Having a pet is all exciting and fun, but know that it’s a huge responsibility. Merely feeding your pet and giving it shelter is not enough. It is essential to know proper pet care as pets require attention and needs met like people. Some people look to animals for support and love, and pet owners should reciprocate these feelings by investing in the welfare of their pets.
Pet owners should always look for a way to enrich their pets' lives. Here are some essential things to remember when owning a pet. Whether you are a new pet owner or have owned pets for a long time, these tips will be helpful.
Necessary Things Pet Owners Need to Keep in Mind
1.) Do proper research
This tip is more for new pet owners and people hoping to adopt. People assume that adopting a pet is simple—feed it, play with it occasionally, and give it a home. However, that is not the case. Owning a pet takes careful planning, extensive research, and commitment.
There is a lot of factors you should consider. For starters, will having a pet fit in your lifestyle? People have jobs, family, friends, and other activities they pay attention to, and your pet needs to be part of those priorities. It could be a physically and mentally demanding responsibility to own a pet, and pet owners must understand how serious of an obligation this is.
Do extensive research online or talk to shelter staff and know the essential things to prepare yourself before owning a pet.
2.) Prepare your home
While bringing a pet home is not exactly like getting a newborn child, preparing your home for their arrival and stay is essential, nonetheless. Any pet owner should have basic items like collars, potty training equipment, bowls, food, grooming supplies, and toys, among many others they will need.
In addition, consider “pet-proofing” your home to make it safe for pets to roam around. Remove harmful substances they can easily reach, like chemical products, human food, and medication. If you’re living in a condo, which is a smaller space for animals to explore, removing said items and tucking in exposed electrical cords can play a part in your pet's safety.
3.) Train them
Pet training is not only for instilling healthy pet manners but also keeps your pet happy, healthy, and safe. Proper training provides physical and mental stimulation for pets, preparing them for things like going to the vet, potty training, finding their way back home, and other activities they might otherwise find terrifying.
Keep in mind the tone of voice when addressing the pet and provide positive reinforcement while training. For dogs, speaking in a high-pitched tone will get the pet to pay more attention since they hear pitch and tone changes in your voice.
As for positive reinforcement, it's important to praise and reward pets for a job well done. It establishes a routine and nurtures a habit for a pet to continue practicing.
4.) Practice healthy diet and exercise
You should know what your pets eat and ensure they’re eating healthy. A balanced diet and regular exercise are essential for a pet, much like humans. While some owners find their pets more appealing being on the heftier side, it can be harmful to their health.
Animals like cats and dogs are prone to obesity which puts them at risk of developing diabetes, cancer, and heart or joint diseases. Pet owners often speak to veterinarians about creating a balanced and complete diet.
Exercises for pets can be walking or playing with them. Letting your pet exercise outside allows it to socialize with other animals, which is essential in their development related to handling different environments.
5.) Observe good hygiene and grooming
Another important thing you should keep in mind is to ensure your pet practice proper hygiene. Whenever possible, take them to the groomer every now and then.
When bathing your pet, use shampoos and conditioners made specifically for pets. Know that you don’t have to wash them every day; the bathing frequency depends on their coat and routine activities.
Moreover, it’s worth knowing how to do ear cleaning, nail cutting, and teeth cleaning. Ear cleaning prohibits the build-up of debris preventing ear infections, while overgrown nails should be regularly cut, or it leads to pain in the extremities. Once you learn how to do these, you can take care of your pet at home instead of going to the groomer.
Don’t forget to schedule oral hygiene check-ups annually. Pets may develop periodontal disease caused by bacterial infections of tissues surrounding the teeth. Developing this disease destroys soft tissues and bone, leading to lung, heart, liver, or kidney diseases. It’s best to ask a veterinarian for advice on these matters.
6.) Find a dependable veterinarian
Find a skilled veterinarian you and your pet trust. This will be helpful when you do routine check-ups. Pets tend to be more cooperative if they are familiar and comfortable with their vets.
Outside regular physical check-ups, Veterinarians should conduct complete comprehensive examinations annually on the animal. These examinations will determine existing health problems, and veterinarians can suggest ways to better take care of the pet.
7.) Look into microchips
Ensuring the identification of your pet is essential. No pet owner wants their pet to get lost without having the ability to find them. Microchips are GPS trackers attached to your pet to monitor and locate their whereabouts. Considering microchips will be beneficial to a pet if it ever goes missing.
A microchip is no larger than a grain of rice inserted under the loose skin between the pet's shoulders. While collars and tags are helpful, microchips provide more safety to a pet.
Perfect Pet Care
Owning a pet can be a handful, and most owners scramble to determine what they need to do when caring for their pets. However, it can be a rewarding endeavor with some patience. Pets are solely reliant on their owners and need all the love and care they can get. But, seeing your pet happy and healthy makes it all worth it.
If you are a pet owner or want to adopt a pet of your own, consider these tips to ensure your pet lives a happy and nurtured life. Happy pets make happy owners.
This article is originally written by Garry Everret
While it is only natural for dogs to bark, excessive barking at strangers and at odd hours can cause a lot of annoyance at home.
Not to mention your neighbors might complain because of the incessant barking as well.
If left untrained, the adorable little “woofs” might soon turn to troubling noise and disturb you out at odd hours.
You have to be consistent with the training with a strict follow through and make sure no family member encourages the non-stop barking.
BoredomSome dog breeds like Chihuahua are naturally high on energy and bark continuously out of boredom.
If you have just recently adopted your dog then there are chances that it is just confused and releases that confusion in the form of incessant barks.
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