EASY WAYS TO KEEP YOUR PET ACTIVE

Follow this advice from PDSA vet Olivia AndersonNathan to keep you and furry friend occupied during this difficult time…

★ If you have a private garden then you can take your dog there to go to the toilet and to play games. But a daily walk is vital for dogs’ physical and mental health, so if possible do use your daily exercise allocation for this. ★ Keep your pet’s brain ticking with a puzzle feeder. Either pick up a Kitty Kong, £5.99 from Amazon, or get creative with a home-made version. For example, you could try to fill the bottom of an empty egg box with some of your cat’s dry food (or muffin tin for wet food) then scrunch up some newspaper and pop it on top. For dogs, try putting their favourite wet food or healthy spread inside a plastic cup and lay it on its side, so they are challenged to get it out – make sure you do this on a floor you can mop! Always supervise your pet and ensure they’re not at risk of swallowing something they shouldn’t – you can also enjoy watching them figure out their puzzle, too. ★ Teaching your pet a new trick is a great way to keep you both occupied. Cats hunt and chase in short bursts, so play in five or 10-minute sessions with pauses for your cat to catch their breath. Plan in plenty of sessions per day. Feed your cat right after a play session to make them feel like they’ve ‘worked’ for their food. If your dog already knows basic commands, practice these. Start with basics like ‘sit’, ‘give paw’ and ‘come here’. Keep back some of their daily food to use as a reward when they get it right. If they’re confused, try going back a few steps to make sure they’re following rather than telling your dog off, which will just upset them. Once you’ve mastered the basics, move on to more advanced commands – visit the PDSA website for more info. Keep training sessions brief, around 15 minutes and end on a high to avoid frustration. For more on looking after your pets and to donate, visit pdsa.org.uk