Monday, February 28, 2011

Taking Care Of Your Pets

By Coleen Smith


Dogs, cats, lizards, and birds are just some of the varieties of friends that people adopt. When caring for their friend pet health is very important. Maintaining a healthy pet leads to having it live for a very long time without too many problems. Different kinds of pets have different needs, of course.

Dogs are one of the most common animals that are adopted and made part of a family. Plenty of exercise is required in order for your canine companion to stay healthy. Two walks each day is usually sufficient. It's also important to watch your dog's caloric intake. Just like with humans, eating too much can result in weight gain, which in turn can lead to a wide variety of health problems. Another similarity between dogs and people is their need for good dental care. Help keep your dog's teeth clean with hard treats and a toothbrush. Dogs tend to visit the veterinarian and incur more bills than other pets, so it's a smart idea to conduct a pet insurance comparison and select a policy to make sure the costs are covered. Following a few basic steps will promote a long and full life for the dog.

Another popular pet choice for families and individuals is a cat. Cats are more self dependent then their canine counterparts and do not require baths as they clean themselves. Walking them is unnecessary, which is good because no sane cat would consent to wearing a collar and a leash. Just playing with them is enough to give them some exercise. They do need good veterinary care, including vaccinations and teeth cleanings. By ensuring their teeth are in good shape will not only help them eat but will help prevent them from falling ill.

Although it may seem like a strange choice for a pet, many people adopt snakes. They make great pets but are not recommended for families with children under the age of five because they carry salmonella and can make a person quite ill. Because of this it is also recommended that after handling a snake wash your hands. Unlike cats, dogs and birds, snakes are solitary animals and prefer to avoid crowds. The recommended handling time is five minutes a day in order for the pet to get used to human contact. Also when setting up a home for the new snake having a terrarium is a good idea as this can be equipped with a heat lamp and thermometer so the temperature can be kept at a constant; which will provide a stable environment without being too hot or cold.

Fish are a fun animal to have as a pet. They do not do much except swim around but they are very cool to look at and adding items into their tanks for environmental reasons can be fun. A couple things to think about when setting up for health reasons are to make sure the tank is cleaned at least twice a month will prevent algae from growing. Also important is to never over feed the fish.

Birds are a great pet to have. They live in their cages and can be trained to be quite friendly. Of course you need to bring them out of their cage because they need attention from you. While they're out, they should fly or walk around the house a bit for exercise. They should always have fresh water available and plenty of food.

Rabbits are also a common choice when choosing a new member of the family. Rabbits can be skittish and their natural instinct is to run away from anything that startles them. Because of this, many rabbits are shy and it's difficult to hold them. Because of this instinct rabbits tend to like to be alone and love to spend time in their enclosures. When choosing a living space it is better to get a larger area for the rabbit to have lots of room to run around and play in. Keeping the water bowl full and feeding twice a day will ensure a long and healthy life.

People have kept pets for many years and will continue to do so. Animals add a great deal to our lives. Your job as a pet owner is to keep your pets healthy so they'll be around for a long time to come.




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