Congratulations, you decided to finally become a pet parent. Certainly, a new animal is an exciting yet daunting commitment. Most importantly, we are going to walk you through some tips and guidelines on how to take care of your new animal.

Top 5 Tips for New Owners:

Pet-proof your home

Pet proofing your home is a crucial step for new pet owners. In fact, it will not only keep your pets safe but also save you money. Certain pets have a habit of chewing electrical cables, including chargers and TV cords. Most importantly, take a second to secure all easily-accessible cords and set them in a safe place.

Gather your supplies

Make a “safe space” for them

Practice slow introductions

Organize your training plans

Veterinary Visits & Pet Health

So, now that we’ve gone over some basics, it’s time to dive into your pet’s health plan. Therefore, we will cover:

Pet insurance
First vet appointments: why it’s important and what to expect
Home healthcare
What to do if your new pet gets sick

Insurance

While animal insurance is not required, it is highly recommended and can be as cheap as $9 a month. In fact, some insurance providers such as PetFirst offer new parents 30 days of free insurance. Above all, this can be a valuable tool when deciding if animal insurance is right for your family.

First Vet Appointment: Why It’s Important and What to Expect

The first vet appointment is extremely important for several reasons. First, scheduling this visit early can help your animal build a relationship with your chosen veterinarian and facilitates smooth vet visits in the future. After that, your vet will most likely complete the following tasks:

Weight check
Temp, pulse, and respiratory checks
Complete Physical Exam
Teeth and gums check
Reflex check

After the exam, make sure to discuss the following topics:

Exercise and Nutritional requirements
Socialization needs
Microchips
Spraying /neutering
Dental care
Grooming
Flea, tick, heartworm, and parasite prevention/control

In conclusion, gaining knowledge on these topics will help you devise a home healthcare plan for your animal.

Home Healthcare

Home healthcare includes grooming sessions, routine checking for physical irregularities, monitoring your pet’s behavior, and monitoring appetite. In addition, these at-home steps will help you become more aware of when your dog or cat needs professional medical help and ensure your pet’s safety.

What to Do If Your New Animal Gets Sick

Pet’s naturally try to hide signs of illnesses, and sometimes even with a routine home healthcare plan, it can be hard to tell if your animal needs medical help. However, becoming familiar with the common signs of an illness can help you determine if it is time for a vet visit. In fact, take a look below at some characteristics to watch for:

Some severe symptoms that require immediate veterinary care are:

Inability to urinate or defecate
Bloated hard abdomen
Excessive vomiting or diarrhea
Seizures
Inability to stand

Other less severe symptoms that can wait to be checked within 1-2 days after occurring are:

decrease/loss of appetite
Hiding or decrease in activity level
Blood in urine or stool
Increased shedding
Excessive scratching or licking of the body
eye/nose discharge
Abnormal whining or crying

Works cited

Coates, Jennifer. “Puppy’s First Vet Visit: What to Expect, Checklist & Tips.” Pet Central by Chewy, 24 June 2020, petcentral.chewy.com/what-to-expect-at-puppys-first-vet-visit/

“Post-Adoption Medical Care.” Animal Humane Society, www.animalhumanesociety.org/adoption/post-adoption-medical-care

“Recognizing & Caring for a Sick Pet.” American Humane, 25 Aug. 2016, americanhumane.org/fact-sheet/recognizing-caring-for-a-sick-pet/

“Spaying and Neutering.” American Veterinary Medical Association, www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/spaying-and-neutering

Swain-Wilson, Savanna. “13 Things You Should Do Immediately after Adopting a Pet, According to an Expert.” Insider, Insider, 5 July 2019, www.insider.com/pet-adoption-guide-what-to-do-2019-6