The day that we first met our pets and brought them home were two of life’s greatest moments. These are ten things you should consider when bringing home a new cat or dog.
Can You Commit?
You will have time to exercise your dog every day. You will remember to walk your cat each evening. You should consider getting a parrot or fish as an animal friend that is low maintenance.
What is the best pet for you?
It is not a good idea to choose a pet because it’s popular, cute, or trendy. These pets are often unceremoniously abandoned at animal shelters when they prove to be overly energetic, needy, or intolerant.
Ask lots of questions to the people who are adopting your animal. You can even find a breed-specific group to ask some members. You can ask the person adopting the pet a lot of questions, or you could even join a group that focuses on fostering specialized breeds to get answers from some members. The recent Chihuahua trend is a great example. They’re cute, can fit in any home size, and are low-maintenance. They aren’t very patient with children, and they can bite without provocation. Your pet cat must also be compatible with your personality. Some cats require lots of interaction and attention, while others prefer to be left alone. Make sure you do your homework and make a wise choice.
Ask Veterinarians Questions Before Adopting a Pet
Ask your friends to recommend a veterinarian before you decide on the pet you want. Your veterinarian is a great source of advice to choose the right pet for your needs and lifestyle. You want to find a vet that matches your specific needs. The choice you make is crucial because this will be a relationship that lasts a lifetime. Again, do your research. You can read online reviews about the veterinarians you are considering (with some salt) or ask local groomers for recommendations. Then, make an appointment to interview them.
We recommend that you don’t depend solely on the friendliness of a veterinarian towards humans. A vet who is good with animals will often be better at relating to humans than the other way around. You can also ask your vet for a list of references.
Four ways to make your home pet-friendly
You may not have known that even something as basic as chewing gum is deadly to dogs or that Ibuprofen can cause toxicity in cats. Before you get a pet, it is important that you go through the home and remove any hazards. It is important to check cabinets that are at the pet’s level, countertops, chemical bottles on the ground, toys for small children, and cords of curtains or electric outlets. It doesn’t end there. Check your yard and home for cats and poisonous plants for dogs. If you have a bag or purse, be sure to remove any items that could pose a danger, such as sugar-free chewing gums, which contain xylitol.
Pick the right food for your age and breed
All pet food is not the same. There are some pet foods that are superior to others and there are also those who make unsubstantiated claims. The most attractive pet food can or bag may look appealing, but it isn’t the best choice for our pets. Select the food that is best for your dog, or for your cat. Always look for diets labeled as complete and balanced. Your pet food selections should reflect the lifestyle, age, and needs of your pet. If you want to know why this is so important, and what to consider, then do some research. However, your vet will be able to give the best advice.
Prepare for a period of adjustment
Be prepared to cry if you adopt a pup into your family. Just like human babies, puppies will cry at night during their first few days of living in a new house. It isn’t a good thing to bring your puppy into your bed, unlike human infants. Before bringing your new puppy home, you should prepare a quiet space that is enclosed with a bed or kennel. This will keep the puppy from escaping. Select the place that your dog will call home. Allow your dog to explore the home unsupervised during the day. It’s also a great way to find any dangers you may have overlooked the first time.
It’s easier to get your cat into bed. Set up the kitten’s sleep area near his litterbox so that it doesn’t become lost. Then, let him romp in this area until he falls asleep.
It’s a bit more difficult to bring a pet into an environment where there are already pets. It is important to ensure that the resident dog does not attack your new pet.
Train Your Pet
Housetraining must begin immediately upon bringing your new pet into your home. Introduce your kitten to the litterbox immediately after you bring him home. Leash up the puppy and start taking him out to get to know your neighborhood. You don’t need to scare your dog by introducing him to his new surroundings. On the first trip, a very brief walk is enough. Start training immediately after the first walk. While the dog is urinating outside, say “Go Now” to him.
Choose the Right Toys and Treats for Your Pet
It is important to choose the right treat, particularly for puppies. When used correctly, treats are a great tool for training. Try out a variety of dog treats, and then choose the most valuable one for your pup. This is the one treat that he’ll do everything for. He will even stay by your side when there are a bunch of cats passing by. Be practical with your treats. When it comes to our “little babies,” we are tempted to treat them generously. But, just as with candy for a child in the human world, giving too many treats can result in an unhealthy body. Even healthy snacks may lead to excess weight. Always keep some treats on hand for when you need to train your dog. Rawhide can cause choking and intestinal blockages if it is torn up into large pieces. All toys should be devoid of strings, buttons, and other items that could be chewed off and ingested. Ask other “parents” of dogs for suggestions on durable toys.
Feather wands and laser lights are popular with cats. Don’t forget about the tried-and-true: catnip mouse toys and old boxes. Treats are also loved by cats, so follow the advice above.
Take into consideration neutering and spaying.
As early as 8 weeks, neutering can be performed. The neutering process is usually performed between four and six months of age, well before an animal reaches the reproductive stage. People choose to not neuter their animals because they believe that it will cause the animal to lose his sense of self (male), miss out on the milestone in life of having a baby (female) or lose the ability to protect. is not the basis for any of these arguments.
You can help your pet stay healthy by having him or her spayed. Neutering can reduce aggression, in many cases, but this does not mean that a dog will be less protective towards his family. Your female pet will not be less than because she is not pregnant. If she had her babies removed, it would have been worse than if she hadn’t given birth. She won’t know the difference. Also, she will be less likely to develop cancer in the mammary or ovaries. You can ask your vet for advice.
Wear Proper Identification on Your Pet
As a final step, make sure that you have your kitten or puppy equipped with an ID. This will ensure that in the event that they should become lost — which is likely to happen — that you can get them safely returned to you. Your contact information should be on the collar of your pet, whether it’s on a tag (which you can order or make yourself) or directly on the collar. Keep photos handy. It’s a great reason to keep track of your pet, and you might need the photos when it is time to put them up around town. The GPS collar device is an excellent way to keep track of your pet. However, it becomes useless if the collar goes missing.
The best way to identify a pet is with microchips. They should be combined with collars for maximum chances of finding your lost animal. Remember to notify the company who keeps the records of the microchip whenever your contact details change. This can mean the difference between getting your lost pet back or having it stay with you for good.