Owning a new fur baby can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have any experience with pets yet. While they can make for loving companions no matter what pet you get, it’s also a lifetime commitment. You can’t just decide to get a pet and not give it consistent love, care, and affection. Like humans, they need the right amount of attention and care, such as when it comes to their grooming and diet. Particularly for pets like dogs, they’re a man’s best friend, but you also need to spend quality time with your new fur baby. In the following, we’ll be discussing everything you need to know about the tips for taking care of your fur baby as a new pet owner.
Research
The key to being a great pet owner is doing adequate research about the pet you’re about to get. For instance, you’re sure you really want to get a dog. It’s your responsibility to research the dog breed, how to groom it properly, diet and nutrition, and the like. Basically, you need to know everything about caring for your new fur baby the right way. While there are general tips that apply to all pets, the nature of the pet is different. For example, how you’d typically care for a dog is different from a cat since cats are more independent and dogs are more affectionate and playful. Simple details like these prove why research is a critical aspect of owning a pet, especially your first pet. If you don’t do research first, you might end up caring for your pet the wrong way. It’s also essential to get proper insight to know what you’re getting yourself into.
Diet and Nutrition
Different pets have different diets and nutrition, which also applies to what breed you’re going for. Again in the example above, different dogs have different diets. Primarily if your dog is known to be of a larger breed, you must know the proper food to give. This is also where research comes into significance, so you can properly know what to feed your new pets when the time comes to bring them home. Also, if you’re buying your pets from a previous owner and not from a store, it can be helpful to ask about their eating patterns and habits and which food they’re most fond of. Since that’s what they were accustomed to, it’s best to stick to that food. Most importantly, knowing this gives you awareness if something goes wrong with their health since their eating habits and health are interconnected. This doesn’t just apply to dogs but also other pets like cats, fish, hamsters, rabbits, and the like. The proper diet and nutrition can lead to longer and happier lives for your pets.
Vaccinations
Similar to how we need vaccinations to keep ourselves safe from diseases and illnesses like the flu or chickenpox, the same goes for your pets. The most critical vaccine to give is anti-rabies shots, more importantly for pets with a tendency to bite you like dogs and cats. While your fur babies can be completely adorable and do nothing wrong, there may come a time they bite you unintentionally. Particularly for puppies and kittens, this is highly common. If you want to be safer, you can also give yourself an anti-rabies shot to prevent yourself when an accident occurs. Puppies, in particular, are going through something called teething, so they might unintentionally bite on their lovable owners while playing.
Pet-proof Your Home
You might have heard of babyproofing your home, and the same goes for your pets. You want to keep away all electrical wires and cables out of reach, as this can endanger your new pet. If you have your own home, you’re going to want to make sure your yard is clean and fenced to keep your pets safe, especially if they are untrained. If you live in a condo or apartment building, you’ll also need to adjust to your building’s regulations. Building codes, community rules, and electric machinery all need to be taken into consideration to help your pet. For example, if your building utilizes solar panel solutions for greener energy on the roof or shared spaces, these need to be fenced off as they can be hot to the touch. The same is true for any gadgets and electronics like your phone, laptop, monitors, and the like, as they can get damaged or potentially harm your pet. You want to keep your trash cans and bins out of reach if you don’t want your pet to end up scattering all your trash when playing with your plastic trash bag—especially for cats and dogs. Most importantly, keep them away from chemicals and toxins that could poison them, like medications and detergents.
These are the basics you’ll need to know about taking care of your new fur baby as a first-time pet owner. Remember that while it can get a bit overwhelming, you’ll begin to realize how rewarding it can feel to look after something that will soon become your best friend and buddy for life.