Pets are a staple of human existence and have been since man first learned how to tame wild animals. It started with horses, cattle, birds, and other creatures that proved useful in day-to-day life. Now, however, our pets serve mostly as companions. In fact, 58% of Canadian households have at least one dog or cat. Along with the benefits of pet ownership come the responsibilities of proper pet care. Your animal depends on you for food, shelter, companionship, health, and more. We want to help you ensure your pet has the best possible life. Keep reading for four essential pet care tips.
1. Avoid DIY Veterinary Care One of the most important steps as a pet owner is learning how to budget pet care into your monthly expenses. This consists primarily of regular health checkups, vaccinations, and grooming. However, there may come a time when you need pet urgent care. In these circumstances, we never recommend DIY medical treatments. This is especially important if you need advanced pet care like surgery, sutures, snakebite treatment, etc. 2. Invest in High-Quality Pet Food All the best pet care tips also recommend putting your companion on a healthy, high-quality diet. While this means paying more for pet food, your pet will thank you in the long run by living a much longer, healthier life. Consider it from another perspective. You wouldn't want to survive solely off of frozen pizzas and fast food, would you? Sure, these things taste amazing, but will ultimately cost you your health and well-being over time. 3. Spend Time Engaging with Your Pet Every Day One of the easiest and most affordable pet care tips is to spend time with your furry friend daily. We know you have other responsibilities like kids, work, friends, and family. However, you shouldn't adopt a pet unless you're willing to spend quality time with them on a daily basis. They should serve as more than just lawn ornaments or pieces of furniture in your house. 4. Provide a Safe and Clean Environment for Your Pet Finally, providing a clean, sanitary, and safe home for your pet is one of your most important responsibilities as a pet owner. This means cleaning their bedding regularly. You should also groom your pet to prevent dry skin, matted fur, and skin infections. Furthermore, your home needs to be a safe place for your pet. They shouldn't be in danger or at risk of harm from other animals or people in the house. In some cases, this means keeping pets separated from one another. If you live in a neighbourhood where loose dogs are allowed to roam, put up a privacy fence to protect your pet while he or she is outside. It's also important to teach children what is and isn't acceptable behaviour regarding animal treatment. Your pet doesn't need to be dragged around by the tail or abused in any other way. Looking for the Best Veterinary Pet Care in Scarborough? We hope our guide on proper pet care helps you provide the happiest home for your animal. If you're looking for more animal care tips, feel free to check out the rest of our blogs. And if you need help with medical services or boarding, we're here for you. Book an appointment with Amherst Veterinary Hospital today. We offer boarding and grooming, urgent and advanced care, spaying and neutering, vaccinations, and more.