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Surprise! or Do’s and Don’ts When Bringing a New Four-legged Friend Home

We love all our family members

By Sandra DZPublished 4 years ago 5 min read
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Admit it – you once were this annoying kid asking parents to get you a dog for Christmas. You can consider yourself lucky to finally know that feeling of wet nose touching your face to encourage you to get up in the morning faster. However, many people only now welcome a four-legged friend to their homes. As great questions rattle the heads of the new pet owners, we are ready to provide you with truthful answers and valuable bits of advice!

The Animal Always Comes First

Choosing the right animal for you is the most significant aspect. Even though you may fell in love with every pet which pictures you see on the internet, buying the first breed that you see is an irresponsible decision to make. As different breeds of cats and dogs have distinctive character traits and everyday needs, knowing your own lifestyle becomes the key to finding your one and true four-legged friend. The proverb that an animal is similar to its owner is created for a reason!

Sometimes, your future pet might be waiting for you at a professional kennel. Such cases apply to dogs and cats of more exotic breeds as their parents usually are the stars of shows. We encourage you to have consultations with certified breeders and visit the pet for at least a few times before taking it to your home. It will guarantee a smooth adaptation process for the pet, and you will contribute to the destruction of illegal kennels.

As pets from official and reliable breeders come with their own price, most loving pets usually come from the shelters. They end up there after being mistreated by their previous owners, they got lost or left intentionally, after illegal breeders are found and their dirty businesses exposed. Empty shelters are still rarity all around the world; thus, it is our duty to give animals a second chance, a new lease on life, and adopt them all.

Visits to Pet Shop

Just as you may need a new phone or a pair of boots, so does an animal need a set of things that will ensure the quality and fullness of its life. Your shopping list should begin with a comfortable bed for napping, bowls for super-premium food and water, the food itself, healthy treats to reward your pet for good behaviour, several different toys, and puzzles to keep your fluffy friend entertained and physically active. Besides, you should invest in a pet collar with a leash for fun walks outside – don’t forget to write your contact number on a tag in case your dog or a cat gets lost for it to return to you safely and quickly.

As you want to provide your pet with quality things only, the overall cost might exceed your wallet’s capabilities. We advise you to start preparing in advance and buy items when on sale. However, don’t try to save on your pet’s account – buying cheap means buying twice!

Loving Owners and Safe Home

Adopting a four-legged friend into your family must be a decision and responsibility that all family members are ready and happy to take. A pet should not become a toy that would eventually feed up their owners as it should be a loyal companion through all ups and downs. Even the little kids must understand that caring for a dog or a cat is a serious job requiring devotion 24/7. Dogs will bark and wake you up early in the morning despite weather conditions to go outside for a walk; cats will scratch you sleeping to inform about feeding time or wanting attention, – you must commit to caring for your four-legged family member for as long as they need with a smile on your face.

Of course, not all animals require the same amount of attention as some are more independent than others. However, some pets with unenviable past may have a hard time adjusting with you leaving for work; therefore, time spent alone at home can result in serious separation anxiety hurting your pet. In this case, we advise you to use CBD for pets to reduce hyperactive reactions, calm your dog or a cat, and care for its nervous and immune system all at the same time.

Before bringing an animal into your home you must ensure its safety and introduce them to new smells, sounds, and spaces gradually. Smooth adaptation will allow the pet to feel more confident and calmer when being alone. These safety precautions also involve putting away easily reachable and breakable items from where your pet can reach them and not leaving pet’s food in a clear and visible place as overeating can result in major and sometimes fatal problems. It is necessary when leaving an animal alone at home to provide it with toys or other means of spending time. You must reward the pet with attention and treats when returning to a tidy and unspoiled home to encourage its good behaviour.

Health Concerns

There is no one perfect way to raise your pet, but a veterinarian can answer all your questions about the animal’s health. As little puppies need various vaccines, you will be paying visits to a vet office quite often, but the number of visits should decrease as the pet grows. With time you will learn more about your fluffy friend and its allergies, attitude, and character traits, and it will become easier to spot signs which may alert you about life-threatening health problems of your animal. We advise you to purchase animal life insurance as you would buy one for each of your family members with no doubt.

Adopting a senior animal from a shelter is a noble act; however, they usually have plenty of health issues. For example, older dogs and cats are less active as their joints are worn out, and they might experience pain when moving or fight with seizures in the case of chronic illnesses. Most veterinarians will firstly advise you to start natural homeopathic treatments, thus using CBD oil instead of usual pain relief medicine is always a good idea. Besides mentioned properties, CBD oil is a good addition to pets’ immune system and might even help with food digestion.

Bringing a new four-legged friend home and into your life is a huge step, which you would definitely not regret stepping. Once you feel the warmth your pet brings you as it lies down next to your, its kiss and licks as you come back from work, and silliness as it enjoys playing with you, you will only question yourself why you waited for so long.

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