Tips for Pet Owners Having Guests

Are you going to be having company soon? To many of us, our pets aren’t just furry little roommates: they’re part of the family! However, not everyone is as enamored with our animal companions as we are. Here, a Pickerington, OH vet offers tips on helping guests and pets get along.


Guest Room

Keep your furry pal in mind when decorating your guest room. If possible, opt for floors, rather than carpet, in that room. Choose window coverings and bedding that don’t attract fur, such as silk and polyester blends. We also recommend getting a good air purifier. If your guests have allergies, set out some tissues and over-the-counter allergy remedies for them. Finally, advise your visitors to keep their door closed. Otherwise, your four-legged buddy may be tempted to nap on their bed!

Shedding

Fido and Fluffy have very pretty coats, but that fur looks much better on them than it does on our clothes or furniture. Brush your pet daily, starting about a week before your company is due to arrive. This will remove the dead fur from your furry companion’s coat, so less of it ends up stuck to everything. You’ll also want to thoroughly dust and vacuum your house, and change your air filters. (Tip: to get pet fur off your furniture, use a squeegee, rubber dish gloves, or a damp sponge.)

Petiquette

We can’t advocate begging: it’s bad doggy manners, and a contributing factor to canine obesity. However, we know that there are some pretty spoiled pooches out there. Fido’s adorable theatrics may not go over well with guests, so if your pet has a habit of begging, keep him crated or in another room during meals. If your dog tends to say hello by jumping on people, keep him contained as people are arriving. If your pet is excitable, tire him or her out with a fun play session. Tired pets are good pets!

Safety

Keep your pet’s safety in mind. Ask guests not to feed your furry pal without permission. This is particularly crucial if your guests have never had pets: they may not know what is and is not safe for our four-legged friends. Ask your vet for more information.

Please reach out to us, your Pickerington, OH animal clinic, with any questions or concerns about your pet’s health or care. We’re here to help!

Location

Office Hours

Practice Hours

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-4:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

8:00 am-2:00 pm

Sunday:

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Kennel Only)