How to Become a Responsible Pet Parent

It’s wonderful to have a pet animal. With all that fun and play with it, comes your responsibility to take its utmost care. You’ve to become a pet parent and treat your pet animal as your baby or a family member. Remember, different types of animals have different needs. Here are some tips on how to be a responsible pet parent and take its care all the time. ~ Ed.

Deciding whether to bring a pet home can be exhilarating, as you will enjoy the companionship of a gentle creature that makes your day better. However, it is not all flowers and roses; pets need extensive care to stay healthy.

As a responsible pet owner, you need to be prepared before you make the life-changing decision of adopting an animal.

Keep in mind that your pet will be a part of the family, meaning that you can never abandon it. Because your pet fully depends on you, you have to step up your game.

So, if you are thinking of becoming a pet parent, just keep reading the following points to ensure that you give your pet a happy life in your home.

7 Tips to Become a Responsible Pet Parent

Being a pet parent, it will be totally your responsibility to take care of its hygiene, food, and other needs, including taking it to the vet, and much more.

Choose the Right Pet

Sure, having a dog can be pretty sweet, but are you ready to handle its responsibility? You need to assess your situation before choosing a pet. Some pets require your undivided attention day in, day out.

So, if you have a busy schedule and never stay at home for too long, then you should steer away from adopting a dog, as the experts at k9-kare stress that dogs need special nutrition, products, and care to stay healthy.

Thus, if you plan to have a dog, you might spend some time reading reviews to make sure you’ll know how to care for it and know its dietary needs.

Cats, on the other hand, still need some attention, but they are more independent than dogs and can handle being on their own for a few days as long as they have enough food and water.

Fish, turtles, and hamsters are low-maintenance, and do not need you to be present all the time; thus, they are good choices if you have never had a pet before.

Fill Out the Required Forms

Many countries require that you register your pet. If you plan on getting a dog, cat, or any exotic animal, you have to make sure you fill out the needed form before you take your pet home.

To simplify this process, you can ask the shelter to help you get the needed documents. Then, you might want to get a collar that has your pet’s name on it, a tracking band, or even a microchip. Inserting a microchip under your dog or cat’s skin can help you find it if it ever gets lost. Do not worry though; it is painless, and your pet will not even know it is there.

Make Sure Your House Is Safe

After you register your pet, you need to ensure that its new environment is secure. Start with setting up a tank if you get a fish and follow safety guidelines to guarantee hygiene. Also, in case you want a bird or parrot, make sure to buy a spacious cage where it can move unhindered.

On the other hand, furry creatures like dogs and cats will freely roam your house, so make sure to remove any safety hazards because they are curious animals and like to explore their environment.

Take Your Pet to the Vet

Even if you have had pets all your life, you might forget to occasionally take your animal to the vet. Right after you get your new companion, head to the nearest veterinary clinic for a quick check-up.

Your vet will give it the required vaccinations and give you some tips on how to care for it. Remember, you must take your pet to the vet every 6 months, even if it shows no sign of illness. For many pet owners, they can find that routine visit to the veterinarian can often be costly. One way to save on the cost of your pet’s vet bills is by purchasing veterinary insurance.

Cater to Its Needs

Your pet needs some essentials to stay alive. Needless to say that you should always offer a balanced diet and keep your animal’s water clean. If you have a fish, frequently clean its tank to ensure its health.

On the other hand, birds, parrots, and hamsters need special care, but generally, you must clean their cages on a daily basis. Moreover, your pet needs some affection as well.

Granted, a snake might not be as sensitive to your absence as a dog, but you still need to spend some time to bond. All domestic animals, regardless of their species, need some time to forge a close bond with their owners.

In particular, your dog or cat will need some physical exercise. Accordingly, allocate some of your time with your pet and play with it. A warning though: do not use punishment to train your pet. Using treats will, surely, yield much better results.

Take Care of Its Hygiene

More often than not, your pet will not need any special care to stay clean. However, dogs, in specific, need frequent baths, as they are very active and get dirty fast; they also cannot successfully keep their coat clean. Although cats can groom themselves, you can bathe your cat every 3 months.

In contrast, reptiles do not need water to maintain their hygiene, and fish, of course, only need a clean tank. Sometimes, you can use a wet cloth to clean your bird’s feathers; just do not do that more than once every 2 months because your bird can get sick.

For furry animals, you need to also brush their coat to prevent knots and matted fur. Moreover, always check for parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and worms. Give your pet a precautionary dose of flea and tick treatment to keep these pests at bay, or consult your doctor for more effective options.

Have a Backup Plan

Unfortunately, we cannot always predict our plans, but we can prepare for any sudden changes. If you have to leave your home for a few days, establish an emergency contact with one of your friends or relatives.

Thus, they can come and check on your pet every once in a while, give it food, and clean any mess it may leave behind. This way, you will rest assured that your pet is well-cared for and focus on your work or trip.

Wrapping It Up

Pets are amazing; for them, you are their whole world. Therefore, you have to be a responsible pet owner and offer your pet constant care.

When in doubt, browse the internet for more information or simply ask your vet. Just make sure to provide your animal with the care it needs, whether it is physical or emotional.

Over to you

Are you a pet parent? What is your pet animal and how do you take its care? Share your tips and experiences in the comments.