Pet Care Questions and Answers

The first topic I want to touch base on is pet food. Many people have concerns about recalled food. This is a subject you really need to keep upto date on. When the big recall scare was going on we (the animal hospital I worked at) had a lot of sick dogs and cats coming in from eating tainted food. It was not the pet owners fault, but a lot of the pets could have been diagnosed earlier had the owner known about the recalls sooner. Sometimes the recalled food could also still be on the shelves even after it has been recalled. I saw this happen at several grocery stores because they just had not pulled it off the shelves yet. It was days after I had heard of all the brands that were recalled. So I think as pet owners we need to keep ourselves updated on recalled pet food. You should also always know what food your dog has been eating should you have to let your vet know. Hopefully your dog usually eats the same food, as it can upset his digestive tract having his food switched on him. If you do need to change his food, a gradual change to the new food is recommended over a 2 week period so he will not vomit or get diarrhea which is no fun cleaning up.

When choosing a brand of dog food, you should go with a premium brand. A lot of the cheaper foods are mostly fillers. Try to pick a brand which has meat as the first ingredient. Organic, holistic, and natural foods are also good because they have less fillers and chemicals. They can be a bit more costly. When in doubt, ask your vet what she recommends for your pet.

As a pet sitter and pet owner I know how hard it is to leave your pet behind when you have to travel or when you go on a vacation. That is why you need to do a little research when it comes to choosing a pet sitter. Of course if you have a family member or friend you can trust them with, you've got it made. But if you don't, then this is what you should ask when interviewing pet sitters:

1. Does the applicant have experience caring for the kind of pet you have? For instance, if you have an exotic, senior pet or one who needs medications, will this person be able to take care of his needs?
2. Does this person have reliable transportation if your pet becomes ill and needs to go to the vet?
3. Does this person have references?
4. Does this person have pets of his own?
5. What is your gut feeling after meeting this person? Do they seem caring, trusting, honest?
6. How does this person interact with your pet? It is always good to have a family meeting with the potential pet sitter so you can see how everyone will get along.

I am sure you would have questions of your own too, but as you can see, you really need to get the scoop on the person before leaving your pet with them. It is important to screen them very well so you won't have to worry while you are away. Always use your instincts when it comes to people and if you don't get a good feeling from someone, move onto the next candidate. There are plenty of pet sitters available.

When it comes to leaving a pet at a kennel or boarding facility, you need to screen them just as well and take a tour and meet the people who will be caring for your pet. Always use your gut feeling in this situation as well. I always recommend getting a pet sitter to stay at your house or do daily visits if possible to lessen your pet's stress, but if you can't a kennel or boarding facility is another option.

There are many different places to go when looking to aquire a new pet. You can go through a breeder, private owner, shelter, or rescue organization. Please do your research and consider the following things before you pick your pet.

Pets should not be used to make money for their owners. A lot of so called breeders do not breed their dogs or cats responsibly. A responsible breeder usually does not make much money on their litter when all the vet visits, vaccinations, possible C-sections, and other unexpected expenses are paid for. A Good breeder breeds for the love of their breed and to keep a good line going, not for the money. A responsible breeder will be picky when allowing someone to buy one of their pets. Keep this in mind. If you buy from a breeder who is only in it for the money, you are allowing them to keep making money. You are being part of the cycle. If you do decide to get a pet from a breeder, do your research. Contact others who have bought from them. Are their pets healthy and free of genetic problems? Does the breeder keep in touch with them? Does the breeder have a health guarantee for their pets? These are questions you want to know before considering this breeder.

Pet shops are another option for getting a pet. Most of these places say they do not get their pets from puppy mills but no matter what they say, I have to wonder what kind of responsible breeder would ship their puppies to a store where they will have no control over who buys them. Pets should not be used as products. They are living creatures and should not be kept in windows luring people in like a new purse at a mall. I know many people pay thousands of dollars for these so called pure breed puppies and kittens with papers because they feel they are rescueing them. In reality, they are allowing more litters to come in and for the pet shop to make even more money exploiting these poor dogs and cats. A lot of pets from pet stores have genetic defects because they come from unhealthy, overbred parents. Yes, all pets deserve a loving home no matter where they come from, but please explore other options before buying from a pet shop.

You can find almost any breed of pet you are looking for at a rescue organization. If you are looking for a certain breed of dog or cat you can find a local rescue for that breed online. For example, if I was looking for a pug, I would look up AZ Pug Rescue and I would find APARN: AZ Pug Adoption and Rescue Network. They have a lot of great purebreed pugs of all ages for adoption. They make sure they are all upto date on vaccines and are spayed or neutered. I adopted one of my pugs from them and she was such a great dog. There are rescues for almost every breed of dog and cat. There are even rescues for other pets such as bunnies, iguanas, tortoises, etc. Just make sure the organization is reputable. Do your research. Getting a new pet should not be an impulse buy so take your time when choosing where to get it from.

Shelters and your local animal control and humane society are great options when you want to give a pet a second chance. Many pets are euthanized every day simply because no one wants them. Most of them are perfectly healthy and would make great pets, but over population, continued breeding, and irresponsible pet ownership strips them of the chance to get a family. Pets that come from these places are usually so grateful and loyal. it's like they know you have rescued them. Shelters don't just have mixed breeds either. A lot of pure breed pets find their way to these places because they get lost or their owners give them up.

You can always adopt from someone who for whatever reason just can not take care of their pet anymore. A lot of people place ads in newspapers or Craigslist when they need to place their pet. You could be saving a pet a trip to a shelter and helping someone out who really wants to do the best for their pet.

As you can see, their are many options available when you are ready to get a pet. No matter what option you choose, please do your research. Getting a pet is not like buying a pair of shoes. You want to make sure you are getting a healthy pet from a reputable place or person.