8 Tips for Becoming a Great Pet Owner

Nothing beats being surrounded by pets you love but taking care of those pets can be a lot of work. Being a pet parent is a lot like being a parent of human children.

You have to make sure your pets get their vaccinations, routine checkups, and preventative care for medical conditions they may be prone to.

There are so many little things to keep in mind if you want to keep your pets healthy. If you want to know more about being the best pet owner, here are 8 tips to becoming a great pet owner.

1. Monitor Diets
No matter what kind of pets you have, they need to maintain a good diet to stay healthy. As tempting as it may be to give your pets treats all the time, you don’t want to overfeed your pets and cause them to gain too much weight. Conversely, your pet can experience several health problems as a result of being underfed. You can talk to your vet to learn more about how much you should feed your pet and how often they should eat.

2. Avoid Problem Foods
Some pet owners mistakenly think their pets can eat anything they can eat. The truth is that there are very strict rules regarding what each animal can and can’t eat. Dogs can’t eat too much chocolate, cats can’t eat too many grapes, and birds should stay away from avocado leaves. It might seem like a lot of work, but you should take some time to read about foods that are poisonous to your pets and make a list of those foods. If you have children in your house, make sure they know which foods are toxic too.

3. Routine Vet Visits
Taking your pets to the vet is one of the best things you can do to keep them healthy. Vets are trained to recognize and treat several illnesses and diseases, and your vet can offer you guidance if your pet is gaining or losing weight or experiencing behavioral issues. You should take your pets to the vet at least once a year for a checkup, but don’t be afraid to schedule appointments for veterinary services for cats or regular dog care in between checkups if your pets are showing signs of an illness or discomfort.

4. Learn Warning Signs
If you want to keep your pet healthy as much as possible, you need to learn how to recognize when they’re not healthy. Cats, dogs, and all sorts of animals show warning signs when they’re injured or dealing with an illness. If you notice these warning signs, that means it’s time to schedule an appointment with your vet to figure out what’s wrong.

Here are some of the warning signs cat and dog owners should keep an eye out for:
Excessive yawning and lip licking
Trembling
Hiding
Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Limping or other signs of injury

5. Bond with Your Pets
Spending time with your pets is so important. Your pets don’t just need food and water to survive and thrive, they also need love and companionship. Pets appreciate it when people are around and giving them attention, so make sure you’re not leaving your pets at home too often or ignoring them when you get home from work or running errands. Not only that, but many bonding activities — like playing with your cat or taking your dog for a walk — can actually help them stay active and healthy.

6. Plan for Absences
It might be difficult for us to understand as humans, but animals aren’t naturally comfortable with people coming and going. As a pet parent, it’s your job to train your pets to prevent separation anxiety and other issues when you’re away from home. This starts with training your pets when they’re young, but you should also make a plan before you spend a few days away from your pets. If you’re going on a vacation and you’re going to have a friend take care of your dog, make sure they’re comfortable in that environment and prepared for the change.

7. Keep Your Pets Active
Pets need exercise just like people do, only they can’t decide when they want to go for a walk. It’s your job as a pet parent to make sure you’re taking your dog for a walk at least once a day. If you have cats, you should provide a scratching post and other toys for them to play with and stay active. You can even play with your cat if you have a toy on a stick. No matter what kinds of pets you have, staying active helps them maintain a healthy weight and avoid medical issues. Of course, your pet’s diet also plays a big role in their health and weight.

8. Socialize Your Pets
Animals like to be around other animals and people just like we do. If your pets spend too much time sitting at home alone, they can actually start to get stressed and upset. Make sure you’re giving your pets a chance to socialize, whether you’re introducing your cat to guests or taking your dog to a dog park.

Socializing is also key because it teaches your pets how to behave around other pets and people, so you don’t have to worry about taking them out in public or having guests over.

Keep Your Pets Happy and Healthy
Taking care of pets might be a lot of work, but it’s hard to beat the rewards. Your pets do so much for you, so it’s only right that you take the time to make sure you’re providing the best care for them.

Following these eight tips is a great way to keep your pets happy and healthy whether you’ve got a dog, cat, or reptile.

Need a little help taking care of your pets?

Call Rolling Hills Veterinary Corporation to schedule an appointment today.

Categorised in: How to Become Great Pet Owners, Pet Owners

This post was written by Dr. Marc Phillipot