HEALTH & WELLNESS

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7 POPULAR PET TRENDS

by KOURTNEY JASON Whether the pandemic meant you adopted new fur babies or started spending extra time with the ones you already own, you’ve likely been spoiling your pets more than ever. From toys to eats to their health, here’s what’s new and trending in the world of man’s best friend.

1Pawsitively Busy Veterinarians One of the biggest trends is how overwhelmed all veterinarian hospitals have been since the beginning of the pandemic. “We work harder, longer hours. We have difficulty finding adequate staff. More families have adopted pets, so there are more animals to treat, and more people want to do even more for their companions,” says Jennifer Sweet, DVM, at Blue Ravine Animal Hospital (blueravineanimalhospital.com). Dr. Sweet wants to remind pet parents to plan ahead, don’t expect to be seen quickly for minor issues, and be aware that wait times will be hours in some cases. “Above all, be kind to those caring for your pet. We are doing our best for you and are working as fast as we can to help.”

2Cool Dogs Deserve Cool Toys Jennifer Kirk, founder &

CEO of Posh Puppy Boutique (poshpuppyboutique.com) and Posh Paws Grooming Salon (poshpawsgroomingsalon.com), says pet owners are loving toy sets for their pups. “Instead of a single toy, your pet gets up to five toys in a boxed set that runs $62-$81 and features fun themes like brunch, burgers, and camping.”

3Sweet Celebrations Melisse LeWeck, manager at The Doggie Bag (thedoggiebag.com), has noticed an increase in birthday celebrations for dogs. “People’s pets have become important family members— plus, everyone loves a party!

We sell ‘pupcakes’ and birthday cakes that are dog-friendly and enormously popular.”

4Farm-to-Bowl Food The team at Bark Avenue (barkavenueca. com) has noticed natural foods becoming more popular for pets, including brands like My Perfect Pet, Smallbatch, and Open Farm. “Pet parents are taking a step back from highly processed foods and embracing whole, fresh ingredients either as full diets or as a healthy addition to their pet's current food,” shares

Holly McLaughlin, store manager at Bark Avenue’s El Dorado Hills location.

“This is beneficial for any pet and adds variety and nutrition to their diets; it’s also a great option for picky eaters as well as pets who have difficulty digesting dry kibble.”

5What the Gut? Another trend within the pet food nutrition area is the growing use of natural forms of probiotics, according to Bob Campbell, owner of sBarkles (sbarkles.com). “While there [are] some fine over-the-counter probiotics, including Dr. Mercola’s Pet Probiotics, the use of goat’s milk, for example, is rising quickly,” he says. “The advantages of goat’s milk versus cow’s milk are many. It’s much easier to digest and is a great source of both prebiotics and probiotics, which provides optimum gut health. Check out the offerings from Primal Pet Foods, Answers Pet Food, and The Honest Kitchen.”

While not every dog may tolerate the addition of goat’s milk to their diet, it’s certainly something to consider.

Smallbatch

The Honest Kitchen

OutFox Field Guard 6 Protect Your Pet Dogs are curious by nature, and sometimes their curiosity can get them into trouble. Leslie Baldner, DVM, at Paw Chi Holistic

Veterinary Care (yourholisticvet.com), recommends using OutFox Field Guard to protect dogs from foxtails in the eye, ears, nose, and mouth. Kelley Jensen, owner of Bark to Barn Pet & Farm Sitting (barktobarn.com), says the region is home to a large population of Northern

Pacific rattlesnakes, and there are several snakeremoval companies that offer rattlesnake diversion training for dogs at an affordable cost. “While rattlesnakes try to avoid us as much as we try to avoid them, there are times we come into contact with them, and oftentimes, we meet them because our dog has discovered this interesting-looking thing and can’t wait to give it a good sniff. That’s when trouble strikes—quite literally. We encourage you to consider training as part of your dog’s overall wellness plan.”

7Camping with Canines Bringing dogs camping has become an increasingly popular activity, says Niki

Wolley, DVM, and staff veterinarian at VCA Loomis

Basin Veterinary Clinic. "There are so many fun things to do with your furry companion while camping, such as hiking and swimming. We encourage you to bring a pet first aid kit (scissors, gauze, antiseptic wipes, gloves, and vet wrap/ bandage), a life jacket if you’re going somewhere to swim, and plenty of fresh water with a collapsible bowl. Also, be sure to look up the nearest 24/7 emergency veterinary clinic near your campground, just in case,” Dr.

Wolley says.