Take Your Pet to Work Week: Risks and Benefits to Pet Wellness
One positive thing that came out of 2020 was all of that time with our pets! How great was it to be sitting on a call and seeing everyone’s pets in the background or having them nuzzle you for a treat. It was good for both human and pet wellness.
Now that things are trending with humans going back into the office, you may be excited for the opportunity for everyone to meet your pet in real life.
However, there are quite a few things to consider before making it happen. Take Your Pet to Work Week kicks off June 21–25th. Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital wants to help you figure out what to expect from this different kind of working with your pet experience:
Safety for Your Furry Friends
Make sure your work environment is safe for your pet. Are there people running around? Are there forklifts driving around or poisonous bushes that they can eat? Make sure that your pet can safely rest while you are working to ensure you have the best experience possible.
Is anyone else bringing a pet that might be a threat to yours? You want to avoid an actual cat fight at work. Make sure to check on all of this before you bring your pet to work with you and find yourself in an unfortunate, and hairy, situation.
Volume Considerations for Pet Wellness
Your pet might be perfectly comfortable with train sounds and sirens at home, but what about in the workplace? If certain sounds trigger your pet, like the sound of knocking on doors or shutting cabinets gives your pet anxiety, it might not be the best idea for their wellness.
Potty Time
Make sure you have a plan for when your pet needs to go #1 or #2! Don’t just expect coworkers to walk your pet if you have meetings all day. Make sure that someone is willing to help you with this task. Give them signals so they know before it’s too late. After all, you don’t want to be the reason that pets are banned forever!
Food and Water
What food requirements does your pet have for the day? Are these things going to be pleasant for your coworkers? Maybe not everyone wants to see your snake’s feeding day. It’s important to consider how your pet and your coworkers will cope with food breaks before deciding whether or not to participate in Take Your Pet to Work Week.
Additionally—make sure to set rules for people and what they can feed your pet. The last thing you need is for your pet to get sick and vomit or have diarrhea in the workplace. All it takes is for someone to have some good intentions and give your pet the wrong treat.
Cleanup
You absolutely must clean up after your pet in the office. Make sure to bring a lint roller for those stray, furry clumps. Bring your poop bags. Also, make sure your pet is clean before they come in, so you both can make your best impression!
Have a Backup Plan
If your day isn’t going as planned, make sure you have a friend or loved one on standby to pick up your pet.
On the flip side:
If your coworkers find your pet to be as lovable, you just might help make the case for future pet days at work!
For more information on how to ensure your pet’s wellness, contact us at (210) 681-1391 or schedule an appointment online today.