Bringing home a new pet can be exciting and heartwarming. Before you get caught up in the excitement of adopting a pet, however, it’s important to do a bit of homework and have conversations to ensure you’re choosing a lifelong fit for your family. As you take your options into account, remember these guidelines to prepare for a successful homecoming for your newest family member.
Welcome a 4-Legged Family Member with Care![]() Tips for a successful, lifelong pet adoption(Family Features) Bringing home a new pet can be exciting and heartwarming. Before you get caught up in the excitement of adopting a pet, however, it’s important to do a bit of homework and have conversations to ensure you’re choosing a lifelong fit for your family. When considering adopting, keep in mind that pets can provide as many benefits to you as you do them, such as helping to reduce stress, providing companionship, getting the daily recommended amount of physical activity and more. As you take your options into account, remember these guidelines from the experts at PetSmart Charities to prepare for a successful homecoming for your newest family member. Life Stages For first-time pet owners, a healthy adult dog or cat can help teach new pet parents the joys of having a pet and may not require as much attention as a puppy or kitten. Families with young children might consider a family-friendly breed or mixed breed such as a hound. Older kids may benefit from additional responsibilities such as walking the dog or cleaning the litter box. Living Environment If you live in a home, consider fencing your yard for more relaxed playtime. If you live in an apartment, discuss any restrictions with your landlord and find out where the closest dog parks are to ensure your dog gets plenty of exercise. Dogs need a place to call their own where they’re contained overnight and while you’re not home until they can be safely left to roam. Get a crate so your new pet can have an ‘apartment’ within your home. You should always have more litter boxes than you do cats; for example, if you have one cat make sure you have at least two litter boxes. Litter boxes need to be scooped daily and completely changed weekly. Veterinary Care You can prevent many common diseases by keeping your pet at a healthy weight, current on flea, tick and heartworm prevention, fully vaccinated and on a high-quality diet. Preventing diseases costs less money than treating them, so discuss any concerns you have with your veterinarian. Financial Considerations To ensure your pet is covered in case of emergencies, consider options like pet insurance or opening a designated savings account and depositing 5% of your pay each pay period. If you take out an insurance policy as soon as you adopt your pet, he or she will not have any “pre-existing” conditions excluded from your insurance plan. Find more tips for a successful pet adoption and locate upcoming adoption events in your community at petsmartcharities.org.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images SOURCE:PetSmart Charities KEYWORDS
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While cats can be quite independent animals, they still rely on their pet parents to maintain their well-being. It’s up to pet owners to provide the adequate care, nutrition and home environment to ensure their furry friends live long and healthy lives. Consider these tips for raising healthy and happy cats.5 Ways to Keep Your Cat Happy and Healthy![]() (Family Features) While cats can be quite independent animals, they still rely on their pet parents to maintain their well-being. It’s up to pet owners to provide the adequate care, nutrition and home environment to ensure their furry friends live long and healthy lives. Consider these tips and visit temptationstreats.com and iams.com for further guidance on raising healthy and happy cats. ![]()
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Photos courtesy of Fotolia SOURCE:Mars Petcare
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Owning a pet is a rewarding experience, but also an important responsibility. Fortunately, there are preventative measures that can be taken to help keep pets healthy. This checklist will give pet owners the peace of mind they need to take care of their furry families, whether within the comfort of home or during a vet or kennel visit.Easy Ways to Keep Your Pet Happy and Healthy(Family Features) For many people pets are a part of the family. Owning a pet is a rewarding experience, but also an important responsibility. Fortunately, there are preventative measures that can be taken to help keep pets healthy. Just like their human counterparts, pets are susceptible to bacteria and viruses both within and outside the home. There are some highly contagious and dangerous illnesses like parvovirus, canine influenza, rabies and adenovirus that pet owners should be aware of. This checklist from veterinarian and author Dr. Jessica Vogelsang will give pet owners the peace of mind they need to take care of their furry families, whether within the comfort of home or during a vet or kennel visit: Vaccinate – All dogs need to be vaccinated for parvo, distemper, rabies and adenovirus. Cats should be vaccinated for panleukopenia, calicivirus, feline herpes virus type I and rabies. Your veterinarian is the best guide in determining the timing of vaccinations for dogs, cats and other pets. Discover – Before fighting germs at home, you must first identify where those germs are living. Make a list of every place and every object your pet has been or touched. Be sure to think like a detective, too. If your canine counterpart enjoys drinking from the porcelain throne, be sure to add that to your list of culprits. Disinfect – To disinfect hard, nonporous surfaces and accessories like crates and toys, use Clorox Regular-Bleach on a regular basis. You can use a solution of one-half cup of bleach in one gallon of water. To eliminate the risk of infection from dangerous bacteria and diseases such as parvo, soak the items in the solution for 10 minutes, then rinse and air dry. Be informed – Germs can survive in certain environments for a long time. This is especially true in spaces where pets are constantly coming in and out. Before dropping your beloved at the vet or a kennel, don’t be afraid to ask what measures they are taking to prevent the spread of germs. Make it routine – It’s important to always keep your pet’s health in check – from basic teeth cleanings that eliminate germs living in their mouth to monthly heartworm prevention medication to keep their hearts healthy. “As a veterinarian, I know keeping pets happy and healthy is very important,” Vogelsang said. “Fortunately using Clorox Regular-Bleach can help prevent the spread of germs and viruses like parvo within both animal shelters and hospitals, as well as within your own home.” To find more simple tips for keeping your pets safe, visit Clorox.com. Photo courtesy of Getty Images SOURCE: |
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