, stop walking and only resume when they return to your side. It may slow down your journey, but following this method consistently will teach your dog that pulling gets them nowhere.
Change directions: If your dog is starting to pull, changing the direction you’re walking – even just slightly – will bring your dog’s attention back to you. When your dog is focused on you, it prevents them from fixating on moving along a particular path and encourages them to stay close.
Use high-value treats: When your dog walks calmly beside you with a loose leash, reward them with plenty of praise and their favorite Freshpet treat.
By implementing these strategies, you can significantly reduce pulling and enjoy more pleasant walks.
Our favorite treats for dog leash training
Treats can make a world of difference when it comes to dog leash training. The right treats not only motivate your dog but also help reinforce positive behaviors, making your walks more enjoyable and productive.
Dog Joy turkey bacon treats: Indulge your dog with treats crafted from real, slow-cooked turkey. These savory and chewy strips are free from artificial flavors, colors, and fillers, making them perfect for training or everyday enjoyment.
Dognation chicken treats: Another way to reward your pup is with treats made from 100% natural, farm-raised chicken. These tender and delicious treats are crafted without any artificial preservatives, flavors, or fillers, making them the perfect high-value treat for training.
While treats are essential for training, overusing them can lead to unhealthy weight gain. Do your best to use treats sparingly and pair them with verbal praise and affection.
With time and effort, your walks will become a highlight of your dog’s day. Each time you step out of the door they will have the opportunity to take in new sights and smells as well as socialize with other dogs and people. Together, this can greatly improve their overall mental and physical well-being.
Best Food For Senior Dogs: Aging Dog Nutrition Explained
It’s well known that nutrition plays a big role in a puppy’s health, but it’s often forgotten that these early months aren’t the only stage of a dog’s life where they have special nutritional needs. Senior dogs also need a diet that supports their aging bodies, which is why we want to help you find the best food for senior dogs.
What should you look for when choosing the best food for senior dogs?
Senior dogs have different nutritional needs compared to their younger counterparts. Knowing this, the best food for senior dogs is one that provides them with the nutrients necessary to help them live a happy, healthy life. But what exactly should you look for when choosing food for your senior dog?
Fatty acids: Omega-6 fatty acids are great at promoting healthy cell growth, adding shine to coats, and replacing oils in the skin, whereas omega-3 fatty acids treat inflammation in the skin and joints.
High-quality protein: Senior dogs need their diet to contain plenty of high-quality protein to fuel their muscles, as loss of muscle mass is a common problem in older dogs.
Higher levels of vitamins C and E: Senior pups can benefit from higher levels of vitamin C, as it reduces inflammation, and vitamin E, which promotes a healthy immune system, skin, coat, and more.
Fiber: Constipation is a common issue with senior dogs, so a diet that is high in fiber can help keep them regular.
Antioxidants: Adding antioxidants to your senior dog’s daily diet helps to improve memory and cognitive function.
High moisture content: Senior dogs are also more likely to be dehydrated throughout the day, so increasing their water intake is a great way to decrease age-related changes.
It may seem daunting to take all of these nutrition requirements into consideration when choosing the best food for senior dogs, but this is why it’s beneficial to make the switch to Freshpet. Each Freshpet recipe is crafted with high-quality ingredients and gently steamed at low temperatures to protect the integrity of the ingredients. This ensures it’s packed with essential micronutrients only found in fresh food.
How important is hydration for senior dogs?
Proper hydration is important at all stages of your dog’s life, but it is especially important during their senior years as they become more prone to dehydration. Specifically, hydration plays a big role in maintaining health:
Joints: Proper hydration levels ensure that your pet’s joints are properly lubricated and can move without pain or stiffness.
Digestion: Water helps keep your pup’s overall digestive system running smoothly and helps with the absorption of nutrients from their food.
Senses: Water also plays a role in keeping your dog’s mucous membranes moist, so they can smell and taste properly.
Cognition: Not only does water cushion and protect your dog’s brain and spinal cord, it impacts their overall cognition. If dogs don’t consume enough water they can show symptoms of confusion and lack of coordination.
Skin, coat, and nails: Without proper hydration, your dog’s skin, coat, and nails can become dry and brittle which is not only uncomfortable but can result in issues such as fur loss.
An easy way to help increase your pup’s overall hydration is making a switch to fresh food. Freshpet’s refrigerated food is the best food for senior dogs because it is high in animal protein. You can expect each recipe to have the same moisture content as fresh, human-grade meats which is between 70-75% moisture.
Keeping an eye on your senior dog’s overall water intake can also give you an early warning of potential health concerns. For example, if you notice your dog is suddenly drinking much more water than usual, this could indicate issues such as kidney failure, and diabetes mellitus.
Which Freshpet recipes make the best food for senior dogs?
Every Freshpet recipe is crafted with ingredients that ensure your dog gets all of the nutrients they need during their senior years. So when it comes to deciding which Freshpet recipe is the best food for senior dogs, it comes down to your pup’s preferences.
Currently, Freshpet offers three distinct recipe formats:
Bagged meals: Our fully cooked and ready-to-serve bagged meals contain ground protein with a vitamin-rich assortment of fruits and veggies.
Rolls: Our classic slice-and-serve rolls can be served as discs, blocks, or mashed.
Patties and Mixers: Our Patties can be served cut up, broken apart, or shredded either on their own or with a complementing Mixer.
No one format is better than the other for senior dogs – it all comes down to which texture and flavors your dog prefers.
If you’re not sure where to start, our Freshpet Vital Healthy Aging recipe has a high moisture content, antioxidant-rich cranberries, and high-quality protein that is a healthy dog food option for senior dogs.
Alternatively, you could consider a recipe where one of the primary proteins is salmon, such as the Freshpet®️ Select Multi-Protein Complete meal with Chicken, Beef, Egg, and Salmon recipe. Salmon is high in vitamin E, which can be beneficial for senior dogs to have in slightly higher amounts than younger dogs.
How to Ensure Your Dog is Properly Hydrated
As the heat of summer continues, it’s important to ensure your dog stays properly hydrated.
Just like humans, dogs require an ample intake of water to maintain their health. However, some pups may be a bit finicky when it comes to drinking water or they simply may not drink enough on their own. If this sounds familiar, you’ll be happy to know that increasing your pup’s water intake is easier than you think – read on to find out more.
Everything you need to know about dog hydration and dehydration
Proper hydration is essential for your dog’s overall well-being, but many pet parents are unsure how much water they should be drinking. To determine how much water your dog should drink each day, you need to calculate the ‘maintenance level’. This is the minimum amount of water needed to properly support your dog’s body and avoid dehydration.
This per-day maintenance level is calculated by multiplying 60mL by your dog’s body weight in kilograms. In other words, for every 10 pounds of body weight, a dog should be receiving a little more than 1 cup of water or 9 ounces. Keep in mind that this is just the minimum amount of water your dog needs – it’s fine if they drink more.
Ensuring that your dog is drinking enough water every day is important because proper hydration plays a vital role in numerous bodily functions, including:
Regulating body temperature
Aiding digestion
Lubricating joints
Transporting nutrients throughout the body
Without an adequate supply of water, dogs can quickly become dehydrated, leading to serious health issues. But how exactly can you tell that your dog is becoming dehydrated?
When it comes to spotting dehydration in dogs, there are five key things to look out for:
Dry or sticky gums: Healthy gums should be moist and pink. If they appear dry or sticky, it could be a sign of dehydration.
Lethargy: A lack of energy or enthusiasm may indicate that your dog is not feeling well, possibly due to dehydration.
Sunken eyes: Dehydrated dogs may have sunken or dull-looking eyes.
Loss of skin elasticity: Gently pinch the skin between your dog’s shoulder blades. In well-hydrated dogs, the skin should quickly return to its normal position. If it stays tented or takes longer to return, your dog may be dehydrated.
Decreased urination: A decrease in the frequency or volume of urination can be a sign of dehydration. Additionally, urine may appear darker in color than usual.
The good news is that if it’s caught early, dehydration in dogs can be easily managed with prompt rehydration measures and veterinary attention, preventing the progression to more severe health complications.
Tips for improving dog hydration
If your dog is a bit finicky about drinking from their water bowl, fear not – we have plenty of tips on how you can keep them properly hydrated on even the hottest of days.
Switch to a moisture-rich diet: An easy way to improve your dog’s hydration is to switch to a moisture-rich diet, like Freshpet. Dry kibble typically has a moisture content of around 10%, whereas Freshpet has a moisture content of 72% and is available in several different formats, so you can easily find the one your dog enjoys the most.
Frequently refresh water: Dogs are more likely to drink water that tastes clean and fresh. Make sure to change your pup’s water regularly and wash their water bowl daily to prevent bacteria buildup.
Offer ice cubes: Some dogs enjoy crunching on ice cubes, especially during hot weather. Adding ice cubes to their water bowl can entice them to drink more.
Provide multiple water stations: If you have a large home or your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, consider placing multiple water bowls in different locations. This ensures that your pup always has easy access to water, no matter where they are.
Flavor water with broth: Adding a small amount of low-sodium chicken or beef broth to your dog’s water can make it more appealing to them. Just be sure to choose broth without any added spices or onions, which can be harmful to dogs.
If at any point you notice a significant increase or decrease in the amount of water your dog is drinking, contact your veterinarian. Changes in water consumption can sometimes be a signal of an underlying health issue that may require medical attention.
As you can see, dog hydration is crucial – especially during the hot summer months. By understanding the signs of dehydration and implementing effective strategies to encourage water consumption, you can help keep your furry friend happy, healthy, and properly hydrated.