How to Care For an Animal

If you have just become a first-time pet owner, then you are probably looking for some tips on responsible pet ownership so that you can be the best pet parent you can be for your well-loved furry friend.

Before you get your first pet, you should always ensure that you are able to handle a pet in your home, plus, you need to be dedicated to making your pet’s health a priority.

Today, we will discuss how you can take care of your pet properly as well as what the basics are for you to keep them healthy and happy.

What to do Before Getting Your New Family Member

If you have your heart set on getting a new pet and you are ready to join the rest of the pet owners out there, then you will need to think about a few pre-pet ownership needs so they come into a safe environment.

Set up Their Veterinary and Medical Care

You need them to have proper pet care, so if they have any underlining health issues or they have physical problems, you must disclose this to the vet, and book regular vet visits to have them checked out.

You should, similarly, learn as much as you can about how you should care for your pet so that you’re not left clueless in case something does happen. This means that you should read about health conditions, medicines, dosages and charts.

Suppose you have a pet dog who has sustained an injury and has been prescribed a painkiller like rimadyl to manage the inflammation; you should browse through the rimadyl dosing chart prescribed, and follow it religiously so that your dog recovers well.

Similarly, there are certain supplements that may be given to your pet to assure a healthy growth spurt. Instead of simply following instructions, you’d want to learn about what each supplement does.

By educating yourself, you will learn what is good and what is not when it comes to pet care.

Set up Their Area

Whether you have multiple animal companions or you’re welcoming your first one, it’s essential to provide them with their dedicated space. This should include a comfortable cat or dog bed, along with separate food and water bowls. Additionally, it’s important to offer them suitable toys that cater to their specific needs and preferences. Creating a designated area for your pets ensures they have a space to call their own, where they can relax, eat, drink, and engage in playful activities.

Make it to Suit The Animal

Some of the most common household pets are dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and pet fish.

You may only need a tank for the fish with some added little extras, but for the bigger animals, you have to create a space.

There are other animals that people can have such as snakes and insects, and they will have different needs which you will need to get assistance with to make sure you are caring for them correctly and are putting them in a habitat that suits their breed.

Buy The Right Food For Their Age and Breed

Each animal will have different requirements during their life span.

Don’t feed your pet basic foods that aren’t going to support their bodies and their physical health, focus on getting high-quality dog food and nutritious cat foods, specific healthy food that will keep them going.

Have Pet Cleaning Products For Them In Your Home

Pets bring in a lot of dirt and muck when they go outside, especially if it has been rainy, to ensure that your cat stays healthy as well as your dog, you will need to get shampoos and conditioners that will clear them of ticks and fleas.

Once in a while, you should even consider taking your dog to the professionals for Dog Grooming from Happi Days Dog Care, or similar outlets. They can have their nails and fur trimmed, as well as have their teeth cleaned, leaving you with a clean and happy dog.

Wash your pets’ water bowls regularly, as well as their toys.

Clean out your cat’s litter box frequently, or change their litter box every once in a while to keep it fresh and to put a stop to any illnesses.

Now that you know what to do before you pick up your beloved pet, it is time to go over what you will need to do for them once you have them in your care.

Feed Them Healthy and Nutritious Food

As mentioned before, it is incredibly important to feed your animals with the right nutrition.

Each animal will have nutritional requirements just like human beings do.

Dog diets are geared towards their dietary needs, whilst cat diets are all about nutritional needs.

At each age, the animal will have to eat foods that suit them and their growth, so you cannot feed an older dog the same foods as you would a puppy.

Stay Away From Table Scraps

It is very normal for pet owners to feed their dogs and cats under the table at their mealtimes, but this can not be very beneficial for the animal as there could be something in there that affects their diet negatively, plus it allows bad behavior from them which can be hard to shake off.

Be Aware of How Much You Are Giving Them

Pets can get obese quickly if they are given large portions, try and stay away from this and instead go by the recommended amounts as ignoring this will cause them to need more veterinary care because they could develop diseases.

Provide Them With a Safe Environment

There are many serious incidents where animal services have to be called out to homes where a dog is tied up outside in all weathers with minimal food, or there are homes overrun with cats who are not getting fed or cared for enough.

Always make sure that they have a safe place to eat and sleep and that you care for them properly.

If you allow your dog off the leash in your backyard or on a public field, get them microchipped just in case they run away or are taken.

Give them enough bedding and comfort for them at night so they are not cold or in pain, especially when they get older as they may suffer from joint issues.

Allow Them Out to Go to The Toilet

Dogs and cats need to use the loo just like us, they may not be able to go to the actual toilet and flush, but they still need a place to do their business.

Dogs will have to go outside for the toilet, so allow them out as much as possible, or install a flap on your door that opens for them via a chip in their collar so they don’t have to wait on you if you are at work during the day.

Cats will need a litter box that is kept clean and tidy for them to use.

You Will Need to Toilet Train Them

Teaching your cat to use the box in their regular spot, and teaching dogs when they need to go outside and how they can signal for that is needed.

If you don’t train them then they are just going to go anywhere and this can become a serious hassle that will require you to clean up after them a lot.

Take Them For Regular Walks

With a dog, you need to take them outside as much as possible to walk, run, and play around.

With cats, make sure they have enough toys and are able to go outside when they want/need to.

Animals can get pretty bored too, so break this pattern by giving them plenty to do during the day.

This will help keep them fit and stop them from gaining weight if they are able to go outside or play around as much as they want to.

Take Them For Regular Check-Ups

To ensure that they remain healthy, they need to be seen by the vet when required. Your vet will tell you what would be best for your specific pet, and if you notice something different about them like not eating food or moving much, you will have to get them looked at to see if it is anything serious.

For instance, if you notice signs like swelling around your dog’s knee joint, difficulty in rising from sitting or lying down, or limping, these could be indications of a potential cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injury. In such cases, it’s crucial to seek immediate veterinary attention for a proper diagnosis.

Your veterinarian, after the initial medications, may recommend a visit to a dog rehab facility, where your canine companion can receive specialized care. These rehabilitation centers often offer a range of therapeutic techniques, including myofascial pain release, acupressure, and passive range of motion exercises, all designed to support your dog’s recovery from a CCL injury or surgery. But to get hold of an effective solution like this, it becomes essential to prioritize regular checkups for your canine companion.

Get Their Vaccinations

Just like with humans, pets need vaccinations as well, and your vet will tell you what ones they need for their age and when they should get boosters.

Don’t miss these appointments as it could put your pet in danger, always stick to them, and if something comes up on the day that you can’t get away from, ask a friend or family member to take them or see if it can be rearranged for the next day.

Spay or Neuter Your Pets

If you do not want any surprise pregnancies, or make your pet have a complicated pregnancy, it is better to have them spayed or neutered to ensure that this doesn’t happen.

There are many health issues that can come from pregnancies in some animals, so it would be the best and safest thing to do if you can put a stop to this from the get-go.

Conclusion

Taking care of a pet is a big commitment, and you need to be completely sure that this is what you want to do.

Don’t get a pet because you feel like it or get it as a gift for somebody at Christmas, they need constant love and attention which comes from owners who want to have these pets and are ready to take on everything that comes after it.

If you are not one of these people, then you should not be getting a pet.