Ready for Rover to get in on the app act? While modern technology has yet to reach the point where our four-legged friends are actively using smartphones and their associated apps, there are a number of apps that consumers can install to make pet ownership easier and their pets’ lives safer, healthier and happier.
For pet owners seeking digital help with the responsibilities of pet ownership, these five free apps are among the leaders of the pack:
- Pet First Aid: Developed by the American Red Cross, this app gives pet owners easy access to veterinary advice when everyday pet-related emergencies arise. Its helpful offerings include step-by-step first aid instructions, how-to videos, checklists regarding early warning signs and preventive care. Further, to make relevant information easier for users to access, the app offers a convenient toggle switch that lets viewers quickly change between dog- and cat-focused content.
The app is available for free download to both Apple and Android.
- BringFido: Many pet owners, and dog owners in particular, love to bring their furry friends along when they head out for an adventure. And with the BringFido app in hand, it is easy for them to discover hotels, restaurants, beaches, parks and events where their faithful companions are welcome to join them. This helpful app offers details, reviews and filtering capabilities for more than 250,000 pet-friendly places in the United States and Canada.
BringFido is available for free download to both Apple and Android Pet owners can also visit the website at bringfido.com.
- iKibble: Some dog owners are infamous for spoiling their faithful four-legged friends, especially when it comes to feeding them table scraps and other non-dog-food treats. But not all foods are good for Scruffy, and some are even downright dangerous for dogs. With the iKibble app, though, pup owners can quickly and easily search for or scroll through information on a range of different meats, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and grains with the results providing health ratings for foods that are OK for dogs to eat, along with warnings for ones that are not.
iKibble is available for free download at the Apple App Store. For Android users, the free Can Dogs Eat app offers similar functionality.
- DogCam: Anyone who has ever attempted to get their dog to look at the camera for a photo, whether for a family portrait or just a simple snap of Rover, knows how challenging it can be. But DogCam gives canine photographers a leg up for taking great pet pictures by playing sounds that tend to grab a dog’s attention like barking, whistling, animal noises or squeaky toys all while the photo-taker frames up the perfect shot.
This app is available for free download to both Apple and Android.
- Cat Fishing 2: Cat owners know that their feline friends enjoy a good game of chase, whether it be with a cat toy, laser pointer or random household item. And this Friskies-provided app, purr-haps best used on a tablet, brings the game into the digital age. Created with cats in mind, the game lets felines hunt for moving fish in a digital pond when placed on a flat surface, offering visual and audio rewards when they paw at the screen. When a cat loses interest and steps away for 30 seconds, the game even meows to summon it back.
This app is available for free download to both Apple and Android.
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