Welcoming a New Furry Friend
So you decided to add a cuddly ball of fur to your family over the holidays. Congratulations! Now you’re ready to take the responsible actions to keep your new family member healthy and happy. We’ve gathered suggestions on how to get your pet off to a great start.
Accustoming Your Pet to Exams
It’s a good idea to desensitize your pet to vet visits with practice exams. Things such as practicing nail trims, practicing oral exams (opening mouth, pulling lips back to view teeth), standing on a raised table, feeling/examining limbs and ears are all great ways owners can accustom their pets to being examined at the vet. We always encourage using treats to reward appropriate behavior during these practice exams. In the end, the important part is not forcing these exams to the point of stress. Try to build up progressively and always end on a positive note. Working with your pet from the beginning increases the chances of a smooth and calm trip when a vet visit comes.
Staying on Track with Vaccinations
A common error pet parents make when bringing a new pet home is not staying on track with the vaccination schedule. Often the next vaccination dose call is forgotten or pushed out too far and the process must start over to provide full protection. This costs pet parents more money that does not need to be spent. Scheduling vaccinations early on and marking the vaccination dates on a calendar can ensure it doesn’t get overlooked. This ASPCA article lists the vaccinations recommended for both cats and dogs along with the timing and frequency. At Pets in Stitches, we help you out by automatically sending you reminders when your pets vaccinations are due.
Discussing Parasite Prevention
Part of keeping your pet healthy is keeping parasites at bay. You can discuss the best options with your vet. As this American Veterinary Medical Association article urges, “Leave treatment to the experts. Your veterinarian offers technical expertise and can assist you in identifying products that are most likely to effectively and safely control your pet’s parasite problem.”
Thinking Ahead to Sterilization
Also factor in when to get your pet spayed, neutered, or you could go with alternative sterilization. This article discusses timelines on when might be the best age to get your cat or dog spayed or neutered. If you’re interested in a different route, Pets in Stitches offers canine alternative sterilization. For more information on why it can be a good decision to spare hormones and go with this option, check out this article.
Taking Advantage of Pet Care Bundles
The list can be daunting when planning for a well pet exam and vaccinations for a new pet. Thankfully, Pets in Stitches offers bundles to help simplify, streamline, and save you money. Give us a call at 937-630-3320 and we’d be happy to discuss options with you.
Setting Up for a Bright Future
We commend you for wanting to start your new pet off on the right paw. All the time you put in now is an investment in a long future together with your new furry family member.
