Adopting Dogs, Cats, Puppies, and Kittens

Are you ready to adopt a dog or cat? Congratulations! Adopting a pet is one of the most wonderful experiences – but make sure you’re prepared. Your to-do list includes shopping for supplies like food and bowls, necessary medications, bedding, toys, collars, and maybe kennels, and a litter box for a new cat. You’ll need to get into a grooming routine and understand the behavior issues that might affect your pet – particularly if your cat or dog comes from a shelter. Make sure your home is safe for your new resident and if you have children, make certain they understand how to behave around your new dog or cat. 

What You’ll Need For Your Adoptive Dog

The day you adopt, rescue, or purchase a new dog you’ll need to prepare just as though you are bringing home a baby. Food is the first item on the list because it is the most important thing you can do for your dog’s heath.

Love and attention is also very necessary in the first few days. Remember that your pet may feel ill at ease in a new place and a little scared. Make sure to comfort and reassure your new dog as much as possible during this adjustment time.

Adopting a new pet is a 10-15+ year committment to a new family member. Read more about this special relationship.

Food:		Use a premium kibble. Your pet will be healthier, and you will save money in the long run. Azmira makes excellent dog food that suits dogs of all ages. Choose Lifestyle Lamb or Classic Beef. Tips on how, when, and what to feed are in the Nutrition Section.
Water:		Filtered water is best. Change daily. Heavy ceramic crock pot liners make good water bowls because they keep water cool, are easy to clean, and are too heavy to knock over.Please don’t let your dog drink from the toilet.
Bowls:		Stainless bowls and unbreakable glass bowls are superior to plastic. Plastic bowls cause some dogs to develop skin allergies and acne on their faces.
Medications:		The 3 medications you want for your new dog are for fleas, heartworms and anxiety. Struggling with fleas after they invade is a nuisance. Treating your dog after it develops a heartworm infection is difficult and expensive. Avoid these problems. Your dog will be happier if it begins its life with you on medications it needs to prevent physical and emotional problems.

 

Bed:		Sleeping is as important to dogs as it is to people. You’ll want a washable, comfortable, located in a quiet spot. Ortho Dream Sleeper is the best dog bed made. It has a double-sided cushion so your dog can choose miracle foam or orthopedic foam. The bumper is at just the right height to support the neck and align the spine—especially important in physically active dogs and senior pets.
Collar or harness and leash:		A harness has several advantages over a collar: it allows you to walk a dog without damaging its throat if it pulls, and it allows you to hook the dog safely to the car seat. Some harnesses, such as The Easy Walk, were developed to stop dogs from pulling on the leash so that walking a joy rather than a tug of war. The Easy Walk Harness can be used to secure your dog in the car. Dogs enjoy wearing them.
Crate or kennel:		It’s not necessary to use a crate if your dog doesn’t like to be in one, but occasionally you will need a place to put your pet where you know it cannot escape, and crates are excellent. Some dogs actually prefer to have a crate because they feel more secure in their own space.Do not let children bother your dog while in its crate.Kennels are outside enclosures with chain link fencing. Kennels can make dogs feel isolated. Because dogs are pack members, they would rather be with you than isolated in the yard.
Potty place and poop disposal method:		Have a designated place for your dog to relieve itself. Have small garbage bags or a shovel handy so you can pick up poop immediately and dispose of it. Worms found in dog poop infect dogs and humans. These worms cause zoonotic disease. Removing feces prevents dogs from developing the habit of eating it (coprophagy).
Chew toys:		Fulfill your pet’s need to chew with toys or real bones. These will keep your dog busy and it will stay out of trouble. Choose the toughness of the toy based on your pet. Some dogs are bred to have gentle mouths and they are happy with soft toys, which last for years. Other dogs can destroy rubber tires. They need tough toys. The ASPCA suggests these chew toys for training and playtime.
Exercise area:		A tired dog is a good dog. If your yard isn’t big enough to exercise your pet, find a park or place to swim close by.

 

More in coming weeks, Brought to you by WWW.MJLMegaMeds.com.