Great pet care tips

The following tips are applicable to almost any pet. I have compiled this information from my own experiences as an animal communicator, with my own pets (including dogs, fish, birds, turtles, and rabbits), as well as from vets and animal rescue organizations. None of this information is intended to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary care.

1. If you leave the house for any reason, tell your pet(s) where you are going, when you will be back, and what work you would like them to do (nap, take care of the house, etc.) while you are gone. I always tell my dogs I’m going on an errand and when I’ll be back (ie 2 hours, around their dinner, etc.). I also tell them to take a nap while I’m gone and be a good boy. This tends to ease his anxiety about me being gone. If it’s a longer trip, I always tell them how many days I’ll be gone.
2. Animals like their routines. If your routine is going to change by a day or more, tell them why and how the change will affect your routine. For example, if you’re going to have to work late for a couple of weeks, let your pet know. This will help prevent any unwanted behavior that they may exhibit as their way of protesting their disgust at the change in their routine.
3. If your animal is having seizures, ask your vet to test it for a food allergy. One of our dogs started having seizures shortly after we brought him home from the shelter. Our vet had a thorough allergy test and found that he had many allergies (cigarette smoke, Bermuda grass, chicken, rice, etc.). The food he ate consisted mainly of chicken and rice. So we changed his food to one on the ‘approved foods and treats’ list provided by the testing company. Since he changed his food, he has not had another seizure. So while food allergies may not always be the cause of seizures, it’s worth investigating with your vet.
4. 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 he ate part of a leaf from an Easter lily. Other common houseplants that are poisonous include, but are not limited to, philodendrons and poinsettias. For a more comprehensive list, check the internet, consult your vet, or ask someone at the store that sells the plant or flower.
5. If you suspect your pet has ingested a poisonous substance, seek veterinary help immediately. If the incident occurs after hours, contact the nearest after-hours animal emergency center. Try to bring a sample of what the animal has eaten or bitten if it is safe for you to do so. For example, one of my dogs put a spider in his mouth and promptly spit it out. I assumed that the spider had bitten him in the mouth. So, I put the spider in a plastic container and took my dog ​​to the emergency vet after hours for treatment. Fortunately, since he had the spider with me, the vet was able to tell me that it was a non-venomous type of spider.
6. Keep the contact information on your pet’s identification and/or microchip tags current. If your pet is lost and someone from animal control or your neighborhood finds the animal, this will help expedite the return of your pet.
7. Post a pet-related notice for rescue personnel on the windows of each exterior door of your home. In each notice, include the number and type of animals residing in your home, as well as 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 on file for each pet in the event of a fire or other major catastrophe involving your home. Some animal rescue organizations (ie 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.
8. 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 will be cared for the way you want if you predecease them. For more information, visit the Humane Society of the United States website or consult your family attorney.
9. If you have to give up your family pet for any reason (ie divorce, loss of residence, etc.), fully explain to the pet why you have to. It is very important that an animal be told why it will not be part of the family that raised it. I’ve seen on clients’ pets and animals in rescue shelters the impact not knowing this type of information has on animals. Some become aggressive and think that nobody likes them. Others become very withdrawn and harbor a lot of guilt that it was their fault that they are no longer with their family.
10. Teach children the correct way to approach an unfamiliar animal. This includes asking the animal’s human partner for permission to pet it. Some animals are not used to children and may react adversely if you approach them too quickly.