Celebrate Pet Appreciation Week In Style

It’s a given that we all love our pets. But how often do we think about all that they do for us and all the ways they improve our lives? Numerous studies show that owning a dog or a cat can decrease blood pressure, reduce stress and depression, help us lose weight—even lower cholesterol and boost our immunity. If you have children, your pets also help your little ones become more resistant to allergens and develop stronger emotional connections. Overall, our pets help us live longer, happier lives. We’d say that’s something to celebrate.

Luckily, the first full week of June is National Pet Appreciation Week, the perfect time to lavish your four-legged family member with extra love and attention. Here are some easy ways to show your dog or your cat that you recognize and appreciate all of the joy they bring to your home.

 

Ways to Celebrate Your Dog

Let’s be honest—making a dog happy is a pretty simple task. All they really want is healthy dog food, water, shelter, and as much quality time as you can spare. In addition to picking up an extra bag of your pup’s favorite healthy treat or a new chew toy, consider carving out some time for more playtime and exercise this week.

Schedule a Doggie Date

There are so many places in our hometown of Greenville, SC that are now dog-friendly, you could schedule a doggie date nearly anywhere. The same is true in most small-to-mid-sized cities—from pet bakeries to pet water fountains at your local park, more and more places are finding ways to care for our fur family members. For your pet to get the most enjoyment, think about a nice long hike, a doggie park, or anywhere that there’s water to splash in or lots of space to get off the leash and run around.

Schedule a Pampering Day

Just like humans, dogs need a little pampering and TLC to feel their best. One affordable way to show your dog some appreciation this week is to schedule a special dog grooming appointment with bonus services, like soothing shampoos and extra brushing. If you want to make a day of it, you can sign your furry friend up for Doggie Day Care so you know he’s getting plenty of exercise and attention while you’re at work.

Make a Puzzle Toy

Of course, there are plenty of puzzle toys on the market to buy, but we think that Pet Celebration Week calls for some handcrafted love. Dogs love to engage their brains, especially when their owners aren’t around. Before you go to work, leave your dog a simple puzzle to solve in order to get a treat. You could hide treats under tennis balls in a muffin tin, hide a treat in an empty cereal box and tape it shut (expect destruction!). For especially active dogs, make a rolling treat dispenser by punching holes in a large, cleaned out plastic jar, such as an empty peanut butter jar. Fill the jar with small treats and have fun watching as your dog pushes the jar around with her nose to get at the goodies. As a bonus, when you leave your dog with something to do while you’re gone, he’s less likely to experience separation anxiety.

Add 15 Minutes to Your Walk

Maybe the easiest way to show your dog some extra love this week is to add a few minutes to your regular walk. Dogs are happiest when their brains are being stimulated by new sights, sounds, and smells—all of which occur on their walk. A well-exercised pet will also sleep better at night and be generally healthier and happier. Adding time to your walk will benefit your mood and well-being, too!

 

Ways to Celebrate Your Cat

Cats are notoriously finicky and more difficult to please than dogs—but it’s still pretty easy to show them some love during pet appreciation week.

Cats Like Puzzle Toys, Too!

Although it’s usually assumed that cats can live just fine without humans, they do miss us and get lonely while we’re gone. Plus, cats are natural hunters, so puzzle toys serve two purposes: engaging cats while their owners are away and honing their instincts. Both of these things will keep your kitty healthier and happier for life. In fact, many animal experts recommend that cat owners switch entirely to forage feeding, or no-bowl feeding. We’re not sure that’s the answer, especially for busy pet owners, but adding a foraging element to your cat’s diet is a good idea. The simplest at-home puzzle toys you can make are foraging eggs. Punch holes in several large, plastic fillable Easter eggs, fill the eggs halfway full of treats that will fit through the hole, and hide the eggs throughout your home. If you do this a couple times a week, your cat will stay more active and mentally alert as she ages.

Make Your Home More Cat-Friendly

We’re not saying you have to go full “cat lady” or “cat guy” and turn your entire home into an enormous indoor cat playground. But you could spend some time this week looking for ways to enrich the environment for your cat. Cat tubes, towers, scratching posts, and other cat furniture pieces go a long way toward keeping your pet happy. We also love cat hammocks! If your cat is an indoor cat only (which we recommend), non-toxic plants and grasses can help your feline friend get much-needed fiber and nutrition. Potted catnip and valerian are favorites for most cats, though you may need to monitor to make sure your cat doesn’t overindulge. Other good plants include grasses, such as rye and cat grass, which can be bought at most pet stores, as well as fragrant herbs like parsley, thyme, and cilantro. Another benefit of keeping some cat-attracting plants around your home—your cat is less likely to chew up your other houseplants.

Get a New Teaser Toy

While cats may not crave our time and attention as much as dogs, and are much better about being playful on their own, they do want to play and interact with us. This week, make it a goal to spend 10 to 15 minutes a day using a teaser toy or lure to play with your cat. Like the puzzle toys for treats, these toys exercise your cat’s innate need to hunt and pounce, which are important skills your cat needs in order to stay happy and content indoors.

 

Of course, this list is only a guide to get you thinking. You know your pet better than anyone—and will know just how to celebrate your special fur family member this week!

Testimonials

Ambassador is an amazing animal hospital. They are caring, professional and leaders in animal medicine. Their entire staff is gifted, empathetic... read more

Mike P.

When I had to make the difficult decision to send my best friend of 8 years off, Dr. Alexander, Dr. Roseveare, and Dr. Alfieris were nothing but... read more

Emmalie W.

For the best care for your animals this is the place to go. The Vets here are very thorough with their exams. They are very open and informative... read more

Donna M.

This is a wonderful place to bring my pups. I have been happy with each visit. All the staff are very helpful and knowledgeable. On my third visit... read more

Teresa S.

Highly recommend this practice for your fur babies. It is extremely clean, the staff is very friendly, and the appointment for a wellness exam for my... read more

Tory N.

We had our first visit with our new dog and let me tell you it was an amazing experience from the moment we arrived. Great staff who worked so well... read more

CJ. C

My dog needed to be seen ASAP. The staff was most accommodating. He received the treatment he needed within a day. So grateful his doing... read more

Jessica L.

When we moved to Greenville we were concerned we wouldn't find a veterinary team as good as our previous one. The team at Ambassador definitely... read more

Vanessa E.

We've been taking our cats to Ambassador Animal Hospital since we moved to Greenville 2 years ago. The staff is beyond wonderful, always friendly... read more

Kristy T.

Mike P.

Ambassador is an amazing animal hospital. They are caring, professional and leaders in animal medicine. Their entire staff is gifted, empathetic and very positive. I would encourage any pet owner to call them first.

Emmalie W.

When I had to make the difficult decision to send my best friend of 8 years off, Dr. Alexander, Dr. Roseveare, and Dr. Alfieris were nothing but compassionate and helped me through one of the worst days of my life. They made the experience peaceful and I felt like Bo left with dignity. A compassionate veterinarian is a rarity these days and I am glad to know these 3 wonderful doctors do not lack love for their patients and clients.

Donna M.

For the best care for your animals this is the place to go. The Vets here are very thorough with their exams. They are very open and informative about your pets health care needs. The staff is always friendly, knowledgeable and very professional.

Teresa S.

This is a wonderful place to bring my pups. I have been happy with each visit. All the staff are very helpful and knowledgeable. On my third visit they greeted me by name. The doctors do not rush you and explain what is going on very well.

Tory N.

Highly recommend this practice for your fur babies. It is extremely clean, the staff is very friendly, and the appointment for a wellness exam for my two cats went so smoothly! I was in and out within an hour. Even with me arriving early I was taken back almost immediately. They really cater to the needs of their patients. My cats were both so nervous, my boy cat’s heart rate was really high. They quickly got my babies towels with Feliway to help calm them down. It was truly that little gesture that meant the most to me. I will continue to bring my cats here with peace of mind knowing that they will be very well taken care of.

CJ. C

We had our first visit with our new dog and let me tell you it was an amazing experience from the moment we arrived. Great staff who worked so well with our girl and so friendly! The Dr answered all of our questions and was very patient. We Couldn’t be happier with the outcome and now we have a great reliable place to go to for our new puppies medical needs!

Jessica L.

My dog needed to be seen ASAP. The staff was most accommodating. He received the treatment he needed within a day. So grateful his doing well!

Vanessa E.

When we moved to Greenville we were concerned we wouldn't find a veterinary team as good as our previous one. The team at Ambassador definitely resolved all of those concerns. Everyone there is kind, helpful, and clearly loves animals. Dr. Alexander and Dr. Aliferis are amazing and very knowledgeable, as are all of their technicians. The staff at the front desk are very efficient; they have us checked in pretty much as soon as we walk in the door because they remember us. I absolutely recommend this office for your pets.

Kristy T.

We've been taking our cats to Ambassador Animal Hospital since we moved to Greenville 2 years ago. The staff is beyond wonderful, always friendly and helpful, willing to squeeze us in when we have a sick pet. Both Dr. Alfieris and Dr. Alexander are amazing vets - caring, patient, and dedicated. They always follow up with us and check in on our pets after our visits. I can't recommend them enough, we wouldn't take our pets anywhere else!

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