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Tips for Dog Owners and Cat Owners
DOG AND PUPPY CARE
Have you ever encountered a badly behaved or unhappy dog? Chances are, the dog with the behavior problem was poorly trained – or not trained at all – and the unhappy-looking dog might have been neglected or abused in some other way. Here are some tips for keeping your dog well-adjusted, healthy, happy, and safe:
• Keep your dog on a leash when she is outside of the house or apartment (or outside of your fenced property).
• Make sure your dog wears a collar and ID tag, in case he ever gets lost. (No matter how sure you are that he'll never get lost, it still could happen.) The ID tag should include your name and telephone number and, if your dog has a medical condition, include information on the tag about his need for medication.
• Vaccinate your dog against rabies and find out from a veterinarian, animal shelter, or humane society what your local laws are for dog ownership with regard to licenses, dog tags, etc.
• Like us, dogs are entitled to regular check-ups to make sure their health is good. Visit your veterinarian at least once a year.
• Let your dog run around and get exercise every day.
• Provide your dog with companionship and play with him when you can. Dogs are not meant to be solitary animals, and they crave contact with humans and, ideally, with other dogs.
• If you let your dog run free in your fenced yard, make sure you have a doghouse that she can retreat to if she gets cold or wet.
• Unless you plan to take care of a litter of puppies or know of someone who will adopt them for sure, have your dog neutered or spayed. In addition to solving the problem of overpopulation, spaying/neutering tends to improve your dog's health, lengthen his life, and decrease the chance of behavior problems.
• Feed your dog a healthy, balanced diet, and make sure she has fresh water as often as possible. Veterinarians can give you advice on which foods to give your dog and how much and how often you should feed her. Obviously, dietary needs vary according to the breed, size, and age of the dog, among other factors.
• Have your dog's teeth cleaned. Dental disease can lead to gingivitis and even heart problems, so this is not something you should neglect.
• If you have tried unsuccessfully to train your dog, enroll him in obedience school. Too often, dog owners get frustrated and angry when they are unable to train the dog themselves, and they end up either giving the dog back to the shelter or, worse, beating them or punishing them in other ways.
• Remember: Dogs are, by nature, loving and loyal pets. Don't break their trust and don't destroy their personalities or their lives by being cruel or uncaring. Give them the wonderful life they deserve. Love your dog, and your dog will love you! |
CAT AND KITTEN CARE
Cats seem more independent and sometimes less affectionate than dogs, but don't be fooled. They, too, are loving, warm, compassionate creatures, and they need you to care for them properly and tenderly. These are the things you should keep in mind if you are a cat owner:
• Cats are better off indoors, for a variety of reasons. By keeping your cat indoors, you are reducing her risk of getting run over, catching a disease, and getting eaten or bitten by dogs, raccoons, or other animals. You are also doing the community a favor by keeping your cat inside – especially if he/she is not neutered or spayed. It's very easy to lose a cat (they can slip out of doors and windows stealthily and quickly), so make sure your cat wears a collar with an ID tag. Your cat may not mean to run away, but his curiosity might get the better of him, and before he knows it, he has strayed so far from home, he can't find his way back. Be sure to inscribe or write your name and telephone number on the tag so your cat can be returned to you.
• Speaking of which, you should neuter or spay your cat! Unless you are ready to take on a whole litter of cats, you will be helping to solve the problem of cat overpopulation by letting the vet do this simple surgical procedure. Besides, your cat will feel less restless if neutered or spayed, especially if he has no outlet for his sexual aggressions (ie, no companion cat to be with).
• Make sure to clean your cat's litterbox regularly. In addition to making your cat happy, you will also do yourself a favor by keeping your home smelling better. If you have more than one cat in your household, ideally, each cat should have his own litterbox.
• Bring your cat to the veterinarian for regular check-ups, and check with your vet about vaccination schedules. At the very least, your cat should be administered the rabies vaccine and feline leukemia vaccine. Recommendations will vary according to your pet's age, health status, and potential to be exposed to disease (eg, does your cat venture outside or is she strictly an indoor-cat?). Keep good track of the vet records when you have taken your cat for vaccines, or for any other medical treatments your cat receives. This way, if you ever switch to another veterinary practice, you will be able to provide this information to the new vet.
• Cats must eat nutritionally balanced diets in order to maintain good urinary tract health, a healthy digestive system, healthy skin and coat, good teeth, and high energy level.
• Groom (brush) your cat regularly to maintain a soft, shiny, healthy skin and coat. Although cats' natural instinct prompts them to groom themselves, you can prevent your cat from ingesting too many hairballs if you remove as much loose hair as possible with your brushing efforts.
• It is very important to have your cat's teeth cleaned. Dental problems can lead to gingivitis and even heart disease. The vet will anesthetize your cat in order to perform this procedure, but you will be able to pick up your cat – with her fresh, clean teeth – on the same day you bring her in.
• Do not hit or otherwise punish your cat for scratching the furniture, and do not take the drastic measure of having your cat declawed! This is a cruel practice that hurts the cat and would be the equivalent of removing a human's fingers and knuckles! Also, declawing a cat robs him of his ability to fight. If he ever escapes and ends up outdoors, he will need those claws to defend himself against attackers. There are plenty of other measures you can take to prevent your cat from scratching your furniture. For example, you can spray the furniture with a solution that will repel your cat, you can buy her a scratching post, you can spritz her with water every time she scratches the furniture, and you can administer a pet-calming solution or give him a catnip treat.
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