Are you becoming or have you just become a first-time pet parent? If so, you may be both feeling excited over it and having some nerves about how to be the best pet parent possible. As someone who wants to do their best with pet care, here are some tips to help you out:
Be prepared for pet anxiety
New pet parents may not know that pets can deal with anxiety as well as we do. While their triggers can be very environmental-based, it’s important to know that certain negative behaviors are a result of anxiety. For example, a dog may wreak havoc on your furniture because they’re young and aren’t getting enough exercise. In other instances, a dog may have come from an abusive background.
In other circumstances, a dog may simply have that anxious chip from birth. Pet anxiety isn’t easy to deal with, so talk to your vet about things that you can do to help them and medication that can help to soothe dog anxiety.
Know what vaccines are a must
Your animal deserves to live a healthy life and part of being a responsible pet parent is getting them the shots and vaccines that can make a difference. Talk to your vet about the ones that are required by law, the ones that are a must for their safety, and then the extras that are typically important depending on lifestyles.
Rabies shots are required for reasons you can imagine, but your vet doesn’t always suggest Bordetella shots if your animal doesn’t spend a lot of time on social outings with other dogs.
Look into training
Training your animal can be important for their well-being and for yours and others. A dog that has been expertly trained is one that can spend more time outside of your home, in public settings, and at dog parks. It gives them more freedom and allows you to have more peace of mind so that they’ll behave adequately while out.
Dog fights and bites can be dangerous for you and others, so do your best to avoid these types of situations by getting your dog trained by a professional. While it may be a big investment, you’re setting your pet and yourself up for years of success and a safe life.
Get them socialized
Something else that can help you and your pet have peace of mind and behave well while out and about is socializing with your pet. A pet that is around other animals from a young age can more easily be walked around other animals or even co-exist with other pets. Whether this looks like spending time with a friend and their pet or taking your puppy to social meetups with other dogs, know that early socialization can be key to a future where you and your animal can be relaxed in social, public settings.
Microchip your pet
In the best-case scenario, your pet never goes missing. But the worst case is that they do. Something that can be a life saver for your pet and bring you peace of mind is chipping your pet.
This can help people return them to you and because there are many people out there willing to go above and beyond to get pets back to their owners, chipping your pet can increase chances you find your pup should they ever go missing. Talk to your vet about the cost and impact when it comes to chipping your dog or cat.
In Conclusion
As you navigate life as a pet parent, you may be wondering what the best tips are for your new life. These tips above are the basics that can help make life easier for you, but talk to your vet about more recommendations for your specific animal. They can help guide you to the best resources for your particular needs.
