Thinking of bringing home a furry friend who will shower you with endless love, attention, affection, and care?
Well, it’s one of the best decisions you’ll ever make in life. One of the reasons you should consider buying or adopting a cat or dog is that they are affectionate animals. That means they feel love for their owners quite strongly.
And did you know stroking the fur of your pet releases oxytocin, the feel-good hormone?
Because this hormone is released while petting an animal, humans are more likely to feel happy. And let’s be honest, what would be a better way to call it a day than cuddling with your cat or dog? Of course, nothing!
However, owning a pet could be an intimidating experience if you’ve never had a kitten or pup before. But not to worry, this guide contains four tips that will help you become a good pet parent. Dive in, then!
4 Best Tips For First-Time Pet Owners
Anyone who owns pets will agree that owning a cat or dog is a perfect cure for boredom. But between the endless cuddling and kisses, you need to make sure your pets are healthy, happy, and safe.
That said, here are fourtips that will help you take care of your canine or feline companion well and avoid mistakes that could harm them.
1. Create a “Pet First-Aid” Kit
Emergencies and accidents often come unannounced. And as a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to stay prepared with all the necessary medicines to help your furry friend in those unfortunate times.
Remember, first-aid boxes are particularly important for pet owners who take their pets, basically dogs, on camping and hiking trips. Your pet first-aid kit should contain the following:
- Saline eye solution
- Turkey baster or oral syringe
- Ice pack
- Cotton swabs or balls
- Absorbent gauze pads
- OTC antibiotic ointment
- Styptic powder
- Artificial tear gel
- Amoxicillin
- A piece of paper containing the information of your dog’s veterinarian, like clinic name, address, and phone number
A word of caution: overdosage of Amoxicillin Caps may cause allergic reactions in both cats and dogs. Thus, instead of guessing how much amoxicillin for a dog will be the right amount, consulting a veterinarian would be the best bet.
Among the various pet pharmacies, pet parents have found Amoxicillin Caps of PetCareRx effective in treating bacterial infections in dogs. The FAQ section on the website contains answers to several questions asked by pet parents. Even side effects, warnings, care instructions, and directions are listed on the website for pet owners’ convenience.
2. Schedule an Immunization Appointment
Soon after welcoming a feline or canine to your space, schedule an appointment with a veterinarian to immunize them against diseases.
For instance, Bordetella bronchiseptica is a disease that causes kennel cough in pets. Therefore, vaccinating your pet against it is crucial to keep them healthy.
Other than that, canine hepatitis, rabies, distemper, and parvovirus are standard vaccines for dogs. And as far as cats are concerned, you need to immunize them against the feline panleukopenia virus, rabies virus, feline leukemia virus (in kittens only), and feline viral rhinotracheitis.
However, consulting your vet is important before getting your pet vaccinated because they’ll let you know which vaccines are important and which aren’t. Look for a reputable veterinarian in Apache Junction, AZ or in your area. Ensure to choose one with years of experience in treating your type of pet and great reviews.
3. Maintain the Personal Hygiene of Your Pet
If you are a parent to a pup, grooming them is essential to keep them comfortable all year round, especially during the summer season.
Trimming nails, washing their furs, brushing, and sanding are a few simple tasks that you’ll have to take care of when petting a dog. Despite the fact that dogs love water, you shouldn’t bathe them too often. Instead, once in two to three months is sufficient to keep your pooch clean.
Cat owners have the edge over dog owners when it comes to maintaining the animal’s personal hygiene. That’s because felines are known for cleanliness, as they groom themselves more often than not.
However, if your cat loves playing outdoors, you should bathe them once every six months.
4. Feed Them Healthy Food and Fresh Water
It’s increasingly important for pet owners to invest in good-quality food to keep their pets healthy. In this regard, we suggest asking your veterinarian about brands supplying nutritious foods and the ingredients that are safe for their consumption.
Also, feeding your pets tap water is a big no-no! Always give them clean, fresh, filtered water, or they may fall sick.
Take Good Care of Your Pet to Keep Them Safe and Healthy
There’s no better way to keep your pet safe from diseases and increase their lifespan than by taking good care of them.
From feeding them nutritious food to getting them vaccinated, a pet owner needs to take care of each and everything. Once you bring home a pet, make sure to take it to a vet and get it vaccinated.
And lastly, don’t forget to prepare a pet first-aid box so that you’re armed with all essentials in an emergency.
