Boost Your Alpena Pet’s Mental Health This Winter
Winter in Northern Michigan means shorter days, colder temps, and (lots) more time spent indoors. But your pet’s needs for both physical and mental stimulation don’t just disappear during this time.
As your trusted Alpena, MI vet, Switzer Veterinary Clinic has tips to help pet parents focus on pet mental health.
Why Mental Health Matters for Pets
Just like humans, pets benefit from mental challenges and structured activities during their daily lives. Including in the winter. A lack of stimulation can lead to destructive behaviors, like chewing doors, shoes, or food and water bowls. It can also lead to anxiety, excessive howling or barking, potty accidents, and even lethargy.
Supporting your pet’s mental health improves their mood, strengthens the bond between pets and their parents, and promotes better behavior at home.
Your veterinarian can help identify the early signs of stress or boredom and offer strategies for winter pet enrichment, as well as cat activity ideas.
For dogs, winter training can be an ideal way to keep your pup’s mental health strong. For cats, activities like setting up exciting new climbing structures can help.
Let’s dig a little bit deeper.
Dog Training Tips
Winter is an ideal time to strengthen your pup’s obedience skills and introduce new indoor challenges. Short, focused training sessions every day—or at least a few times a week—offer mental stimulation and reinforce positive behaviors. It’s a win-win!
Here are our top dog training tips:
- Practice basic commands in various locations throughout your house, like your garage, kitchen, and bedroom, to strengthen your pet’s obedience skills
- Teach fun tricks like “spin,” “shake,” or “roll over”
- Use puzzle feeders or treat dispensers to engage your pet’s problem-solving skills—we love this Outward Hound Lickin’ Layers toy, or the Hide N Slide toy, also from Outward Hound
You don’t have to train your dog for hours every day. Just a quick 10-15 minute session is enough to significantly reduce your pet’s boredom levels—and improve her skills!
Cat Activity Ideas to Help Kitty Stay Engaged Indoors
Sure, kitties sleep more during the winter. But they still need mental and physical outlets, no matter how cold it gets outside.
Creative winter enrichment ideas for cats include:
- Rotating toys every week to keep that sense of novelty alive
- Installing special window perches (like this one from Petco) to give your kitty a world outside to look at, even in winter
- Using interactive toys that mimic prey, like this robotic mouse toy
- Setting up new climbing structures or vertical spaces to give kitty a new challenge
If you can, play with your kitty (and pup) a few times a day, like before you leave for work and right when you get home. This helps spread out the stimulation and establishes a sense of routine for your pet.
Veterinary Support for Winter Wellness
As part of our comprehensive approach to pet mental health, the caring team at Switzer Veterinary Clinic supports pet parents with personalized wellness plans. We understand the importance of mental enrichment, and we can help you come up with ideas tailored to your pet’s mental and emotional health.
Call us at (989) 356-4880 to schedule a winter wellness appointment for your pet!