Great pet care tips
The following tips apply to almost any pet. I have gathered this information from my own experience as an animal communicator, with my own pets (which include dogs, fish, birds, turtles and rabbits), and from veterinarians and animal rescue organizations. None of this information is intended to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary care.
- If you leave the house for any reason, tell your pet where you’re going, when you’ll be back, and what work you’d like him to do (nap, watch the house, etc.) while you’re gone. I always tell my dogs that I’m going to run an errand and when I’ll be back (ie in 2 hours, around their dinner time, etc.). I also tell them to take a nap while I’m gone and be good boys. This usually eases their anxiety about me being gone. If it’s a longer trip, I always tell them how many days I’ll be gone.
- Animals like their everyday life. If their routine is going to change for a day or more, tell them why and how the change will affect their routine. For example, if you’re going to have to work late for a few weeks, tell your pet. This will help prevent any unwanted behavior they may exhibit as a way of protesting against a dislike of the change in their routine.
- If your pet has seizures, ask your vet to do an allergy test for food allergies. One of our dogs started having seizures shortly after we got him from the shelter. Our vet did a comprehensive allergy test on him and found that he has many allergies (cigarette smoke, bermuda grass, chicken, rice, etc.). The food he ate consisted mostly of chicken and rice. So we switched his food to one of those listed on the “approved foods and treats” list provided by the testing company. Since changing the food he has not had another seizure. So although food allergies may not always be the cause of seizures, it is worth checking with your vet.
- Before bringing a plant or flower into your home, find out if the plant or flower is poisonous to animals. Reactions to the toxic substance in some plants and flowers can range from mild nausea to death. I had a family member’s cat die because it ate part of an Easter lily leaf. Other common houseplants that are poisonous include, but are not limited to, philodendrons and poinsettias. For a more detailed list, check the Internet, ask your veterinarian, or ask someone at the store that sells the plant or flower.
- If you suspect that your pet has ingested a poisonous substance, seek veterinary attention immediately. If the incident occurs after hours, contact the nearest after-hours animal emergency center. Try to bring a sample of anything the animal ingested or bitten if it is safe for you. For example, one of my dogs had caught a spider in its mouth and quickly spat it back out. I assumed the spider bit him in his mouth. So, I put the spider in a plastic bowl and took my dog to the emergency vet after hours for treatment. Fortunately, since I had the spider with me, the vet was able to tell me that it was a non-venomous type of spider.
- Keep the contact information on your pet’s identification tags and/or microchip up to date. If your pet gets lost and someone from animal control or your neighborhood finds it, this will help get your pet back to you faster.
- Place a pet rescue notice on the windows next to each exterior door of your home. In each notice, include the number and type of animals living in your home, and the name and phone number of your veterinarian. This will alert rescue personnel that there are animals in the home and who has medical records for each pet in case there is a fire or other major disaster involving your home. Some animal rescue organizations (eg Humane Society of the United States, ASPCA, etc.) have these types of decals for your window and can provide them for free or for a nominal fee upon request.
- Plan for your pet’s future in case something happens to you. Many states allow you to set up trusts for your pet so that they are cared for in the way you wish in the event that you should predecease them. For more information, visit the Humane Society of the United States website or consult with your family attorney.
- If you must give up your family pet for any reason (eg, divorce, loss of housing, etc.), fully explain to the pet why you must do so. It is very important that an animal is told why it will not be part of the family that may have raised it. I have seen from client’s pets and animals in rescue shelters the impact that not knowing this type of information has on animals. Some become aggressive and think that no one likes them. Others become very withdrawn and hold a lot of guilt that it is their fault that they are no longer with their family.
- Teach children how to properly approach an unfamiliar animal. This includes asking the animal’s human companion for permission to pet the animal. Some animals are not used to children and may react adversely if approached too quickly.
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