The veterinarian gave tips on pet care in the spring

"It is not necessary to drastically change the activity level of an animal with the arrival of spring. If the pet is active and ready for adventure, you can gradually increase the duration and intensity of walks. In a calm and shy animal, a sharp increase in activity will cause stress. In this case, it is better to give preference to light games, caresses, and offer your pet new toys or treats with a search to stimulate his interest and activate," the expert advised.

In addition, Kashtanova recommended making a balanced diet for the pet, but introducing changes gradually, over 7-10 days, to avoid digestive problems.

"If the pet becomes more active, you can slightly increase the calorie content of the diet. It is also worth adding more vegetables to the diet or using special high—fiber feeds to stimulate digestion, which is especially important after a long period of limited mobility of the pet at the end of winter," the veterinarian comments.

She added that as the number of warm days and activity increases, the animal needs to consume more drinking water.

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"Adding vitamins and minerals important for the health of coat and skin, such as omega-3, vitamins A, E, zinc and biotin to the diet can be beneficial for a pet in the spring. To determine the need, dosage and choose the right vitamin complex, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian. An overdose of vitamins can be dangerous and lead to undesirable consequences for the animal's health", — the expert comments.

In addition, she reminded that it is worth taking care of the sterilization of animals, since spring is the time of the mating season. The dog can show anxiety, even aggression, which, according to the veterinarian, is closely related to the natural breeding cycles of wild dogs in nature. During this period, cats are characterized by meowing, the desire to escape, and tags.

The owner should keep this process under control, for example, take timely care to provide the pet with the necessary sedatives, she concluded. According to the sales statistics of Sber Electronics, which Izvestia reviewed on March 1, the corresponding animal products were bought 19% more often in 2024 than in 2023.

On February 17, Marianna Onufrienko, Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, expert at the Center for the Study of Nutrition and Animal Welfare, told Izvestia about the influence of pets on people's moods. According to her, interaction with pets promotes the production of hormones of happiness — serotonin and dopamine. In addition, stroking a dog or cat reduces the level of cortisol, which is produced during stress, the veterinarian noted.