SPRING FORWARD? Fido and Fluffy can’t tell time!

Well, I know YOU know that tonight the clocks go ahead one hour.  I know you know to change the batteries, test smoke detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors.  I also highly recommend that if you have electronic locks,  you take the opportunity to change the batteries in them.  However, your pooch or feline friend likely did not get the memo.

Our pets’ clocks do not go by a clock; well at least not an external clock.  Their internal body clock tells them when it’s feeding time and when it’s time to go out for a pee, BM or walk. More importantly,  pets that require medication are affected by this change, especially if it is time-sensitive.

We can help our pets adjust to a time change by adjusting their schedule in small increments.  Of course, some pets would be just thrilled to get his breakfast and dinner an hour early, but not all dogs are food monsters like him   Some may still want to sleep!!  We have creatures of habits and if your pet likes routine, do not try to change it all at once.

Adjust them slowly to the new change by making slow and small changes to their routine in 10-minute increments over the week.  Ten minutes is not much to ask,  but one hour is.  If you have diabetic pets,  or pets that require medication at specific intervals and you  haven’t started adjusting their timing yet, it’s not too late.  Start now and adjust slowly through the coming week.

Now let’s ALL enjoy an extra hour of daylight – yeah, SPRING  forward because Spring is in the air 

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