You may have noticed that, over here at Heron Lakes Animal Hospital, we enjoy commemorating all of the pet-related holidays on the calendar. March boasts one of the cutest and silliest ones, with If Pets Had Thumbs Day. As you may be aware, many scientists credit mankind’s opposable thumbs with the evolutionary leap that propelled us from the caveman era to true civilization. What do you think would happen if Fido and Fluffy suddenly developed thumbs? We obviously can’t ask them, but we have a pretty solid idea. (Spoiler: loads of mischief.) Read on for some wild guesses from a local Coral Springs, FL veterinarian.

Online Shopping

We probably have good reason to be grateful our pets don’t have thumbs. If our furry friends could order stuff by themselves, you could be in a predicament. Not only would your porch be piled with packages, your bank account would probably take a pretty good hit.

But, what do you think your pet would purchase?

We suspect that cats would order a variety of kitty furniture, smoked salmon, live betta fish, catnip, spider plants, kitty shelves, cat enclosures, beds, boxes, scratching posts, beds, cat food, and cat snacks. Fluffy may also order some random items, just for the boxes.

Fido, on the other hand, would likely be more interested in food and toys. You may find your pet ordering dinner from, well, everywhere within delivery range, and signing up for every food club, toy, and puppy subscription box he could find.

Scratching

It’s usually cute to see pets close their eyes in relief when you help them get that bothersome scratch they just can’t reach. Your pet may instantly begin trying with various objects that may allow them to scratch more effectively. Any back scratchers you have would be quickly commandeered, but we wouldn’t be surprised if pets also tried using forks, spatulas, or other random objects.

Get Rid Of The Vacuum

While dogs and cats might not always agree on things, they are usually on the same page when it comes to vacuum cleaners. You’d most likely locate that particular household item on the side of the road … or perhaps, in pieces in the backyard.

Lock One Another Out Of The House

Cats and dogs sometimes get along well. They can also create strong bonds. However, they also sometimes fight like, well, cats and dogs, and can get pretty jealous of each other.

Texting

Many comedy websites have produced amusing series of fictitious texts between dogs, cats, and their humans. This could become an example of life mimicking art. It’d be interesting to hear what your pet would have to say!

Love Notes

Sometimes we can’t help but make fun of our animal pals and their goofy actions. However, at the end of the day, pets are highly emotional and form very strong attachments to their humans. You might find a beautiful note or ‘I Love You’ card from your beloved pet!

Ransack Everything

Pets are extremely curious. Cats, in particular, enjoy investigating various nooks, crannies, and boxes. It wouldn’t be out of character for Fluffy to raid every drawer and closet in the house … before taking a nap in the midst of the devastation.

Take Tons Of Selfies

Fido and Fluffy are both quite photogenic. Your furry friends may fill up your phone’s gallery with selfies!

Borrow Or Steal The Car Keys

Man’s Best Friend has a strong sense of adventure, so it’s understandable that he’d want to explore.  A cross-country road trip to every dog park in the country may seem lavish, but is only to be expected. Fido may also go let all of his canine friends out of their homes before heading to a park, pet store, or beach. There are certainly plenty of beautiful spots to explore here in Coral Springs!

Cats, of course, are not particularly fond of automobile rides. Fluffy may simply decide to throw your keys into the nearest lake, river, or pond, preferably one with gators. She may also become more sophisticated with the paw painting she leaves on windshields, and begin using actual paint for her creations.

Cancel Veterinary Appointments At Their Coral Springs, FL Animal Clinic

We recognize that animal clinics can be frightening for pets: the odd setting, unfamiliar odors, and scents of other worried pets, some of whom may be ill, can understandably put our patients on edge. We do everything we can to make appointments easier for Fido and Fluffy. We’re also very invested in offering cutting-edge treatments, such as mobile CT scans and advanced diagnostic techniques, to help you keep them healthy.

However, we have yet to successfully explain the importance of proper veterinarian care to Fluffy and Fido.

In other words, we may notice our appointment calendars getting a bit empty. If you take your four-legged friend to a groomer, the salon may also experience a surge in cancellations.

Social Media Warfare

Social networking can be both a blessing and a curse. It’s an excellent method to stay in touch with friends and family who you don’t see very often. However, it can also be, well, rather toxic. Fido would definitely keep himself entertained by viewing charming films or clips of squirrels. Fluffy may well decide to become an internet troll. Or, maybe it would be the other way around.

Raid The Cupboards. And The Closets. And The Pantries.

Of course, our canine and feline pets may have various motivations for this. Fido would naturally be on the prowl for food and would eagerly sample everything in the house. Fluffy, on the other hand, would most likely empty your drawers, hide anything valuable, and then take the labels off your canned foods, just to be a jerk.

Take Over Your Computer

This one would necessitate that pets not only grow thumbs, but also learn basic computer skills. However, this may not be as far fetched as it appears. After all, Fluffy has spent years napping on warm keyboards and laptops, perhaps learning by osmosis.

What if your pet hacked into your computer? Fido would definitely download images of cute dogs, fire hydrants, steaks, and parks. Fluffy would delete all of your data, install an aquarium screensaver, and then change every single one of your passwords.

Play Video Games

It’s hardly a stretch to think that dogs and cats could want to explore electronic games. After all, Fido and Fluffy are hunters by nature. Some of the games we think dogs could enjoy are Grand Theft Auto, Duck Hunt, and Frogger. Fluffy may enjoy Pacman, Tetris, or Space Invaders.

Then again, your kitty might be purrfectly happy with her present games. You can actually download games for your cat to play on a smartphone or tablet. Quite a few of our feline friends appear to enjoy ‘catching’ digital mice, fish, or bubbles … even without thumbs.

Conclusion: If Pets Had Thumbs Day is a fun way to ponder what would happen if dogs and cats had opposable thumbs. It’s probably safe to say they’d get into a lot of mischief! 

Have you got any questions about your pet’s health or care? Is it time to schedule an appointment for your dog or cat? Please feel free to ontact us here at your Coral Springs, FL pet hospital, anytime!