Having a pet can be a family’s greatest joy. From taking your little baby for a walk to seeing your children bond with it, there is no greater happiness than having a small dog, cat, hamster, or any other animal as your family member. But with it comes the responsibility of looking after it and taking care of it properly.
For first-time pet owners, the whole ordeal of taking care of your pet can seem very difficult. Luckily for you, we have compiled here a few pet caring tips that you must follow to ensure your baby is safe and healthy.
1. Regular visits to the vet
Just like humans, pets can develop diseases like arthritis, cardiovascular ailments, and tooth problems. So it is extremely important to schedule regular checkups to the vet and to take your pet for these visits as often as possible.
If your pet has any kind of health problems, routine checkups will be able to detect these ailments and the chances of your pet recovering will be much higher.
2. Spaying or neutering
Millions of stray animals lie in shelters, cold and hungry. In order to stop the ever-growing population of strays, it is best to spay or neuter your pet at the appropriate time. Spaying your female pet prevents deadly diseases like pyrometric or uterine cancer.
Neutering a male pet lowers down their aggression levels and increases their lifespan by years. Spaying or neutering can be done as early as 6-8 weeks of age in the case of dogs but may vary from animal to animal.
4. Deworming
Furry animals always run a risk of exposing themselves to ticks, fleas, and mites. Your pet may innocently swallow just one flea, and boom, there are tapeworms growing inside its body. These parasites can lead to loss of hair, irritation, rash, or even death.
So year-round deworming is necessary to keep these pests at bay. Some antiparasitic medicines meant for dogs can be fatal to cats, so be sure to talk to your vet regarding the medicines to be used for your pet.
5. Proper diet
Yes, we understand that you love your little pooch and want to feed it as much as possible so that it gets its nutrients. But remember to never overfeed it, as it can lead to heart diseases, weak joints, and obesity.
Keeping your pets a little trim can add years to their lives and help them lead a healthy life. A small, inactive dog needs just 185-370 calories a day, and a 10-pound cat needs around 240-350 calories/day. So consult your vet for the correct amount of each type of food required for your pet.
6. Vaccinations
Just as we need our regular doses of vaccines, our little babies need them too. Timely vaccinations prevent diseases like rabies, feline leukemia, or canine hepatitis.
When you protect your pet against these diseases, you protect yourself and your family members too, since many of these diseases can be fatal to humans. Therefore, remember to complete your pet’s yearly vaccination quotas.
7. Happy environment
Your pet is just like a small child, so it needs plenty of playtime and cuddles. Take it for walks, depending upon the type of pet you have and its age. Play hula hoops or hide and seek, and keep it happy and pampered.
If you’re not at home, make sure your pet is never alone so that someone may rush to it in case of emergencies. For example, if you live in Australia and need a pet babysitter, look up “house sitting Australia” online.
Keeping your pet in a healthy environment not only makes it physically healthy but also stimulates it mentally and creates a strong bond between you and your furry friend.
8. Dental care
Last but not the least, keep in mind your pet’s dental hygiene. According to the Alouette Animal Hospital, nearly 80% of dogs and 70% of cats suffer from dental problems by three years of age, which worsens and leads to loss of teeth, abscesses, or even chronic pain.
The solution is to regularly brush and clean your pet’s teeth at night. Some other ways in which you can clean your pet’s teeth are to offer dental treats and oral rinsing.
Dental diseases can be easily prevented with the correct measures, but hundreds of pet owners choose to overlook them. You must never be one of them, and talk to your vet if your baby suffers from any kind of periodontal abnormalities.
Remember, your furry friend is your responsibility from the time it enters through the door. So make sure you don’t let the little pup down!
Photo: Roberto Nickson, Unsplash