Take Good Care of Your Pet

If you are a pet owner, it's important that you take the responsibility of your pet's care seriously. Most of my life, I have had a pet of one kind or another, usually a cat or a dog. Sometimes I had both at the same time. I can say without reservation that owning a pet is great fun and very rewarding. There are many responsibilities with regard to pet ownership. This includes giving love and affection to your pet, which will be returned to you many times over.

Keeping vaccinations current for cats is very important. Other health problems can occur, too. Some examples of health problems for cats would include hairballs, parasites, vomiting, diarrhea, urinary tract infection, and feline leukemia. As you can see, some of these can be easily prevented while others are much more serious. For example, hairballs occur from your cat's constant grooming. This can be prevented by bathing and brushing your cat regularly. Vomiting and diarrhea can be prevented by carefully monitoring what your cat eats and providing only the best nutrition. Sometimes you veterinarian will recommend supplements. I also think it is not good to give your cat milk because it is not easily digestible and can cause diarrhea. Urinary tract infection and feline leukemia are serious disorders that require the veterinarian to intervene with medication. Many times, feline leukemia is fatal.

Like cats, dogs should be kept current on all vaccinations. But there are other health concerns for dogs, too. Parasites can be problematic. This has to be carefully monitored and treated. Other problems for dogs involve the bones. Panosteitis is an inflammatory disease of the bones. It affects younger dogs. It can cause a sudden symptom of lameness. The young dog will suddenly start to limp. This condition occurs particularly in German Shepherds, but all breeds are susceptible to it. Dogs can develop other conditions, such as cancer, constipation, and ear mites. It's always important to ensure your dog has regular checkups.

I personally think it is best to keep pets inside and not let them outside unsupervised. There is much less chance for an animal to get ill or hurt if it is kept inside. While outside, your dog or cat could come into contact with another animal that has some sort of disease. Your pet could become infected. I am always afraid my dog or cat will get hurt being outside with all the traffic that is in the neighborhood. I think it is a good idea is to take your pet for a walk. Like us, pets need exercise. This can provide an opportunity for both of you to get out.

To summarize, owning a pet it a big responsibility. You have to ensure your pet's health. As I discussed, this involves many factors. But if you do your part and keep your dog or cat healthy, she will provide you with many years of love and affection. You will not regret taking care of your pet.