Dogs & Football: How to Make Sure They Have A Winning Season Too!
Football season is about to kick into high gear. From exciting rivalries to food-filled gameday parties…we love our fall Saturdays. Unfortunately, our furry friends may not handle these gameday festivities with the same enthusiasm as their parents.
Tackling Anxiety
To help our pets handle the challenges that come with the football season, it’s important to first understand that pets do best when they have structure and routines. Whether it’s eating at a particular time, taking a daily walk, or greeting you at the door after work, pets become creatures of habit and appreciate routine.
Because gamedays don’t happen every week of the year, pets can become anxious when people come to the house for a game. To help them work through this experience, consider these “game plans.”
A good way to help your dog reduce their anxiety is with exercise. Before the big game, take Fido for a brisk walk, play fetch, or let them run around the dog park.
Another option is to schedule a fun daycare experience at AVAC for your dog. This gives them a good opportunity to “play-off” their energy. A tired dog can be a calmer dog.
For those dogs that have trouble with loud noises and lots of people, medication may be the only way to help them cope with an exciting gameday party. Our doctors will evaluate your pet and prescribe the right medication that will help them handle stressful situations like gameday.
If your pets need more help than exercise or medication can provide, consider boarding them on gameday. Our suites and kennels provide your pets a good place to relax away from the noise and excitement of your party. Just make sure you call ahead and reserve their space before they’re all booked.
Food Fumbles
Who doesn’t love a gameday party with lots of great food? As good as your party food may be, unfortunately, it’s probably not pet-approved. Make sure you keep fatty foods away from your pets. These fatty foods can cause a serious condition called pancreatitis.
It’s also important to let your guests know which foods are off limits to your pets. As tempting as it may be to sneak them a snack…don’t! Your pets will be healthier and happier.
Train for Success
As we move from game day into a busy holiday season, a fun way to help your pet handle a lively party is to enroll them in obedience training classes. By helping your dog learn to handle distractions and important commands like sit, stay, and leave it - your pet will be better prepared to handle the excitement of the special celebrations.
For more information, including class descriptions, dates, and times, visit our training web page
here.
Julie Grimes, DVM
Melissa Miller, DVM
Sarah Foster, DVM
