The following tips apply to just about any pet. I gathered this information from my own experiences as an animal communicator, with my own pets (including dogs, fish, birds, turtles, and rabbits), as well as from vets and animal rescue organizations. None of this information is intended to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary care.
- If you leave the house for any reason, tell your pet(s) where you are going, when you will be back, and what work you want them to do (nap, watch the house, etc.) while you are gone. I always tell my dogs I’m going to run an errand and when I’ll be back (i.e. 2pm, around their dinner time, etc). I also tell them to take a nap while I’m gone and to be good. This tends to ease their anxiety about me being gone. If it’s a longer trip, I always tell them how many days I’m gone.
- Animals like their routines. If their routine is going to change for a day or more, tell them why and how the change will affect their routine. For example, if you have to work overtime for a few weeks, tell your pet. This will help ward off any unwanted behaviors they may display as their way of protesting the aversion to the change in their routine.
- If your animal has seizures, ask your vet to do an allergy test for food allergies. One of our dogs started having seizures shortly after we got him from the shelter. Our vet did an extensive allergy test and found that he had many allergies (cigarette smoke, Bermuda grass, chicken, rice, etc.). The food he was eating consisted mainly of chicken and rice. That’s why we changed his food to one of those listed on the testing company’s list of “approved foods and treats.” Since changing food, he hasn’t had a seizure. So while food allergies aren’t always the cause of seizures, it’s worth exploring with your vet.
- Before bringing a plant or flower into your home, check whether the plant or flower is poisonous to animals. Reactions to the toxic compound in some plants and flowers can range from mild nausea to death. I had a family member’s cat die because it ate part of an Easter lily leaf. Other common houseplants that are poisonous include Philodendrons and Poinsettias. For a more comprehensive list, look on the internet, ask your vet or ask someone at the store that sells the plant or flower.
- If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic substance, seek veterinary attention immediately. If the incident occurs outside of business hours, contact the nearest after-hours animal emergency facility. Try to bring a sample of what the animal has swallowed or bitten by if it is safe for you to do so. For example, one of my dogs had caught a spider in its mouth and quickly spit it out again. I assumed the spider had bitten him in the mouth. So I put the spider in a plastic bowl and took my dog to the emergency vet for treatment. Fortunately, since I had the spider with me, the vet was able to tell me it was some type of spider that was not venomous.
- Please keep the contact information on your pet’s identification tags and/or microchip up to date. If your pet is lost and someone from animal control or from your neighborhood finds the animal, this will help get your pet back faster.
- Post a pet notice for rescuers on the windows at every outside door of your home. On each message, please include the number and type of animals residing in your home, as well as your veterinarian’s name and phone number. This will alert rescue personnel that there are animals in the home and who has medical records on each pet in case there is a fire or other major disaster to your home. Some animal rescue organizations (e.g. Humane Society of the United States, ASPCA, etc.) have this type of decal for your window and can provide it for free or a nominal fee upon request.
- Plan for your pet’s future in case something happens to you. Many states allow you to set up trusts for your pet so that they are cared for in the way you wish in the event that you should die before they do. For more information, visit the Humane Society of the United States website or consult your family attorney.
- If you must part with your pet for any reason (e.g., divorce, loss of your home, etc.), fully explain to the pet why you must do so. It is very important that an animal is told why they will not be part of the family that may have raised them. I’ve seen from clients’ pets and animals in the shelters the impact not knowing this kind of information has on animals. Some get aggressive and think no one likes them. Others become very withdrawn and harbor a lot of guilt that it was their fault that they are no longer with their family.
- Teach children the correct way to approach an unfamiliar animal. This includes asking the animal’s human companion for permission to pet the animal. Some animals are not used to children and may backfire if approached too quickly.
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