Animal Talk – July 2019

A pet

donkey?

D

onkeys are long-lived

animals, so the decision to

get one as a pet shouldn’t be taken

without careful consideration.

They are very social, with a

dog-like temperament, and don’t

enjoy being on their own. A donkey

will enjoy the companionship of

his human caregiver and other

animals, including goats, sheep

and other donkeys.

Do donkeys make

good pets?

fun questions

PETTA LK

T

here are various ways to make time for your

dog and to make the minutes count:

• A five-minute sniffing walk.


• Two minutes of playing during an
  advertisement break.


• Training while you’re making dinner.


• Sitting in the garden instead of scrolling through
  pointless rants on social media.
  Hours of fun with your dog are for weekends –
  minutes make all the difference during the week.
  Also, you don’t have to do everything advised here
  at once. Start with one thing and once it’s an easy
  habit, add something else. Go at your own pace.
  Katherine Brown, behaviourist

I’m very busy and don’t have much

time to spend with my dog. How can

I make more time for him?

Make time for attention

R

esearch has revealed that caring for

a pet can be therapeutic for owners.

Just stroking or rubbing a pet can help to

lower stress levels, calm you and prevent

depression. Regular grooming means that

you’ll be ‘up close and personal’ with your

pet and able to keep an eye out for unwanted

parasites. You will need to find out exactly how

much grooming your cat or dog needs, based

on his coat type and length.

Small animal veterinarian

Grooming is

relaxing

How can grooming my pet be

therapeutic?

J

oints that don’t move become stiff and painful

and the muscles around them become weak.

Bones also get weaker when not exercised, as

they need gentle loading for maintained density

and strength. Regular exercise helps to prevent

obesity, which is a risk factor of osteoarthritis, so

inevitably you are delaying if not avoiding the onset

of osteoarthritis by keeping your dog active and

healthy. It is also a very good form of stimulation

and helps to burn off energy which may otherwise

cause them to become destructive or depressed at

home. I also believe that this is as important for pet

owners to get outside and decompress from the

demands of everyday life. A good way to exercise

without stress on your joints is swimming, which is

also cardio intensive and can assist in kick-starting

your metabolism.

Katherine Brown, behaviourist

Why should I keep my pet active?

Keep active