You get a pet and have the best of intentions. You want to love and care for your pet, but maybe sometimes you forget that dogs and cats (as well as other pets) are very different from humans. They do not speak your language and must be taught what things mean. Here are some of the mistakes we all make at times with our pets:
Not making sure your pet is properly socialized-
When left with their mothers, most dogs and cats are exposed to others of their breed, whether their litter mates, or just others around them. They learn the rules of being the kind of animal they are from this experience. When they are removed from their mothers early, as most are, they miss this experience. They then are confused about who they are and what they are supposed to do.
You don't know enough about what your pet needs for health-
Dogs are omnivores and can eat both meat and plant based food. There are, however, many things that are toxic for dogs like onions, chocolate and more. It is your responsibility to learn about what your dog can and cannot eat. You also should talk with your vet about what the optimal weight is for your dog and learn the proper proportions to feed. Feeding table scraps, while it seems okay, can cause your dog upset stomach due to the seasonings, fat content, and any sauces added. Dogs need food plain, not drenched in sauce.
Cats are carnivores. They eat meat. This is the type of diet they are genetically predisposed to eat. Feeding your cat vegetables seems normal, but actually cats cannot digest any plant based food, so it may cause upset stomach and diarrhea. As a cat owner, you should talk with your vet about optimal weight for your pet and proper amounts to feed. Cats fed too much or fed incorrectly have a predisposition to develop diabetes and they also can develop kidney stones due to lack of running water. Cats much prefer moving water to drink, so a bowl of stale water is unappealing to them and they may not take in enough fluid.
You don't spay or neuter your pet-
You don't give your pet enough attention-
You get a pet and enjoy spending time with it until you have other things more important to do. Unfortunately, to your pet, you are their world and they do not have more important things to do. Pets require attention on a regular basis, whether grooming, feeding, playing with them, or walking them; they deserve your attention and your time. When you ignore them and leave them to their own devices, you invite trouble. This is when they become destructive or they become very needy. You are their whole world and they expect you to spend some of your time focused solely on them. One of the problems with lack of time is lack of exercise for them. As I covered earlier, weight management is as important for your pets as it is for yourself. If you don't give your pet enough exercise, they become lazy and fat which leads to major health issues.
You don't learn how to read your pet's body language-
Your pets speak and it is up to us to learn their language just as we expect them to understand some of ours. Dogs give cues to how they feel and what they are thinking. Unfortunately, we don't always listen or pay attention to what they are trying to tell us. Therefore, there are sometimes unfortunate but preventable accidents. People get bit every day by "friendly" dogs simply because they cannot distinguish between a tail wag and a tail flag. Take the time to learn what your pet is telling you because your pet is having to learn what you are saying, too.
You don't have a disaster plan for your pets-
No one wants to think about being in a disaster, but the truth is that there is always the possibility that you may experience one. I live in Oklahoma, so we are all watching the skies for signs of tornadoes. People all over experience traumatic events like mud slides, sink holes, flooding, fires, and other emergency situations. When making your family's disaster plan, don't forget to include your pets. They will not be able to fend for themselves without you. Make a plan and make sure everyone knows what it is.
These are just a few of the mistakes we often make when we get a pet. All of us are guilty of one or more of these. Our pets expect us to take the lead and keep them safe and healthy. Don't let them down.
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