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 General Pet
Health |
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Keeping a pet in good health is a
big responsibility that you must take on when adopting an animal. Some of our
general health tips include: |
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Making sure your pet keeps
up to date with vaccinations against disease by registering with a local vet.
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Give your pet anti-worming
medication. Your vet will advise you on the type and application. |
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Apply anti-flea droplets to
the animal's fur (at the back of the neck). Depending on the brand this must be
done once every 6-12 weeks. |
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Regularly bathe and groom
your dog with dog shampoo OR use a tiny drop of unperfumed, anti-bacterial
shower gel. |
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If your cat has long hair
regularly groom its fur. Cats generally keep themselves clean and have an
aversion to water so bathing is not necessary. |
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Feed your pet daily. Dogs
can either be fed one small meal TWICE daily (try dried dog biscuits for one
meal and soft meat or tinned dog food for the second) OR a bigger meal once a
day (dry biscuits and soft food combined). Cats should be fed one small meal
TWICE daily (one meal of dried cat food and one meal of soft meat or tinned cat
food). Kittens and puppies need to be fed on small amounts of soft food three
to five times daily, depending on age, until their teeth are strong enough for
dried food. Get into the routine of feeding your pet at the same time(s) every
day.
It is important to note that commercial foods are a balanced diet,
unlike home cooked meals or leftovers which are unlikely to be balanced and
healthy for your pet. |
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ANIMALS SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE
ACCESS TO A FRESH BOWL OF WATER, CHANGED DAILY. |
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Please read these guidelines
through very carefully before you decide whether you can be a responsible pet
owner: |
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Give your pet some toys to
play with. You can either buy toys from a pet shop or just as easily make your
own. Here are some examples: an old shoe for your dog to chew, a Marabon bone
to help keep teeth clean and breath fresh, a rubber ball or bone, a squeaky toy
etc. Cats love to play with pieces of string, elastic bands, aluminium foil
scrunched up into a ball (as it's nice and light), toy mice and scratching
towers (a piece of old carpet stuck to a piece of cardboard is good) to keep
their claws sharp. |
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If you are keeping a cat
indoors make sure it has access to a litter tray and change it AT LEAST once
daily to prevent build up of nasty smells. Make sure your cat gets the freedom
and exercise it needs by letting it out of the house every day. The best thing
is to get a cat flap fitted on your door, as then it can come and go as it
pleases. Try to keep your cat inside at night to prevent it from hunting down
small animals. |
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If you have a dog it is
important to take it out for exercise at LEAST once but preferably twice or
more per day. Having a garden or yard to run in does NOT count as exercise.
Accompanying your dog on a daily walk should be a pleasurable and healthy
activity for you too! Do not let your dog roam around unaccompanied. See Have
You Lost Your Pet? for more details.
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Training your pet to be
obedient is not usually difficult and just takes some patience and persistence.
We ask you NOT to hit or harm your animal in any way. If your pet does
something you don't like (like scratching your sofa or messing on the carpet)
raise your voice, point your finger and shout "NO". Then pick them up and put
them in the place you want them to be (like the scratching tower or the litter
tray). Try to do this immediately when the animal is still caught in the act as
if you try to discipline them after the event they will not understand and
think they are under attack. Training your pet to respond to the sound and tone
of your voice is the most effective way of teaching it discipline. Similarly
you can give praise and / or a small reward (e.g. biscuit) to your pet on
occasions when it behaves well.
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Take the time to really get
to know the personality of your cat or dog. Every animal is different with
varying temperament. The more you interact with your pet the quicker you will
spot if there is something wrong like an illness or injury. Look out for any
changes in behaviour that could be dangerous, for example suddenly losing
appetite, energy loss or refusal to exercise, aggression or any physical injury
like limping or a lump developing on the body. If you are concerned about your
pet do not hesitate to book it in for an appointment with a vet.
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