Getting a pet is a wonderful experience and a dream for many people. The companionship, entertainment, and joy a pet can give you is second to none. First, however, you must take proper steps to look after them. They have little choice as to who they live with or how they can be cared for; therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that they are cared for as well as they should be.
If you do not have the means to look after a pet, waiting to get one is better and kinder. However, you have your long-awaited pet, and now you want to know what you can do to ensure they stay healthy and have a long and happy life.
Medical Health
The medical health of your pet is sometimes tricky to manage. Having annual check-ups and staying up to date with vaccines will protect them and highlight any problems early on. Animals often try to hide when they are unwell, so only relying on spotting symptoms yourself can mean your pet is sick or in pain for a while before the problem is fixed. Pets can’t tell you when there are problems; you must learn their behavior and what is normal for them. You need to watch what they eat and drink, what times of day they are happy to laze in the sun, and when they prefer to be playing and running around. You should take them to a vet if their regular behavior changes and concerns you. Having an emergency vet service available to you is reassuring in times of stress, so research ones near you that provide 24/7 emergency care, such as the ortinganimalhospital.com, rather than trying to find one when your pet needs urgent care.
Physical Health
Exercise is essential for all pets – no matter what the species of animal or type of breed. It’s only the type of exercise and amount that changes. A small toy breed dog will need less exercise than a collie, and young or old dogs should have less activity to avoid injury than a healthy adult dog. If you have a pet that stays inside, you need to make sure you do everything you can to encourage movement and exercise. Provide toys, climbers, tunnels, and space to fly – whatever your type of pet needs to stay physically active. Remember, too, that an indoor pet will need much less food than one that can head outside to run whenever it wants.
You should carefully research the type of pet you have to learn about its particular physical requirements and any medical conditions it might be prone to. That way, you can provide suitable exercise and look out for any problems when grooming.
Mental Health
Your pet’s mental health is just as important, and again you should research what your species or breed will need. For example, many people automatically think cats are solitary creatures, but they need a lot of companionship and socialization.
The mental health of your pet will also depend on its character. Learn their likes and dislikes and try to meet these. If you have a pet that loves to people-watch during the day, allow this; it’s good mental stimulation.
If your pet becomes bored, stressed, or generally unhappy, they will start to show abnormal behaviors, from destroying your property and having toilet accidents to over-grooming and removing fur or feathers in patches.