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Feeding
There are endless choices in pet foods. It is important to choose
specially formulated diets for growth, reproduction, or maintenance,
depending on the species and/or pet's stage of life. Purchasing pet
foods labeled as "complete and balanced" can help ensure that your
pet's diet is nutritionally adequate. It is important to maintain a
regular feeding schedule, and always provide fresh food and water
with each feeding. How do you know which
pet food is best for your pet?
Obesity is a major problem with some pets in our society, since
owners tend to feed table scraps in excess. Serious health problems
may result from obesity. Extra weight puts a strain on the animal's
heart, lungs, skeleton, and muscles, and lowers its resistance to
disease. An occasional treat is fine, but many human foods can upset
the pet's metabolism, and it is best to avoid bad feeding habits.
Regular exercise and proper nutrition are both essential to maintain
optimal weight and health.
Health Care
Veterinary examinations are critical to a pet's health. It is
important to keep a detailed medical history and establish a
veterinary-client-patient relationship to ensure a long, healthy
life for your pet. During the initial exam, your veterinarian will
be able to establish a preventive health care program for your pet.
For some species, particularly dogs and cats, vaccination for rabies
is basic to preventive health care, and required in most areas.
Rabies is a deadly disease, transmitted by saliva, and frequently
found in wild animals, such as skunks, foxes, and raccoons. For the
health of yourself, your family and neighbors, and your pet, it is
essential to keep the rabies vaccination up-to-date. Your
veterinarian may recommend other vaccines, depending on the species
of pet you keep, their activities and expected travel. Parasite
control is another area to discuss with your veterinarian. A stool
sample can be tested for the presence of harmful parasites. Your
veterinarian will prescribe treatment if necessary. Flea control may
also be discussed, as there are new products which may be prescribed
by veterinarians to control or prevent flea infestation.
Veterinarians may prescribe specific diets determined by your pet's
needs.
Your Veterinarian
How do you know if your pet is in pain or sick? What do you do if
your pet is in need of help? There are
pet
software
products you can buy that will help you recognize and
prevent problems as well as provide excellent pet care. I'd
recommend them to every pet owner. In a medical crisis situation,
I'd recommend you call your veterinarian immediately
if you detect any of the following symptoms:
- abnormal breathing
- active bleeding
- bone exposure
- puncture to abdomen, chest, or neck
- watery or bloody discharge
- partial or complete paralysis
- difficulty urinating
- profuse vomiting or diarrhea
- poison ingestion
- bloated or tender abdomen
- dehydration
- abnormal color
- disorientation
- collapse
NEVER GIVE ASPIRIN OR ANY MEDICATION
WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR VETERINARIAN.
Grooming
With some species of pets it is important to establish a grooming
regimen, especially if your pet has a longer type coat such as some
breeds of dogs, cats and rabbits. Whether a short- or long-haired
variety, your pet will benefit from frequent brushing, which
stimulates the coat and skin, and your house will be cleaner, since
less shedding will occur. If you elect to clip your pet in the
summer, keep in mind that there is a risk of sunburn, if he spends
much time in the sun.
Bathing is only suggested on rare occasions, since frequent baths
remove natural protective oils from the skin. If he is dirty, or
shows evidence of fleas, a pet may be bathed in lukewarm water using
mild shampoo. Rinse the soap thoroughly and towel dry.
During grooming sessions, look for parasites which cause your pet
discomfort. Fleas are common on larger animals, while some smaller
and exotic species are more prone to mites. Both can be controlled
by commercial powders, sprays, collars, or dips. Contact your
veterinarian for recommended treatment or prevention with
long-lasting topical or oral products. Ticks may be removed by
saturating with alcohol, and carefully pulling off with tweezers.
Mites are too small to detect, but symptoms include frantic
scratching, biting, and chewing. Your veterinarian can help diagnose
mites.
Eyes should be cleaned of any discharge with a soft cloth
moistened with water or saline solution. Ear discomfort is indicated
by scratching or head shaking. Infections can settle deep in the ear
canal and should be treated by your veterinarian immediately.
Since pets depend on their teeth for survival, the mouth should
be examined periodically for signs of gum disease, and tartar
accumulation. This should be a major part of the annual veterinary
examination, and any problems should be addressed immediately. Some
species such as lagomorphs (rabbits), cavies (guinea pigs) and
rodents in general will require a constant source of chewing
material as their teeth never stop growing and can become so long
the animal will no longer be able to eat properly.
Large dogs that go for frequent walks on hard surfaces may keep
their nails trimmed down on their own, but if your pet's nails
appear to be growing too long, it is your job to see that they are
clipped back to keep them comfortable. Neglected nails may cripple a
pet. If you are uncomfortable with clipping the nails yourself, due
to the risk of clipping the "quick" (the blood filled vein that
reaches halfway down through most animal nails), the vet can clip
them for you.
Prevention
Accidents can be prevented by thinking ahead and avoiding
dangerous situations. Automobiles are the number one killer of pets,
so keep him leashed, fenced or in the house.
Please read our page on
proper pet fencing.
Keep poisons out of reach. Many household plants are toxic to
pets, including poinsettias, ferns, philodendrons, dieffenbachia,
and other varieties. Cleaning solutions such as detergents,
bleaches, oven cleaners, etc. may pose hazards as well. Make sure
bottle caps are tight and the rags used to apply these chemicals are
stored safely out of reach. Treat animals like children and keep
medicines locked up, and never leave candy, especially chocolate,
where pets may have access to it.
Outdoor hazards include windshield cleaners, antifreeze, weed
killers, used motor oil and insecticides. Antifreeze has a sweet
taste, and just a few drops can be fatal to your pet. Other hazards
include rodenticides used to kill rats and mice. If any poisoning
occurs, call your veterinarian immediately, and provide a sample of
the poison with the labeling to aid in proper treatment. In an
emergency, call the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center at
800-548-2423.
Keep sharp objects, i.e., knives and forks, carpet tacks, paper
clips, etc., out of reach, in addition to children's toys or small
objects which may become lodged in a pet's throat. Never leave a pet
unattended on a balcony. A precocious pet may squeeze through the
bars and fall, which could fatally injure him.
Avoid extremes in temperature. Of course, never leave a pet in a
parked car in hot weather, even with the windows open, and never
leave him outside without water and shade. Similarly, in frigid
temperatures, bring him indoors, and be sure he always has shelter
from wind, rain, and sun, even in mild temperatures.
Emergency Situations
Because pets rely on you for their well-being,
you should be sure to including provisions for them in your
household disaster plan. Because emergencies are unpredictable, you should be
prepared for any one of a number of scenarios which may arise. If you are at home, officials may ask you to
remain indoors (known as sheltering in place), or an evacuation
order may be issued requiring you to leave the area or to take
refuge in a city shelter. If you are away from home, conditions may
prevent you from immediately returning home. In any of these cases,
pets will present special consideration, and advanced planning will
help you and your pet better cope with an emergency.
Read more about advanced
pet emergency planning.
Old Age
Dogs and cats are considered "old" around eight or nine years,
but many live into their mid-teens, with proper care and nutrition.
Smaller pets may only live for a few years or more depending on the
species. Senior citizens have more needs, and require more
attention. Their sight and hearing may diminish, and they will sleep
more and move more slowly. Steps may become a hardship, so sleeping
arrangements may need adjusting. They need to go out more often, as
bladder control is usually weakened. They still need moderate
exercise, frequent grooming, and appropriate nutrition. Since they
may have fewer teeth, a soft diet may be necessary. It is especially
important to avoid obesity, since it will affect your pet's quality
of life. More frequent veterinary visits may be required to deal
with tumors, arthritis, or heart disease. Some pets require daily
medications to treat the infirmities of old age. Together you and
your veterinarian can have a positive influence on your pet's
happiness and comfort for many years to come. The rewards of pet
ownership will last a lifetime.
Some great links to other sites with great pet care information!
Disabled Animals Federation
A disabled pet requires a lot of love and special care, but
they'll give you their heart.
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