The old adage that a dog is a man’s best friend remains true in modern times as pets of all kinds are now being treated more as one of the family.

One of the easiest ways to include a pet in a home is to give it the same sorts of treats as the human members of the household. Celebrating a dog’s birthday, for instance, can make him feel special and gives you a great reason to spend the whole day spoiling him. Nowadays, stores cater for such occasions with special birthday cakes as well as edible greeting cards. Cats will prefer a slightly different treat and kitty caviar is available from premium pet shops.

Clothes and canines are becoming more and more popular. Although some celebrities may buy dogs purely as a fashion accessory, many dogs are now being dressed to impress. Specialists sell everything a dog could wish for – from a fancy collar, to jewellery, to dresses – meaning dog owners now have the option to turn their pets into fashionistas.

Rather than buying an extravagant luxury, your pet may appreciate a less lavish gift that will give long term benefits. Does your dog have a comfortable bed? Is your cat flap in need of an upgrade? Would your bird like a larger cage to fly about in? Whilst these gifts may not show an immediate change in your pet, over the next few weeks and months you should hopefully notice that he seems happier as he makes use of his new environment.

If you adopted your pet, you may not know its actual date of birth. If this is the case, rather than celebrating its birthday, you could always use National Dog Day – 26 August – as the day for spoiling your pet. Other animals celebrate their dedicated days on different dates – cats on 29 October and birds on 5 January.

Although not as entertaining as giving toys or presents, buying pet insurance is a very practical gift to give and shows that you care. Most policies will provide cover for expenses incurred if your pet ever needs to visit the vet – something that can be very costly if your animal ever needs major or lengthy treatment.

Of course, with the best presents it is always the thought that counts. Sometimes the best thing to give is something simple – a dog will always appreciate a walk in the park and a stick to chase – and splashing out is not always necessary.

Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.