Pets are the best companions that people could ever have in their life. Despite being different from humans, pets have their own ways to express love to their owners, such as offering emotional support and company. Because of the endless benefits that these furry friends can give, they deserve all the love. As a pet owner, it’s your biggest responsibility to keep them healthy, happy, and safe.
However, before going into the process of taking care of a pet, it’s important to orient yourself about pet ownership, particularly if you’re a first-time fur parent. With this in mind, here are some important things that you need to know when adopting a pet:
Get Your Pet Spayed or Neutered
In the United States alone, roughly 6.5 million pets end up in animal shelters, while 70 million remain living on the streets. Reproduction is one of the biggest reasons why many animals are left without an owner. Before adopting a pet, you have to be knowledgeable about spaying or neutering as this will prevent your pets from going into heat.
Spaying is a term for sterilizing a female animal by removing the ovaries, while neutering is the process of removing the testicles of a male animal. Get in touch with a certified veterinarian just like Bond Vet’s dog and cat spay/neutering service will be available to you.
- Prevent breast tumors and uterine infections in females
- Prevent testicular cancer and prostate issues in males
- Males will less likely run away from your home to find a partner
- Lessen their territorial behavior
- More cost-effective than nurturing a litter
Ensure Complete Vaccinations
Just like how vaccinations and immunizations are keys to good human health, it has the same effect to dogs and cats. Vaccinating your pet is paramount to protect them from contagious diseases, especially rabies, that can be passed onto humans. Even though you only have one pet that always stays inside the house, it’s still a must to vaccinate them.
- Distemper
- Parvovirus
- Hepatitis
- Parainfluenza
- Rabies
- Feline calicivirus
- Feline panleukopenia
- Feline rhinotracheitis
- Rabies
While these aren’t exactly classified as vaccinations, you should also follow deworming and parasite prevention regularly.
Keep Them Identified
Dogs and cats are curious creatures. Accidents are inevitable, and if their curiosity kicks in, they might run away and get lost along the cold streets. Since house animals can be easily scared, they’ll tend to hide in dark, narrow places, making it more difficult to find them. Therefore, you should prioritize purchasing items that can give them an identity in case they’re lost, such as collar tags with your contact number.
Also, there’s a permanent method of putting identification on your furry baby called microchipping, where a small chip with a unique code is implanted under their skin. This code is recorded in a microchip database that can help you find your pet back.
However, prevention is way better than cure. You should also invest in pet containment systems to prevent your pet from escaping the house.
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Make Your Home Pet-Friendly
Pets are additional residents in your home, and they should receive the right accommodation by modifying your home in a pet-friendly way. In this way, they have a fun and safe place to grow and play. While some pet owners might argue that this is only a luxury, making your home pet-friendly is a way to protect them from potential accidents and injuries.
- Add secure lids to your trash cans
- Keep away vitamin, medications, and other poisonous substances from reach
- Always keep your windows closed or invest in window screens
- Invest in non-slip floorings like vinyl flooring
- Secure dangling electrical outlets and wires from reach
- Remove potentially dangerous house plants
- Keep small items that can cause choking away
Make Sure You’re Financially Capable
Last and most importantly, pet owners should understand that as a part of their family, furry companions are also a part of the household expenses. Therefore, you should think about this carefully: are you financially capable and ready to accept a pet into your home?
While people aren’t limited to taking care of pets, as there are some financially incapable people with unconditional love for pets, it would be best to have your finances ready for any pet emergencies. Food, vaccinations, medical examinations, adoption fees, and pet supplies, are some of the few expenses that will add up to your budget.
Takeaways
Adopting a furry companion is a huge responsibility that requires in-depth learning and preparation. Before you and your family adopt a pet, make sure to think carefully about this decision, and supplement yourself with various knowledge that you need to be aware of before welcoming a new member into your family. Lastly, all these efforts will be for nothing if you don’t shower your pets with the love and affection that they deserve.