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How to Take Care of Therapy Pets Properly

Emotional support animals, also known as therapy pets, offer a ton of health benefits to their owners with mental or physical conditions. However, the care and maintenance your pet needs may be stressful, taking a toll on you. No matter how difficult it is to care for them, they will give you all the love and guidance you need, which is why you should return the favor, too!

If you’re having trouble figuring out how to care for your therapy dog properly, here are a few helpful tips:

  1. Exercise Together

Exercising together is an awesome way to build a positive relationship while staying in shape. Furthermore, therapy pets should stay healthy, away from illnesses and obesity, with exercise doing just the trick. Daily walks, training sessions, swims, and runs around the park are great exercises for both you and your therapy pet.

After exercise, and even during rest days, make sure that you feed your pet in proper amounts and with healthy food. You can ask for recommendations from your vet on what food and treats your dog should have to maintain their good health.

  1. Frequent Checkups

Again, your therapy pet’s health is of utmost importance. Keep their health in check through frequent checkups with their veterinarian. That way, the vet can identify any illnesses (or risk of it) early on for them to be treated right away before they worsen.

Doing so will help your pet stay healthy and will go easy on your wallet, compared to missing out on vet appointments until it’s too late.

  1. Give Them Love and Affection

Your therapy pet is more than just a helpful animal, he is your family! They require constant love and dedication for them to thrive and stay healthy. And remember, animals are social creatures, so spend more time with your pet and give them the necessary mental and physical stimulation.

Play with them with dog toys from Peggasus Pets, cuddle with them daily, and make sure you always give them the time of day to give a positive attention they love. If ever your pet misbehaved, use positive reinforcement instead of hitting or punishing, as this won’t help them learn quickly and behave better!

  1. Groom Them Regularly

It’s important to bathe and regularly groom your pet for them to stay clean and healthy. Trim their nails for comfier walks, bathe them to reduce itching and skin conditions, brush their teeth for their dental health, then brush their fur to avoid matting or hair loss.

If you are unable to groom your pet yourself, you can always take them to a professional!

Furthermore, do care for their eyes and ears as well, which are prone to mites and infection. After grooming your dog, give their eyes and ears a thorough inspection, making sure that everything is all clear and that your dog isn’t feeling uncomfortably around those sensitive parts.

Wrapping It Up

Caring for your therapy dog doesn’t need to be so difficult with the right knowledge and tips. Continue taking care of them and keeping them happy and healthy, for them to help you do the same every day.

Mahir Garth

The author Mahir Garth