Preparing for a New Pet: 6 Key Checklist Items
Purchasing a pet differs from grocery store shopping. You and your family must prepare for the arrival of a new living creature. Some pets are easier to care for than others. Before rushing out to buy a pet for your child who has been begging for one for two weeks, you should conduct research. Here are seven things you should consider or prepare for before relocating your pet.
Planning Checklist
- Consider hiring a vet from Little Rock veterinary clinic.
- Get food, shelter, and playthings.
- Peruse a book on your new pet.
- Consider obtaining a tag or microchip.
- Pet-proof your dwelling
- Appoint someone else to care for the pet.
Consider Hiring a Vet
A veterinarian provides the necessary care and services for ailing or injured animals. However, if that is the only time your pet visits the veterinarian, they must receive the required care. Pets should receive routine veterinary care, just as humans are expected to have annual checkups with their physicians.
Additionally, it is essential to consider parasite prevention. Preventing parasites is the most effective method for caring for a dog or cat. Some pet parasites can transmit zoonotic infections from infected animals to humans, threatening human health. Consult a veterinarian for more information.
Get Toys, Food, and Shelter
Always make a plan for housing and feeding. Before your pet arrives at your home, ensure you have a variety of pet-appropriate foods on hand. If the animal typically resides in a cage, be prepared with a playpen and toys. Ensure that kitty litter and a dog-specific bed are available for cats and dogs, respectively.
Study a Book Regarding Your New Pet
Before investing time or money, read a guide about the animal you intend to acquire. Learn about the habits, diet, and personality of your pet. Their dietary preferences, water intake frequency, and how close you should keep them to you. The objective is to have a fundamental understanding of your pet before learning about it.
Consider a Tag or a Microchip
Consider purchasing your pet’s collar, name tag, or microchip your pet at Bowman Road Animal Clinic. Thus, if your pet gets lost and has a microchip, it can be quickly located by GPS, and if it has a name tag with your name and phone number, anyone who finds it can contact you.
Make Your Residence Pet-Safe
Before the pet arrives, pet-proof your home or apartment. This is especially crucial if you share your living space with a dog. Puppies, in particular, are curious and enjoy playing with everything.
- Put wires out of sight or cover them with tape, as your dog will chew on them for amusement.
- They will later drink from the toilet seat and lick your face, so it is prudent to cover it.
- Remove or secure any potentially hazardous items, such as cleaning products or broken furniture with sharp edges.
- Ensure the pet’s safety in the home.
Delegate Pet Care Responsibilities
It requires considerable effort to care for a pet. If your children request a pet, they must be able to provide for it. They likely promised to provide for the animal before its arrival, including taking the dog on long walks. After the novelty and excitement of the pet have worn off, enthusiasm does begin to wane. Plan so that you will have sufficient time as an adult to intervene if the children break their promise. They neglected to feed and exercise the pet, so it cannot be ignored.