Most people’s first comment when they walk into our house is “wow, your dog has so many cushions”. It’s almost as if there’s a rule about how many cushions a dog needs but when it comes to cushions, you can go crazy. Nevertheless, there are pet essentials you’ll need to consider for both dogs and cats.
Basic Needs
Just like us, dogs and cats need to know that they are safe and that they have food and water. It might sound obvious but their sense of safety isn’t always clear to us because our definitions are slightly different.
This is especially true if you’re caring for a newly adopted senior dog.
When it comes to pet essentials for new or existing pets, make sure you have a safe space for them in a corner. You might need to play around with where you place their cushion. For instance, any noise or outside light might impact their state of mind.
For example, some years ago, I adopted an 11 year old from the shelter and it took me some time to find the right spaces for him at home. I also soon realised that he was uncomfortable with large spaces. He would therefore never sit on a cushion in the middle of a room.
The trick is to observe what they naturally do as this will give you clues as to where they feel safe.
Other basic pet essentials to remember:
- Collar and microchip. Both dogs and cats should get microchipped. Whilst some people don’t like using collars for cats, dog essentials must include a lead and harness.
- As always, there’s a huge debate about harnesses. Essentially though, a well-fitting harness is generally better than putting a lead on a collar. That’s because of the damage a collar can do on the neck and vertebrae when pulled by the lead.
- Food and water bowls. Both dog and cat essentials include having access to fresh water at all times. When it comes to food, depending on your situation, you can be creative because of course, a plate does actually work.
- Nevertheless, to do things properly, according to our expert physiotherapist, placing food and water bowls on stools so that dogs and cats can eat and drink with a straight neck is also advisable. This is particularly true for older animals who tend to get arthritis.
Well-Being Needs
Dog and cats present different joys and challenges, as expected. Generally, cats can keep themselves entertained but even they need mental stimulation and contact with others.
Dogs are social animals and whilst we all have busy lives, it’s important to remember that they struggle when left alone. In fact, the UK charity, Bluecross, recommends not leaving them for more than 4 hours in their blog on separation anxiety.
Of course, we’re all different and there will be some cats who don’t like to be alone and some dogs who need to be more active. For instance, border collies are renowned for being constantly on the go and some rarely sleep during the day. 4 hours alone would be too long for them.
All this shouldn’t be overwhelming because working out well-being pet essentials is a bit of a trial-and-error experience. The more fun you make it, the more you’ll all get out of it.
Determining your pet essentials for optimal well-being:
- Mental stimulation. Lists of both cat essentials and dog essentials should always include something to keep their minds active. Not only does it keep them younger but it also stops them from getting bored. They are then less likely to take it out on your shoes or furniture. You can easily find a range of games, toys and exercises online. The key is to do a bit of trial and error to see what works for you all.
- Grooming. Depending on whether you have a long or short-haired dog, you might need to make sure they are regularly brushed to keep their coat healthy and clean. It’s also a good way to notice any lumps or potentially cancerous moles, amongst other skin conditions. Similarly with cats, some also need some help staying healthy and clean.
- Sleeping. When it comes to pet essentials, all of them must get good quality sleep. Depending on the size, breed and age of your dog, they’ll need somewhere between 11 and 14 hours, or more, of sleep. On the other hand, a cat needs around 12 to 16 hours. Of course, each animal is different so you’ll need to work together to find out what they need.
Health & Safety Needs
We all have our different approaches to healthcare. That includes the level of ownership we take versus simply letting the doctors take charge, all of which depends very much on who we are.
In fact, recent research on personality and health-care decision-making style shows that those who are conscientious and open-minded tend to take a more active role in their medical decisions than those who are neurotic and agreeable.
Similarly when considering pet essentials for healthcare, every dog guardian has a different approach.
Nevertheless, whilst most dog carers follow the annual check-up routine, did you know that semi-annual health check-ups are equally important?
As an Australian vet explains in his article on semi-annual health checks, 6 months is the equivalent to around three human years.
Of course, most of us don’t do annual health checks when we’re younger. Nevertheless, as we get older, those checks become more critical. It’s the same for dogs after the age of around around 6 or 7, depending on their size.
For a more accurate picture of how old your dog is in human years, check out this article by the American Kennel Club on how to calculate dog years.
Alongside regular health checks, don’t forget these other pet essentials:
- Vaccinations. As we’ve mentioned in a previous post on vaccinations, there are core vaccines for both dogs and cats as well as others to include if needed. Most importantly, you can also do titer tests to check if and when your pet needs their booster.
- First-aid kit. Just like us, pets get their fair share of scrapes and bruises. It’s therefore always useful to have disinfectant, skin-care cream and simple saline solution at home so you can clean out eyes or wounds. It’s also useful to have rice and psyllium husk to hand for those moments when your dog or cat has diarrhoea before you take them to the vet.
- Emergency go-bag. As we described in our pet preparedness blog, natural or even human disasters can and do happen. So, make sure you have an emergency bag of food and medication ready to go should you ever need it.
Final Thoughts on Getting Your Pet Essentials
If you’re like me, you’ll constantly research and optimise what works for your pet to keep both of you happy. It’s all part of the journey and fun of living together.
Simply remember the key pet essentials such as regular health checks and mental stimulation along with a registered microchip and you’ll work out the rest together. Just enjoy the companionship.
