After a holiday weekend, dogs often feel the shift in routine, too. Whether they enjoy extra attention, long walks, or playtime with family and friends, they can sense when things return to normal. Some dogs may show signs of sadness or confusion, missing the excitement, while others may be more relaxed and happy to settle back into their usual routine. Offering them comfort and consistency after the holidays is essential, ensuring they get regular exercise, meals, and attention. This helps them adjust to the quieter days, reinforcing their sense of security and well-being after the festive break.
Hello, and welcome back! I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. A three-day weekend always seems to fly by as we try to fit in as much as possible, and this one was no exception. On Saturday, Emmett and Lucas joined a cookout with a whole pack of dogs: Tank and Buster (my sister’s), Elvis (my aunt’s), and Otto (my mom’s). Otto and Lucas are genuinely best friends.
Despite Lucas weighing 81 pounds and Otto only 12, Lucas is always gentle and careful with him. Otto always wins when they play tug-of-war! When the entire group of dogs is together, Lucas takes on the significant brother role, roughhousing with each dog and stepping in to break up any overly rowdy play. He leads them in a giant game of “chase” around my parent’s backyard, and whenever he pauses to drink water, all the little ones follow suit. But Lucas isn’t as young as the other pups, so on Sunday, he spent most of the day recovering, sprawled out on the living room floor and only getting up to eat or rollover. On the other hand, Emmett
loves being where the people are, moving from person to enjoy ear scratches and belly rubs. He had a great time at the cookout with so many people around for attention! However, late Sunday night into early Monday morning, Emmett woke me up feeling
unwell. I took him outside; unfortunately, the poor little guy wasn’t feeling well. He hasn’t fully recovered yet, so we’ve put him on a rice and boiled chicken diet to help him feel better.
This weekend, I learned a helpful trick to keep Emmett hydrated when he wasn’t feeling well. With an upset stomach, dogs must stay hydrated, but Emmett refused to drink water, which worried me. I needed to find a way to get him to drink, so I turned to one of his favorite snacks—ice cubes.
To make it more enticing, I froze a tray of ice cubes with a bit of water, but I added a twist to ensure he’d eat them. I sprinkled.
Parmesan cheese on top of the ice cubes, turning them into cheesy treats that Emmett couldn’t resist! The combination of the cold treat and the cheesy flavor caught his attention immediately, and he eagerly started nibbling on them, getting some hydration while enjoying a tasty snack.
Over the next 24 hours, I made more trays of these cheesy ice cubes to ensure Emmett stayed hydrated. Every time he had one, I could see his energy slowly returning, and I felt relieved knowing he was getting the fluids he needed. It was a simple but effective trick, and I’ll keep it in mind if Emmett ever needs extra help staying hydrated.
