5 ‘apps’ to Help Us With Pets

From necklaces with GPS to know where in the world our beloved pet is walking to find a good home for abandoned animals or games for cats to entertain are some of the applications to make life more fun, organized and simple. Today there are many options that technology offers to help coexist with our four-legged friends.
Some have even been developed by Colombians who seek to support the good work of animal caretakers. Tools that fit all pockets and needs.

Here some novel solutions

Appsolution, an ‘app’ to reduce animal abandonment

Reducing animal abandonment is the goal set by the AppSolution team, based in Tunja, Boyacá. Those who run this company set out to devise a method that would help increase the number of homes for abandoned animals that roam the streets of Bogotá. The initiative consisted of creating the Animal District application, which faces the problem from two angles. One is that of animals that remain on the street or in shelters and another is that of people who have animals but decide to abandon them.

The welcome screen is entitled ‘Community Zoolidaria’ and it shows the profiles of different animals.

Of Lorna, for example, it is said that it is of medium size, it is 6 years old and it is in Engativá. When clicking on his photograph the user learns that this dog has not been sponsored and in the text below there is a short biography of her. It includes the options that the user has: donate money, donate in-kind, volunteer, adopt, sponsor and contact.
Game for cats, games for pussycat
Friends of cats find in the Game for Cats app a good alternative to entertain their little cats. The developer company of this application, Little Hiccup, created a simple but captivating game in which the cat pursues a laser beam simulator, a mouse or a butterfly that are projected on the screen.

Although the iPad version has been available for some time, the app has recently been launched for Android devices, which allows users to enjoy this fun tool no matter which operating system they have.

Game for Cats offers free of charge the game in which the laser beam is used, while for the cat to be entertained with the mouse or with the butterfly, it is necessary to make a purchase in the application. One concern users may have is whether the cat will scratch the screen with its fingernails. To this, the company developer of the app responds that probably not because the keratin from which the nails of cats are made is not harder than glass.

Barkham, look at the little bird!

The BarkCam application is designed for those pet owners for whom it is impossible not to take pictures of their furry friends, whether it is selfies or photos in which they are alone. The trick, which is not always easy to achieve, is to get the animals to look at the camera at the right time.

How is it possible to do this? The application is equipped with a system that produces around 25 striking sounds that make the pets look towards the cell phone. In addition to this function, the application has labels that can be added to the images and also with filters that embellish the photos.

Among the sounds that the appIt produces barks, moans, whistles and sounds of toys. BarkCam makes it easy to take pictures of any dog, not exclusively the one belonging to the person who downloads the app. Dogs that live on the street and anyone else will feel the curiosity to pose for the cameras.

Relax my cat, against cat anxiety

It is proven that music influences the mood of humans. Why not also in the cats? This is the question asked by the developers of the Relax my Cat app, which is equipped with different melodies. Each of them was composed especially for cats.

All melodies play a role. There are some that were created in order to make the animals fall asleep; or after they were made to encourage them to play and there are even melodies to help them cope with the cravings that come from separating them from their owners. The app for Android devices is free, but you have to pay for the one used in iOS devices.

The application offers several playlists of melodies to make it easier for cats to let themselves, groom. The application also has a television for cats: on the screen, there are videos with relaxing musical images that are designed to attract the attention of the animals and to “help reduce stress or anxiety”.

Dog walk, a walk with your dog

The Dog Walk app, from Tractor Dog, allows users to record the hikes they take with their four-legged friends. It is a free application that uses the GPS sensor of the cell phone to record the route that the dog and its owner cover. The route is shown on a map on the screen, along with the time and distance that were used.

Pet owners can also take pictures and save them within the application (which can be downloaded on Android and iOS) and also have the option to note the sites where the dog did his needs along the way. When registering, the owner of the dog must fill out a form that asks, among other information, the name of the animal, its breed and its birthday.

Those who download this app can see a record of the walks they do with their animals, share them with friends and family and even use them to record activities. This last characteristic is particularly attractive for people who are dedicated to taking the dogs for a walk.

Advertisement

Life of a Dog Runner

Before starting: take it to the vet and tell him your plans, for him to check the dog and verify that everything is fine. 

Strap: “You should wear a collar and leash, long enough not to cause trauma to the dog’s neck,” Lee notes. In that the experts agree: a belt of meter or meter and a half of length, although when training, the dog must go to his side. The idea is to run with a strap that is not tied to your wrist. Better hands-free, although it requires the two a few learning sessions, especially for the dog to always be at his side and pace. 

Hydration: you should bring enough water for both of you and hydrate at the same time, at least every 20 minutes. The training should include those technical stops.

Hot dog: if it is sunny, it is necessary that the dog can cool down in the shade, because hydration is not enough for them. 

Food: You must wait at least one hour after you have eaten to take it out to run. And do not forget to take a bag to pick up what the dog does along the way. 

Paws: the younger they are, the easier it is to hurt their legs because their pads have not hardened enough. Check them often. If you live in hot areas, run at dawn or at the end of the day so that the floor does not burn. 

‘Trail’: Dogs must also learn to train in mountainous terrain or on rough roads. The recommendation is that the dog, in addition to being very obedient, runs behind you or next to you, never go ahead and like crazy. You must bring your own water and food. 

City:  Mark Lee states that “you should not get the dogs to run on the pavement; we must take into account that they run on the grass and never on hot or rough surfaces, like rocks, so as not to hurt their little fingerprints “. 

Recommendations for Running and Training With Dogs

If the dog is the best friend of man, the dog that likes to run is the super-friend of every runner. Running with a dog is energizing, a great company, a way to stay focused, have fun and look at the environment with different eyes.

The stories of ‘runners’ who go out with their dog to run are endless. Walks in the parks, jogging in the mountains, precise and planned training, with a very well coupled step and that joy of sharing time and silence with your pet; “See him smile” and then rest together. Impossible to have a better partner to run, in addition to always being ready, regardless of the weather and without problems in your schedule.

But, just as there are all kinds of runners there are also all kinds of temperaments in dogs. “Not all dogs like to run,” says Mark Lee, a canine training specialist and recognized Colombian worshiper of dogs, and that is a first condition that must be identified. It seems obvious, but there are those who, against the animal’s temperament, try to force him to train by his side. That does not mean that our pets do not need to go out to exercise and they like it, for their own physical and mental health and that of all the members of the family. But another thing is that they like high-performance training.

Dogs that like to run, you have to train them, specifically, for this more demanding job. Lee warns that “it is a training process that must be done little by little, as is done with humans, and taking into account the characteristics of the dog, such as age, size and physical condition”, regardless of whether it is Creole or pedigree. Every dog ​​requires adaptation work, at the pace of its owner’s career and the amount of time and distance, which increases little by little. That is to say: do not start running 10 kilometers with your dog if you have not trained it previously.

On the other hand, César Millán, famous dog trainer and known for running with them, recommends running for time and not distance. The goal, for restless dogs, is for them to learn to control themselves and keep pace with them so that you as a leader mark the pace and avoid the pulse between dog and master. For the slowest, the idea is to make a little effort, but with a step that is not forced and the foundations soon.

Step by Step

What would be the ideal dog to accompany me 10 or more kilometers? What is the recommended breed and how to train it for intervals or funds? The question every day is more frequent in the world of ‘runners’ and is well studied, including mosques or criollos of all our hearts as well as pedigree dogs.

There are certain breeds of dog profiles that are ideal for running in shape. “In terms of breeds, border collie, Shetland shepherd, Labrador, the golden retriever, German shepherd (as long as it is not heavy, like the Australian and Belgian shepherds) and Hungarian hunting. Definitely, dogs of a thin constitution, of no more than 20-25 kilograms, which allows them to endure long periods of trotting; I hope they have short hair and that they are long-snouted and not flat, so they can breathe better, ” recommends Lee. For the ‘trail’, an all-terrain dog, capable of facing other demands, such as the Weimaraner, Rhodesian ridgeback and German pointer.

But if dogs know how to run, should we teach them to run? “Yes, as to any person, so they have a process of adapting to the rhythm and can go prolonging the time,” says Mark Lee. This involves drawing up a training plan that can start with test intervals and, from the answer, make a judicious workout that can take at least three weeks before the dog adapts to this type of exit. It is recommended to start training twice a week, 20 minutes in each session, and increase the frequency and adding five minutes per week. Remember that this is a training focused on running in a sustained manner, which is not the same as taking it out for a walk or play.

You have to take certain precautions, in addition to taking water and defining points of hydration, crucial for both, master and dog. Preferably the beginning of this new routine is on grass, sand or other surfaces not so aggressive to your legs, and allow you to get used to the continuous impact.

Beware of Abrupt Food Changes

One of the most frequent recommendations that veterinarians make to pet owners about nutrition is that they do not suddenly change the concentrate, as this can cause food problems, including lack of appetite and malnutrition. 

Any change that must be made, either by the age of your pet, because you have an illness that requires it, and even because your budget varied, should not put at risk the health of your dog or cat.

For this reason, the Pet Food Institute offers some advice for this process to be done successfully for both the animal and you. 

In the case of cats, these changes can occur due to aging, to present digestive problems, when it is neutered or for any medical recommendation; also according to the stage of development either puppy or adult. 

“In them, the food transition is gradual, should occur little by little, this in order to see if it causes some kind of discomfort, ” said Carlos Cifuentes, veterinarian at the Pet Food Institute. 

If the transition to a new food is for a dog, it must be done with great care since its intestinal flora is very weak, especially if they are older animals. However, it is recommended to change the food as it grows to provide a new source of protein and vitamins. 

“The most frequent change occurs after one year of age when adults must be given food. Likewise, at seven years it is convenient to give feed for older dogs, which will help prevent diseases such as osteoarthritis and maintain the proper functioning of the organs, “explains Cifuentes. 

On the other hand, the veterinarian Jorge Gallego, professor of Urgencies and Internal Medicine of small animals of the University of Antioquia, ensures that it is very important to make any change of food little by little. 

“I recommend my patients start with 75% of the previous meal and add 25% of the new one for three days, to see how it is tolerated. Then, in the following three days, 50 and 50% and observe well and, finally, 25% of the previous and 75% of the new one. This is done to prevent intestinal problems, “explains Gallego. 

The vets say that at every stage of life, pet food requirements are different and good concentrates are specially designed for it.

Choose the concentrate

The most important thing when deciding which concentrate to give is that it contains the right amounts of protein, minerals, vitamins and fiber. It is key to ask the best option to the veterinarian and find the one that fits your budget. 

“Regarding this issue, we must clarify that neither dogs nor cats are omnivores, so it is not convenient to eat homemade food, or fruits or give them both (homemade and concentrated), as the metabolic processes of each other They are not the same as those of humans. By not giving them the right food they can end up with serious metabolic problems, like diabetes, among others, “Gallego concludes.

Take care of your food

Verify that the packing of the concentrate is clean and has not been damaged by a tear or hole, likewise, it is advisable to read the recommendations for storage. Pet 

food should be treated similarly to human food so it is advisable to keep it in a cool, dry place; It is not recommended to leave the bag on the garage floor or outside in the yard. 

Care must be taken in the presence of insects in the place where they are stored. 

Once the food is already open, it is necessary to leave it in a cool place, in the original packaging and inside a plastic or metal container with a lid that protects the food or places a clamp or hook that covers the opening of the package.

If the food is moist or fresh, it should be stored inside the refrigerator in containers containing the pet portions; These should not be metallic. 

The concentrated food should not remain more than 24 hours served since it can be contaminated with fungi or bacteria. If the pet has not consumed it, it must be changed. 

Before serving your pet’s food, check that the containers of concentrate and water are clean. After serving the food, wash your hands very well.