Caring for Your Pet

Keep handbooks around to inform you of any potential problems and causes dealing with your pet such as the “Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook” by Delbert G. Carlson. Books like these will allow you to help your animal right away when a veterinarian is out of reach.

Have a veterinarian’s number with information available to everybody in your family in case of an emergency.

Keep all dangerous things away from your pets. This includes medicines, food and beverages, and even some plants are harmful if ingested.

Buy a collar and nametag with important information on it as soon as you have your pet. ALWAYS keep the collars and tags on; this increases your chances of identification if your pet is lost. The biggest threat to our animals is when they step off our property. Getting chips implanted is also a great idea.

Cats are indoor animals and allowing them outside is unhealthy and can infest them with ticks, fleas, diseases, and can even cause death. The chances of cats returning home is 10% once they leave your property. So keeping cats indoors is a must.

Along with these things you cant forget basic care. Food, water, toys, play space, grooming (nails, teeth, ticks, fleas, hair cuts) also having a place to keep your pet while on vacation is a must. There are local pet sitters, ads in the yellow pages, and even keeping them at kennels until you return will all keep them safe.

Trainings are VERY important, especially with puppies. Pet stores offer great trainings along with companies in the yellow pages. Keeping your pet in line and responsible will not only make your life as a pet owner easier, but it’ll allow you and your pet to bond easier and have a mutual trust.