Jul 12 2010
A Brief Guide to Pet Health Care
Anyone who has a pet will tell you they’re as much a part of the family as anyone else. This is why pet health care is more important than ever. Because vet bills can be costly, it’s important to take on some simple advice to keep your pet healthy and avoid illness in later life.
Larger pets such as cats and dogs must be vaccinated by a vet when they are young. Owners are often tempted to leave animals unvaccinated because of the cost. In the long run though, vaccination saves money by protecting against life threatening conditions.
Cats and dogs should also be wormed and treated for fleas and ticks. Medication to prevent these pests may seem costly, but prevention is definitely better than cure and this is indispensible to guarantee your pet’s wellbeing and happiness.
Promoting your animal’s happiness and comfort is also a great contributor to pet health care. All pets should have an appropriate place to sleep. Cats may not stick to one single place, instead choosing to curl up on your sofa. However, dogs should be given a bed. Also, smaller pets like hamsters and rabbits need a warm place with the appropriate material. Although hamster bedding can be bought in pet shops, they are just as happy with shredded paper.
The food your pet eats will also have an impact on their health. Although it may sound like a joke, pet obesity is a big problem, so their food needs careful consideration. Cats love milk but it can be bad for them, so give it to them as a treat only. It’s easy to get into the habit of feeding your dog human food from the table. A little of this is ok, but remember when he’s at the table begging for food that he also has dog food to eat, so not to give him too much. Fresh vegetables are a favourite of rabbits, and varying their diet will do them good.
To prevent pet obesity, all animals should get enough exercise. Even small hamsters need to be able to run about, so you should give them the biggest cage you can. You should also let your hamster out of its cage to exercise; many pet shops sell small plastic balls for them to run around in. Be careful though, hamsters are great escape artists and easily lost if you take your eye off them. Cats will normally take care of their own exercise, but keeping them active with toys is a great idea. When it’s cold outside, some cats are reluctant to go out, even though you feel sorry for your cat, a gentle push in the right direction is good for them. Exercising your dog is easy, because most dogs love a good walk. Giving your dog the right amount of exercise is vital. Bigger dogs normally require longer walks.
These are very simple considerations which are very effective in giving your pet a healthy lifestyle. You should always take your pet for an annual check up with the vet, but giving your pet a healthy life is vital to your pet health care regime. Following this advice could save you a lot of money, and more importantly, heartache by saving your animal from becoming unwell in the first place.
