Some days it can feel like everyone seems to have an opinion on practically everything. So it’s vital that we look to the advice of seasoned professionals so that we don’t get lost in the sea of information when it comes to important things like the health of our beloved pets.
Luckily for all of us, there are a lot of friendly people on the internet. For instance, some veterinarians took to the r/AskReddit subreddit to give pet owners some great advice that’ll help make their pets’ lives better.
Read on for some interesting and useful vet tips, dear Pandas. And if there are any animal experts in the crowd today, we’d love it if you shared some of your personal pearls of wisdom with everyone else in the comments. We’re all animal-lovers after all. We want what’s best for our four-legged furry friends. Feathered, scaled, and two-legged, too! We don’t discriminate.
Bored Panda was interested to learn more about keeping our pets healthy, so we reached out to the wonderful team at the PDSA, the UK’s leading veterinary charity. PDSA Vet Claire Roberts was kind enough to go into detail about everything with us.
“Cats, dogs, and rabbits should have yearly vaccinations where they will get a full check-up from the vet at the same time. Older pets or those with specific medical conditions may benefit from seeing the vet more regularly, to help pick up any problems early. And of course, all pets should be taken to see a vet if they are unwell or injured at any time,” she told us how often owners should take their beloved pets to see the vet. Scroll down for the rest of our interview with the pet health specialist.
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From my former vet tech girlfriend, don’t leave your pets to be euthanized without you. It’s hard to be there and it’s hard to watch, but if you leave them they will die scared and looking for you. She had to try and comfort pets whose owner’s couldn’t bring themselves to stay and it’s one of the few things that makes her cry.
Yes, so important! Be there when your friend needs you. Sent them on their last voyage with the best possible memories.
PDSA Vet Claire went into detail with us about getting pets used to being handled. She drew attention to the fact that some animals will naturally be scared of people picking them up.
“Some pets, including rabbits and guinea pigs, are naturally prey species which means they will be nervous of larger animals such as us humans!” she warned. “They will generally not enjoy being picked up high in the air, so try sitting on the floor with them in a secure area or in their enclosure, where they can choose to come to you. As they become more comfortable with you, you can groom them, or even carefully lift them onto your lap. Children should always be supervised when with animals.”
However, when it comes to larger animals, it’s best to help them get accustomed to being handled, touched, and groomed from a young age. It’s a great way to bond with them. What’s more, you can slowly make them get comfortable with being looked at by a vet.
“When you go to the vet, a check-up may include the vet or nurse looking at your pet’s ears, mouth, and feeling over their body for lumps and bumps—if they are used to being touched in these areas, it will be a less stressful experience for them,” Claire told us.
Vet here. Here’s my best advice, condensed.
1) Thin pets live longer than fat pets. Google a BCS chart and make sure your pet has a visible waist and palpable ribs. No crash diets.
2) Dental disease is WAY more serious than you think. Get the scale and polish. If we have to extract teeth (and believe me, we would prefer not to), they will still be able to eat.
3) Get your pet a series of cartrophen (or zydax, or adequacy, or pentosan polysulfate) injections when they turn 8. They help slow down the progression of arthritis and are safe and cost-effective.
4) If your cat is stressed at the vet, take home some gabapentin to put on her food before her next visit. She will be safe, happy, and calm, and the vet will be able to examine her more thoroughly.
5) Know what’s toxic for your pet. DEFINITELY don’t have lilies in the house if you have a cat.
6) Discuss finances. Your vet wants what’s best for your pet, and is obligated to recommend all your best options....but if you tell us what you can afford we can usually come up with a reasonable plan.
7) You deserve a vet you trust. If you don’t trust yours, find one that you do.
8 ) Put your 24-hour ER vet’s address into your google maps/GPS favorites so you don’t have to find it in an emergency.
9) High-quality kibble is fine unless your vet tells you otherwise. Don’t feed a dog a grain-free diet unless YOUR vet tells you to (like for an allergy).
10) You can almost definitely give your cat a pill. Ask us for tricks.
11) BE NICE. We are human and we all care INTENSELY. Even if we hate YOU, we probably love your pet.
Honestly I cannot pill my girl cat. She is a champion spitter. But I CAN give her shots.
Please don't get overly short-nosed breeds like french bulldogs, pugs or persian cats. And no, I've never met a single one who was healthy, even though the owners assured me IT was a special case without problems. Yeah....No, it's cruel and breeding them should bei illegal. (The dysfunctional breathing ist just the icing in the cake, there are many more problems with those breeds)
According to the PDSA, the “most important thing owners can do to improve their pets’ lives is to make sure they are meeting all their welfare needs correctly.” There are five needs that we as owners need to meet for our companions like cats and dogs, and these include environment, diet, behavior, companionship, and health.
“All pets should have the right environment with warm and comfy spaces to rest, exercise, and play. They also need areas where they can behave naturally. For example, cats like to have some higher spaces where they climb and can look down on us, and areas to scratch. Rabbits will need a large space with room to lie down, stretch, stand on their back legs, and areas to hop around and dig. Smaller animals like hamsters and gerbils will also have their own requirements including space and materials to burrow and nest,” PDSA Vet Claire shared with us.
What’s more, she stressed the fact that we, as owners, need to protect our animal buddies from pain, injury, suffering, and disease. “Preventive care will help to keep pets healthy, including vaccinations and treatments against parasites like fleas. If a pet gets ill or becomes injured they should receive prompt veterinary care. And don’t forget about their dental health!” she said. Meanwhile, here is a useful video on how to brush your dog’s teeth.
Don't buy animals as a gift or on a whim...it most likely ends unfavorable for the animal.
I think the best thing you can do for your new pet, especially a puppy or kitten, is handle it A LOT when they’re young. Getting them used to having their feet handled, nails trimmed, mouth opened (even extra benefit if you get them used to teeth brushing daily - gold standard for at home dental care), ears touched (particularly breeds prone to ear infections - huge benefit in the future if you have to administer topical ear medication)… Restraint is also a big thing. I always tell my clients to practise restraint with their animals. That wriggly puppy that is cute when it nips when you hold it still grows up into a large dog that can’t be safely examined because it hasn’t learnt to be okay with restraint.
Yep. Learned this with horses. I can clip my cats' nails, brush their teeth and was able to restrain my boy at the vet to be catheterized without a sedative.
I am a veterinarian . Please be kind to me and have patience with me. I see so many sick animals every day. I work 10-13 hours per day, 4 to 6 days per week. I’ve taken a lunch three times in four years. I’ve put so much blood, sweat and tears into cases, only to have the owners trash talk me by name publicly on Yelp because they don’t understand how medicine works, and they get mad when I explain it to them.
The best thing you can do for your pet is to believe me, trust my recommendations, and follow my instructions.
Yelp reviews of doctors or prescription medicines are meaningless and are irrelevant. People don’t know what they’re talking about, are controlled by their emotions, and write fabricated stories.
If you ask me to do a physical exam or diagnostics, there is going to be a fee associated with that. People stealing my services is fairly common.
Sometimes I spend the money and try my hardest to save the pet, and the pet still does poorly. There are no guarantees in medicine. People will often abuse me and my staff because they are grieving. Grief is not an excuse to be abusive.
Some problems are preventable! You can prevent heartworm disease for $8 per month.
I am not in the pocket of Big Kibble, and I truly want you and your pet to do well.
Most vets understand that when your pet is sick, it can be super hard, super expensive and super emotional. They get you might need to make hard decisions they can’t make for you. They can help by giving you choices based on education and best practices. I have witnessed owners who are struggling really be abusive to the veterinarian, only to apologize profusely later, just remember, for the most part, with few exceptions )there are bad vets, but not many) your pets vet is there for you and your pet, often doing the best they can. Like medicine, veterinary work is a practice.
Earlier, Bored Panda spoke about the health of our pets with Dr. Ernie Ward, the founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. He said that vets overwhelmingly agree that obesity is the biggest health threat to dogs and cats.
“Dogs suffering from obesity have a much greater risk of developing arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. Studies also show that dogs with obesity live about 2.5 years less than those at a healthy weight,” he told us.
“More recent research proves that overweight or dogs with obesity have a lower quality of life, as reported by their pet parents. To put it bluntly, the fact is that dogs with obesity aren't able to live and enjoy their best lives, and we must do better,” Dr. Ward said.
If you think your pet might need a vet but you're not sure, pretend your pet is your child. So if your kid was: vomiting everything they ate for 3 days, scratching their ear until it started bleeding, not able to stand up from sitting without help, limping after playing at the park...etc, you'd probably book an appointment with their pediatrician right? So, book an appointment with the vet.
I can’t stress this enough. Good pet owners know. They know when their B pet is off a bit. Heck our German Shepherd came back from an escape day and was licking his paw, my friends checked his paw…nothing. I checked his entire front, he had sliced open his chin on a sharp can of food someone discarded. 12 stitches
(Obligatory not a vet, but used to work in a vets and have a BSc degree in Animal Sciences and Animal Management.)
Actually research your pet before buying them. It sounds obvious, but so many people don’t, and they just assume that they know how to care for an animal based on what they’ve seen on TV or heard from friends/family/pet shops.
For example, rabbits are one of the most neglected animals in the UK, because people still think that they belong in hutches. Rabbits actually need a LOT of space, and a companion, as well as platforms, rearing up space, and foraging opportunities.
I’m a rat owner, and it shocks and saddens me to see the amount of people who keep lone rats, in a cage with minimal enrichment, and fleece covering the base instead of a suitable substrate that enables them to display their natural digging & foraging behaviours. Not to mention cages with height, but insufficient floor space for rats to run & play, or cages just full of hammocks but no active enrichment.
Research your pets thoroughly before you do anything. Make sure you’re acting in the best interests of the animal, and not what’s convenient for you.
Rather than just getting them a bunch of toys and hoping that keeps them entertained...just sit on the floor and actually interact with them for a bit. Establishes a connection, and is cheaper than a bunch of fancy products that you toss to them and hope they are enthralled.
Yup, my scratched hands and arms can confirm that me and my cat are very close!
“When people ask me if it's better for a dog or cat to have obesity, I tell them ‘neither.’ Obesity is a disease and, as a veterinarian, I swore an oath to prevent animal disease and suffering. My goal is to prevent pet obesity and I've spent the last twenty years researching and teaching nutrition and weight loss methods to committed veterinary professionals and concerned pet parents.”
Dr. Ward noted that we’re very similar to dogs when it comes to our health and weight loss journeys. Humans and dogs are omnivores and benefit from aerobic activities.
“For dogs and humans, the weight-loss equation is about 60% to 70% diet and 30% to 40% physical activity. For cats, a species with different physiology and metabolism, it's about 90% diet and only 10% exercise,” the animal health specialist said.
Visit your pets when they're sick and staying in the veterinary clinic overnight.
Obligatory not a vet disclaimer: when my cat was sick I'd visit him at the vet every day and bring an old towel so he would have something soft to cuddle that smelled like home.
After a few days the staff mentioned a lot of people don't do that. "The animals think they're being abandoned and they get depressed. They don't understand why they're here."
20 minutes of mama time lets them know they're still loved.
If you have a long haired pet BRUSH THEM. I'm so sick of shaving off giant one piece carpets of mats that have been building up for years. Also, clean their buttholes. They get caked in sh*t....and Fluffy probably sleeps on your pillow
And please keep your cats indoors. Get the some cat trees and set up the house to keep them happy. Feral and outdoor cats kill millions of song birds every year, they have wiped out the reptile and ground birds in areas where the outside population of cats is high. Don’t dump your pet. If you can no longer care for it, please find it a home or rescue organization
Don't love your pet with food. The amount of morbidly obese pets.. It really does shorten their life and their quality of life people.
And be a big enough person to let them go before they suffer. Don't drag the end out because you can't say goodbye
“The first step toward a healthier weight for your dog is to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. They will first determine your dog's Body Condition Score (BCS), establish target weight loss goals and ideal weight, and calculate the number of calories you should feed each day,” he said that some pets may need special diets. Others can get away with a reduction in their caloric intake.
“Your veterinarian will also make sure there isn't an underlying medical condition or disease causing the weight gain and that it's safe to begin an exercise program. In general terms, a dog (and their pet parent) needs about 30 minutes of aerobic activity each day,” he said.
Not a vet but volunteered in rescue for awhile. I haven’t seen any comments mentioning microchips yet.
Microchip your pets. Put tags on them. Keep your information updated. Even if you’re super careful and you’re sure they would never get out-microchip your pets.
This is essential. It doesn’t cost that much to get them microchipped either.
Read up on the food you buy for your pets, you might actually be spending more money for bad quality food.
Yeah. There's a lot a lot of conflicting information about what animals eat and some theories say they should eat what they eat in the wild, except that makes the assumption that animals are eating optimally in the wild, which is not likely. Your vet has spent at least 8 years becoming a vet, probably longer. Listen to their advice.
As someone who has to clean the throw up from animals who’ve eaten before going under anesthesia....
When the vet says don’t feed the animal, don’t feed the animal. Fluffy can go 12-24 hours without a meal.
Going for a walk is the best way to get your pet to exercise, according to Dr. Ward. That’s because it’s very quick, efficient, and easily accessible.
“I prefer it to most other exercises because that's what dogs were designed to do best and most naturally. Plus, it's free! When walking, be sure to use a walking harness and not a neck or choke collar to prevent injury to the trachea or windpipe region of the throat and neck,” he said.
Not let them get overweight. Get their nails trimmed regularly. - licensed vet tech
Not a vet, but my mom is.
If you think of getting a pet, think of finances too. Not just how much food, litter and some vaccinations are, but be sure that you're able to pay the vet bills if an emergency occurs or even for if your pet needs regular care due to something chronic, an injury that makes them need physiotherapy etc. We have way too many people struggling with their bills. Some put their needs back, some the animal's. Some of the stories are horrifying.
If something is off on how your pet behaves, if it suddenly doesn't let you touch certain parts of their body or anything else you can't put your finger on is happening, go to your vet. Don't wait too long. Many animals are extremely good at hiding severe pain and illness. If you notice anything off, go to the vet.
Yep. My last dog cost me $3k in vet bills in 3 years. I had to borrow every cent because I was only living on disability income..$730. a month. I ate a sickening amount of top ramen while my dog had the best food and care, it wasn’t easy and yes, I would do all again in a heartbeat. Those were hard but wonderful times. Now I get my pet fix by helping others. Free behavior trouble shooting and pet sitting, I WILL find a way to get my pet fix for the day
Removing a mass when it’s small is faster (less anaesthetic risk), less invasive, less painful, less expensive and has a better chance of curing cancer should the mass turn out to be cancerous. This is even more pressing on delicate areas like eyelids and feet where there may not be a lot of extra tissue to work with should a large lump need to be removed.
Cartrophen/pentosan/zydax injections are relatively cheap and can keep your pet comfortable by not only helping to prevent future arthritis but by helping to ease any that is already present.
Dental disease is serious! Pets will continue to eat even with their teeth forming abscesses. The infection can spread through their body, including to their heart. Removing rotten teeth is the kindest thing you can do for your pets as they age, especially if you haven’t been proactive in preventing periodontal disease. They can still eat even with full mouth extractions, and will be /so/ much happier! People often tell me how their pet seems younger again after their rotten teeth are extracted.
According to the expert, dogs can lose from 3 to 5 percent of their body mass each month, safely. However, this has to be a vet-supervised diet and exercise program. “Younger and more active dogs may lose a little more, depending on the amount of exercise the pet parent can provide. The most important thing to do is to monitor the weight each month. If your dog isn't losing the appropriate amount of weight in three months, you need to change the strategy,” he said.
“Weight loss is a dynamic and adaptive process, and dog parents must constantly evaluate what's working or not. The great news is that, unlike cats, most dogs can reach their target weight within six to nine months. Cats can only lose about a half-pound per month, meaning losing four pounds will take about eight months if all goes well.”
Not me but my wife is a vet tech, and a couple points she makes is:
Mind their diet. Overweight/obese pets are not cute or funny, they're at risk of disease and injury.
Spay and neuter (breeders suck) when your pets are relatively young (edit: when I say relatively, I mean RELATIVELY, not as young as humanly possible).
Keep up with vaccines.
Do not keep a pet with a high maintenance coat if you can't give it what it needs. Matted fur can be painful to groom out when it gets bad.
If you notice something odd, don't wait until it becomes a serious problem before consulting a vet.
Don't give them the same diet you eat. They are not humans and need diets that suit them.
Don't have them if you're not going to love and nurture them. They're supposed to be your friend, not a tool or ornament.
Stop smoking around your pet! (And just in general) Pets can and do get lung disease including cancer from second hand smoke. It's also terrible for their skin. A pet that lives with a smoker absolutely reeks. You know how walls and fabric in a smokers home turn yellow? So do pets....and it sits on their skin because they don't bathe daily like we do...and when they groom themselves they're licking all that nasty sh*t.
I’ve said this other places. But huskies should require a special license and training to own.
Border collies need ridiculous amounts of exercise. I'd almost say you shouldn't have one unless you have sheep
Cats are obligat carnivores. They need meat in their diet! If that's against your personal views than you should look for another pet.
Dogs are omnivores. Their gut system evolved over the millenias they spend with humans so they are actually evolved to eat vegetables and meat. If you only feed them raw muscle meat they will lack important nutritients. There are actually specialised vets who can help you to develop a healthy diet for the individual animal.
I am a veterinarian. I'd like to see people focus not just on quantity but quality of their pet's life. The best thing you can do for that is just incorporate them into your life as much as possible. Pay attention to them! Love them! Lots of walks! Lots of games! You'd be surprised what they can learn. Play hide and go seek. Play fetch. Sit beside them when you watch TV, pet them. Train and socialize them early and well so you won't avoid them because they're not well behaved.
We're all so busy, it's so easy to make them an afterthought. You are their whole world and unless you live on a big farm where they run free, you are their only outlet for activity and happiness. They get bored fast, just like we do. They can't wait for you to get home. They've missed you! Take them for a walk. Do a fun training or agility class with them if you'd like.
For health, the biggest things are 1. Exercise, 2. Pay attention to what can be dangerous/toxic for them and avoid it (heads stuck in potato chip bags is one people miss lately, and keep your drugs out of their reach! They're small and more easily affected), 3. Brush their teeth.
Enjoy your pets! They love you!
In my experience owners need to take into consideration the individual quirks of a pets personality, then traits of the breed, then species. I hear too many owners proclaim breed traits without embracing their pets individual personalities. IE: corgis hate water, except my friends one corgi, which has blown her away by breaking with breed standards and traditions by loving to swim. She had owned corgis her entire life of 40 plus years and has never met a water loving corgi until recently. Embrace your pets quirks
Vets don't "over vaccinate" to make money. Vaccines don't make a lot of money compared to dogs hospitalized with distemper or parvo and cats with upper resp on long term meds. (Edited: some vets do. The ones I work with don't. We do our core vaccines every 3 years and others based on the pets lifestyle)
Stop feeding bullsh*t diets because they have good marketing. Raw food, grain free, any sort of other boutique brand that doesn’t own their own food mixers, and isn’t AAFCO tested, is not a good diet.
For small pets, stop shoving them in tiny cages and then forgetting about them!! Most pet store cages are incredibly tiny compared to the bare minimum the specific animals need. Do your homework and make sure you are getting something large enough. And for pets that you can, LET THEM OUT! Guinea pigs, rabbits, some birds, they want to be let out and love the extra space. Just do it safely. Again do your homework to make sure you create a safe space for your pet to play.
Don't give your pets human meds without vet recommendation. Why, just this week I've got at least 3 separate cases of acetaminophen poisoning.
🤨 The metabolism of a pet is not equal to that of humans. If they require meds, go to a vet.
Please only get animals from trustworthy sources and get a buying contract as well as the vaccination document. If they sell the animal very cheap or in a shady parking lot you should not buy the animal. They try to get you with the emotions of a suffering puppy but buying it enables them to keep their shady buisness going, as sad as it is.
It is a lot cheaper and easier to prevent diseases than treat them. Get your pet vaccinated, put it on heartworm prevention, and make sure you’re feeding a food with grain.
Stop googling. You can literally find something to back up every single theory or opinion on the internet. That doesn't make them right.
So, research is bad? Fascinating idea! How about suggesting reputable sites instead of discarding the entire concept of learning?
One of the best things for a dog is sniffing! You can crumple up paper and hide treats in the pieces and scatter them about, toss treats into long grass, or just let your dog really take the time to explore a new area! Anything that gets that nose going is a good place to start.
This is true. Dogs who use their other senses first can be a sign of insecurity or fear aggression. Most dogs (except sight hounds like greyhounds) have poor vision, they rely on their nose for most of their initial information. Search and rescue dogs track people by first smelling disturbances in the environment, broken twigs and gras, then they use the lost persons sent. I know a woman who retrains Pitt bulls who were seized from fighting rings, she requires them completely, loves the breed because they rarely give up and have great focus. Taking the negative attributes and making them positive
Don't do anesthesia-free dental cleanings on your pet. They're stressful, dangerous and useless.
Anesthesia can be very risky to pets. However being pinned down in stressful environment with the chance of severe pain can also be very traumatic to the pet.
If you live in an area where heartworm is prevalent, prevention is MUCH cheaper and safer than treatment.
Rabbits are so much happier with companions (although typically not a guinea pigs). Look up the rabbit welfare association for great ways of enriching their lives, and how to introduce new companions.
I'm not a Vet but a Vet nurse and Technician
Please if you have cats invest in their environment enrichment. Play some cat videos for them when you're not using the tv, invest in good toys and water fountains, buy some cat grass, and remember, two cat litter boxes per cat
Regular checkups and take care of their diet. Preventive medicine is the most effective one!
I always get cool toys but my cat is always more interested in the box haha
Dental care.
Horses, dogs, cats all need so much more dental preventative care. Most dental disease is preventable. So a focus on oral Health has definite rewards.
90% of dogs have dental disease by 3years in some studies, on study found dental disease in 50% of 6month old puppies who were going to be less than 5kg adult weight.
Cats get one of the most painful oral conditions -feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions. And most owners will not know their cat is even suffering.
Horses teeth continue to growth throughout life and wear unevenly causing pain and nutrition problems.
Always dry your pets hair, and ears especially if they like to play with waters. It helps minimize chance of getting skin and ears problem related to yeast. Oh and if possible do not forget to periodically remove the hair in your pets ear hole. Most of the time they may trap water and causing your pet ears to get itchy. Ask your groomer if they can remove the hair inside safely.
Good stuff right here. And as previously mentioned, please get your critters use to front paw touching and holding, ear and teeth exams, teeth brushing. Nobody likes to see an animal in such destress that it starts to bite. Nobody wants to go home in band-aid. Sniff your dogs ears and breath periodically, especially ears of dogs with long floppy ears like Cocker Spaniels
Emergency vet here!! Please pay attention to your pet in the quiet moments of life. Simple things like an elevated respiratory rate while sleeping can indicate cardiac or respiratory changes that should warrant investigation. If your dog normally wolfs down food and then one day just kinda slowly picks at it, something may be wrong. Teeth chattering can indicate pain. All these little things add up. Owners will beat themselves up when things have gone too far and there’s not much to be done, but they didn’t know to look. Look up the the cat grimace scale or Colorado pain scales to get a good feel for painful body language.
Pet obesity is a terrible and unfortunately common thing.
Look at the pet nutrition alliance if you want to see what companies are willing to share information about their ingredients.
And for the love of Christ, I cannot look at your animal and figure out what’s wrong so please please please let me run diagnostics. I have a debt to income ratio of 4:1, I am not asking to run a blood smear just to make money.
Not a vet, I raise Seeing Eye Dogs and have been around animals my entire life.
For the love of whatever deity you believe in, research your pet.
On this note, unless you can provide the right exercise, do not get a working breed dog. Kelpies, Cattle Dogs, Sheep Dogs, Huskies, hunting breeds, herding breeds, they are made to run all day not live in your backyard.
'Chonky' animals are not cute. Unless there is an underlying medical condition like their thyroid, you are entirely responsible for their diet and exercise, intentionally letting your pet get fat is abuse.
I'll get all the hate for this one.
Cats do not belong outside unless they are leash trained or are confined in a catio or fully secure yard. They are invasive, they kill animals you don't see, they pick up diseases, they fight, they have unwanted litters, at risk of cars, people, predators. The best thing you can do to keep your cat healthy and safe is to provide it a stimulating environment where it is contained.
Vet Tech here. GF is a veterinarian.
Believe vets when they say your animal is in pain. Just because YOU can't assess pain, doesn't mean your pet isn't in pain.
Also, keep your cats in a carrier when you come...but as a kitten, keep the carrier out, with toys and under a towel. Make it a comfortable place for them. Their safe spot. My cats run into their carriers if they get spooked. This is so you can transport your cat to the vet without having it be extra traumatic.
Also...don't hesitate to take and use the anti-anxiety medications we administer. We aren't "drugging" your pet. We are medicating them for anxiety disorders and fear.
Also...keep your pet on Flea and Tick and Heartworm prevention year round. They're microscopic. Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there.
Also...trust us with your pets diet. A lot of vets are tired of the debate. Stick to premium brands. Stay away from the boutique brands plaguing the country. Just because it says "Organic" or "Holistic" doesn't mean sh*t in pet food. I could crumble up dirt and put it in a bag and say it is "Holistic" and get you to pay for it for $100 for 8lbs, and give your pet severe diarrhea. "Grain-Free" is linked to heart disease. We never recommended it. Marketing scams work. And people ignore us. Stick to Premium Brands that have been around forever and are backed by Science. We don't get paid by Big Kibble. We just see pets live perfectly healthy lives on these diets and they have perfectly fine and nutritious components, but a lot of problems with all the other brands.
This could go on and on.
I was told by my vet that a lot of premium brands were not good for dog. For example Pedigree Chum a dog food here in Ireland and the UK is full of sugars that are bad for a dog. We gave to our last dog who contracted diabetes and died form the disease. We then got Shilo, another Border Collie. We never gave him Pedigree Chum but tried him on a really expensive premium dog food that we got from the vets but that just made him physically sick. Another premium brand we tried he wouldn't eat because he hated it. So one day out of options we got him some dog food that was an own brand make from the supermarket Lidl . He absolutely loved it and because it was sugar free he could eat it. He has been on it most of his life and he loves it. He is 7½ years old now and he's just like a puppy. Full of energy, always wanting to play and be active. He's extremely healthy, our vet is really happy with him, and he has the most beautiful coat that is so soft and shiny that people have often asked if I put some sort of oils on his coat or in his food which I don't. The premium food I bought him was €14 for an 8 kg bag. The food I buy him now is €2.65 for an 8 kg bag. But it's not about the price it's about what's right for Shilo and that just happens to be a shop's own make of dog food proving that you don't have to pay a premium price for a premium dog food.
When you get a new pet, make a list of things they love to do so when the time comes for humane euthanasia, you have an objective way to assess quality of life. You will never feel ready to euthanize, but it’s important to note that pets do not understand that the interventions we trying are an attempt to make them feel better. They just know their current state, which is often suffering. If I recommend euthanasia, it is because it is needed.
There are some vets who will come to your home if your pet has to be euthanized. I would pay to have that done so my sweet boy is comfortable at home and in his comfy bed if it came down to that.
Get your old babies checked out, cats and dogs. They get sore joints like old folks do to, if you notice your cat doesn't jump anymore or drags the self up the bed, maybe their joints are sore - go see a vet and see if they need long term pain relief. If you old lab is slow to rise and fast to lay down, go the the vet, they might be able to go on long term pain relief. The amount of old animals I've seen turn into 'a puppy again!' is amazing. Pain relief folks! Also dentals, damn son cats have teeth too, get them checked at the vet and see if they need a dental. Just basically go to the vet and get your animals checked out. You don't win a prize when you come in with an old skinny, chronically painful dog saying 'this is his first ever vet visit!'.
One of our former cats started to develop severe arthritis. We started giving meds daily for pain and inflammation. Worked as a charm as the old lad of 17 yrs old lived on for another 4 years in total happiness.
Training! More animals can be trained than you think, such as rabbits and birds. It's a great bonding experience and good enrichment especially for more intelligent species eg. Parrots. Birds can use their training to make vet visits less stressful, such as if they are used to stepping onto strange perches or being in a towel.
Birds also benefit from lots of enrichment, parrot species need a lot more mental stimulation than many people expect (even budgies!) and there's loads of great online resources for enrichment tips!
It really bothers me that we are still keeping exotic birds as pets and in cages. Birds are flock animals who occupy the sky. They do not belong alone in a cage, or a room, or a house. Parrots are long lived and particularly intelligent. Keeping them as a pet is just unthinkable to me. That's 50 years of imprisonment and isolation for them. Please do not keep exotic birds (or any birds, or any exotic animals) as pets. Please.
Consult with a vet if you are trying to make your animals food. They need nutrients minerals vitamins not just fat, carbs, and protein like other living things and can't just live off of 3 pounds of raw chicken
PS: while a raw diet can be ok if formulated by a nutritionist but it's rarely necessary
Vitamins are cool and useful but please do consult with your vet first especially with the dosage given.
No, your vet doesn't have some secret deal with pet food companies, occasionally they provide a pizza lunch in exchange for droning on about their newest product. The prescription diets are actually scientifically proven to be good for your pet.
Pure breed stocks are more apt to genetic related disease. If you want to have a pet please consider related medical condition attached to their breeds. No hate for mongrel breed pls.
Make sure your cats are drinking water and if they’re not try getting them a water fountain, feeding them wet food, or even mixing a bit of water into their food. Cats, especially males, can be extremely susceptible to kidney problems due to the fact that they don’t really have the same drive for thirst that dogs and humans do.
My cat loved a water fountain. I had a decorative tabletop fountain and she started drinking out of it and I couldn't get her to stop. I got her her own pet safe fountain. And my mom's cat loved to drink from the faucet.
Please schedule dental cleaning once in a while. Rotten teeth are no joke.
I’m not a vet but learned from cardiologist veterinarian that is advisable to ask for vet to take the blood pressure of your cat starting at age 7 and to do SDMA test to rule out kidney failure. No vet ever did this with my cat (he’s 16 now) lost his vision suddenly we took him to the ophthalmologist and he suspected kidney failure sent me to cardiologist for high BP and he’s on medication and special food now. He’s doing great too thankfully.
Worming your dog/cat is important. You could also get fecal samples examined instead and get your pet treated if necessary. Some parasites can infect humans and can develop nasty diseases. Also indoor cats can get parasites as well!
Yup, Raccoon roundworm can be deadly to you and your pets. Please teach your pet not to put things in its mouth that are not toys. Plants, mushrooms, racquet balls, human prescription pills, unrisen bread dough, kitchen knives, fish hooks, socks etc, these have all killed pets.
Figure out where your pet likes to be pet and do it for them! It's like little massages. My parents dog has arthritis and he always is more comfortable when someone gives his back leg joints a massage. It helps them from being so restless when they'd rather be laying down or sleeping.
Most dogs do not do well left alone all the time. I have met people who seem to think the circle their dog runs every day is cute, it isn’t, your dog is born to be with others, not alone with minimal contact. I have highlight that I have friends from another country and culture. They treat their dog like patio furniture, their dog is literally insane due to lack of contact, it’s left outside 24/7/365 and only gets contact when fed, they only clean the yard once a week, no other contact. It’s heartbreaking. Also your dog jumping on people or being off leash anywhere is not funny or cool, leash your dog for it’s safety as well as others, teach your dog good manners.
Qualified Equine Vet Nurse
However my advice is as a dog/car owner.
We just put to sleep our 16 year old doggie. It was awful, but we got the vet to come to our home, made such a difference.
Don’t praise your pet for bad behaviour. The amount of dogs I’ve seen called “schnookims” for being a piece of sh*t because their owner is a piece of sh*t and never trained them properly is beyond frustrating. It’s okay not to have all the answers, but don’t give them the goods when their acting up.
True, never praise your pet for bad behaviour. Praise them for good behaviour.
Not a vet but I take care of many pets as a side gig. The biggest thing you NEED to give (but most people don't) to your pet is exercise. Much like humans, modern pets are at risk of being overweight which leads to other health issues. So get them moving. Walk your dog...or your cat if they have the right temperment. Play fetch with them. Get them to chase something. Keep them active and they will be happy and healthy.
In connection with that, get a pet with the same activity requirement as you already conduct. Don't get a German shepherd if you live a mostly sedentary life as their anxiety they get from a lack of activity will cause both you and them no end of grief. Also, don't expect the simple fact that you have a dog to give you and excuse to increase your activity amount.
If your exotic pet - rabbits, birds, reptiles, etc. is looking sick, take them to a vet ASAP. Lots of them are very good at hiding their symptoms, so if they are looking visibly unwell, it could be a lot worse than it seems.
Medical care is expensive, make sure you can afford it for your pet! Inform yourself beforehand of there is a suitable pet insurance and if they cover your breed. If that's not an option, try and save some money each month for emergencies.
If you have a special kind of animal (e.g fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds or exotic mammals) search for a specialiced vet for that group of animals before there is an emergency.
Former vet tech here. If you aren’t willing to pay for monthly medications in the event your new pet were to develop a condition or allergy…don’t get a pet. YOUR DOGS CAN HAVE ALLERGIES JUST LIKE YOU. The saddest thing was seeing dogs come in with sores from scratching/gnawing or covered in hot spots. Once saw such an itchy golden retriever she had sores head to toe even on the inside of her ears. Owners let her itch fervently for months before bringing her in. Yes, apoquel for allergy relief can start to add up but your dogs quality of life is worth more than $50 a month. Imagine being itchy 24/7 bc you have a grass allergy but you spend half your day in grass. Makes me angry to think about.
My cat has reactions to fish, so we stopped feeding her fish-based food! We noticed she was always really itchy and she would scratch one spot, so we took her to the vet and made the appropriate changes to her diet :)
I am a veterinarian and I say engage in preventative medicine! We are good at treating your pet’s problems but honestly a lot of owners don’t seem to keep up with their pet’s general health. We have so many pets come in for dental issues, ear infections, flea and tick bites, being overweight, etc. How do you prevent that? Do daily dental chews or sticks approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) and do regular brushing, clean your pet’s ears at least weekly, put your pet’s on monthly prevention and STOP OVERFEEDING YOUR PETS! People tend to think their pets are overweight because they don’t get enough exercise, but honestly it’s easier to lose weight by not eating those calories. The chances for developing osteoarthritis and diabetes are higher when pets are overweight, and I bet the last thing you want to do is give insulin shots to your loved one for the rest of their life.
Also, pay attention to your pet! Little changes can mean big things. Your pet is drinking and urinating more? Maybe it’s diabetic or has some type of endocrine or kidney problem. Is your cat vomiting and having consistent diarrhea? Could be IBD, hyperthyroidism or something else. So whenever you go to your vet, get diagnostics done!! You have no idea how many people expect me to know what’s wrong while declining basic tests like bloodwork and x-rays. Honesty, it’s infuriating sometimes because I can’t help you unless you let me do what I need to do to diagnose your pet.
As an owner you are the advocate for your pet’s health, but I feel a lot of people don’t pay attention to their pet until it’s too late. Honestly, it’s a bit depressing… the veterinary world is slammed right now with cases and being overworked so every little bit you can do to help your pets helps us out too.
Spaying your rabbits/rodents at a young age (ask around your local vets for who has experience or look on the rabbit welfare association's rabbit friendly vet list) can help prevent a number of future health issues such as mammary tumours, uterine cancers, and pyometras.
Not a vet but work with lots of animals especially horses, so I interact with a number of vets and we ask this question all the time. Here’s a Life Pro tip for animal owners:
Measure your animal food by weight not volume. This one grinds my equine vet all the time when he gets asked about food amount. They get all the time: “well I had doggy Foofoo on three cups of whatever and I just switched feed, how many cups should I give them?” Every feed is going to weigh differently in that cup. Use weight.
Yes dogs are carnivores but they also require some roughage of sort. Stop this carnivore fad cr*p. Likewise, stop the only soy fad cr*p. Wolves eat an entire carcass especially the stomach contents.
Tech here. 1) Get insurance ASAP before you start discovering all the lovely pre-existing conditions your pet will have. If you can’t afford $20/mo pet insurance you sure as hell can’t afford a pet. 2) As soon as you notice your pet is acting different (vomiting/diarrhea/hiding/lethargy/inappetence) make an appointment, don’t wait a week and then bitch me out over the phone because my clinic is booked for the next 2 weeks. 3) Joint supplements for both cats and dogs. The earlier you start the better- preserve what joint cartilage/cushioning your pet has before it’s degraded. Dasuquin is great for oral supplements and Adequan is a great injectable 4) Annual exams for adult pets and semi annual exams for senior pets- do the bloodwork, do the vaccines, do the preventatives. It’s way easier to treat something if we can catch it early (example - kidney disease in cats)
Rather than pet insurance (which doesn’t cover all illnesses/problems anyway) put some money in a separate bank account each month to cover vets fees. Start when your pet is young and healthy because at some point, maybe years down the line, you will need it.
Exactly. Put the $20 you were gonna spend in a savings account and earn some interest on it. It won't be much but it's much better than buying into what I'm sure will be another messed up new norm that will cost us a ton for no good reason.
Load More Replies... We have insurance for my cat, she is um, well, a little bit dumb and tends to get herself into some tricky situations (ahem ate a whole tomato plant once) and luckily she was fine after we took her to the vet! We also found out that she had a heart condition, and insurance made getting her meds a lot easier
We never considered pet insurance until my uncle's dog got hit by a car. She was fine but the vet bills were huge, Thankfully he had pet insurance which covered her vet bills. So we decided it was a good idea to get vet bills for our last do, Samba. It was the best thing we ever did for him. When he developed diabetes the insurance paid 95% of all medication and vet's costs. We wouldn't have been able to afford it otherwise.
so in the countries where there is no such insurance no one should have any pets? How very us-centric of you
Don't tell my cats I'm neglecting them by having actual cash in a bank account instead of scammy insurance that may or may not cover their treatment. They think they're spoiled!
Load More Replies...If your dog is limping, it is painful. Trust me.
Unless they're faking it. My daddy dog will pretend his paw is hurt and start limping when there's slush on the ground. When we turn around and say "okay then, let's go home" miraculously the limp goes away and the tail starts wagging.... Just know your dog.
If your vet recommends a muzzle or e-collar be used during the vet visit to prevent bites, we are not trying to upset you or torture your animal. If your animal bites us OR YOU, we will have to quarantine your pet for 10 days AT THE VET CLINIC. We will likely recommend a sedative for future visits so that, hopefully, a muzzle won’t be needed in the future.
I'm a registered veterinary technician (like a RN) 1. Stop saying we are in it for the money. WE AREN'T. we have to learn 5-10+ species to make HALF what human medical workers make. We are there for our patients. 2. Stop googling. Literally anyone can put anything on the internet. Vets didn't dedicate their lives and spend years in school for you to question them based off a Karen blogging their uneducated opinion. 3. We cannot give you a diagnosis without DIAGNOSTICS. IT COST MONEY. 4. Don't euthanize healthy pets because of your self diagnosed behavior issues without professional help. Release them to a shelter if you aren't willing to work through it. 5. Don't keep an animal alive who won't eat, drink, can't control their bowels, and won't take medicine just because you aren't ready. We were gifted the medical option to humanely euthanize an animal so they do not have to suffer. 6. Your pets do better for blood draws and further diagnostics WITHOUT YOU. Stop anthropomorphizing your pets. 7. Be kind. We see everything. We feel everything. You think you love your pets? We do too. Be kind to us. Covid has kicked our a*s. We might have just walked away from a euthanasia of one of our long time favorite patients. 8. Enough with the grain free or raw diets. You're killing your pets. 9. FINISH THE ANTIBIOTICS 10. GIVE THE PAIN MEDICATION. animals are stoic and can't tell you. Give them the meds, let them sleep, stop helicopter owning. 11. Being a dog or cat mom does not make you a parent. The day I can lock my child in a cage for 12 hours and feed them the exact same food every day, we'll talk. Bottom line, because I could keep going. Stop being a jerk. We work our butts off just for your pets. Most veterinary professionals in the US do not have health care, pto, lunch breaks, or retirement. We're doing our best for your pets. Trust us and let us do our jobs.
I think Pandas are people who really love their animals, but hopefully we can all learn something from this professional advice.
As we are aware, love for a pet or even a human can result in some pretty unwise actions, so yes, let's learn what's best for who and what we love.
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all good advice. i particularly adhere to the early handling of pets. i have the scars on my arms to prove that it is important to get them used to handling as a youngster in order to have calm babies when they are older & 80-100lbs. i love big dogs; always have had them. so control is important to start at early age. yes, they will scratch, nip, etc. but they will learn it is not acceptable & you DO NOT have to smack, hit, scream to get them to learn. calm and firmness is the key. also, food quality not quantity or price is important.
Genuine question if anyone can answer please. Why do they say cats especially, should be spade early? I know about it but not sure why? Surely we wouldn't have cats if we all did this(mine is neutered btw) . Is it a health reason or to stop us having them as pets ?
Also, getting a boy cat neutered before they're sexually mature can prevent them from developing bad habits, like wandering off and marking (peeing on things). To a lesser extent, the same is true for girl cats, too. Wandering cats are the ones who get hit by cars. Altered cats tend to stay closer to home.
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Walk your dog on a leash. I see so many people letting their dogs wander while walking, going up to children and other dogs. This is a recipe for lawsuit and injury. It doesn't matter if you have the absolute best dog in the world, you cannot predict what other dogs/animals will do. Don't take the risk. And in a lot of places, there are leash laws.
I'm guilty of that but you are right. In my state there are leash laws. Even out in the county. But hey, I can change.
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I said this in another comment but since the covid even though I live in a big city I can't find a single vet. Either they're not taking new patients or they don't have any vets in their office. The last time my dog was sick and not eating for a few days I could not find a vet anywhere. He still hasn't had his rabies shot for 2 years now. And I'm living in constant fear of what's going to happen if something worse happens.
I would love to get a mid-sized dog but I am retiring soon and will be living in a truck camper. I would like to get a dog I could take on my motorcycle and kayak with me. The problem would be what to do when I am scuba diving or in some venue where they don't allow dogs. A truck camper is just too small to leave them alone in for a day at a time.
The only thing that comes to mind is boarding your pet while you're gone. If you have to and if you do it often enough, they'll get conditioned to it and won't have the level of anxiety that you might think. Just pick a good one. I've seen a few dogs on motorcycles. All garbed out too, sunglasses, vest, helmet.
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Get your pets fixed!!!! It prevents cancer and health problems like abcessed uterus.
I think Pandas are people who really love their animals, but hopefully we can all learn something from this professional advice.
As we are aware, love for a pet or even a human can result in some pretty unwise actions, so yes, let's learn what's best for who and what we love.
Load More Replies... all good advice. i particularly adhere to the early handling of pets. i have the scars on my arms to prove that it is important to get them used to handling as a youngster in order to have calm babies when they are older & 80-100lbs. i love big dogs; always have had them. so control is important to start at early age. yes, they will scratch, nip, etc. but they will learn it is not acceptable & you DO NOT have to smack, hit, scream to get them to learn. calm and firmness is the key. also, food quality not quantity or price is important.
Genuine question if anyone can answer please. Why do they say cats especially, should be spade early? I know about it but not sure why? Surely we wouldn't have cats if we all did this(mine is neutered btw) . Is it a health reason or to stop us having them as pets ?
Also, getting a boy cat neutered before they're sexually mature can prevent them from developing bad habits, like wandering off and marking (peeing on things). To a lesser extent, the same is true for girl cats, too. Wandering cats are the ones who get hit by cars. Altered cats tend to stay closer to home.
Load More Replies... Walk your dog on a leash. I see so many people letting their dogs wander while walking, going up to children and other dogs. This is a recipe for lawsuit and injury. It doesn't matter if you have the absolute best dog in the world, you cannot predict what other dogs/animals will do. Don't take the risk. And in a lot of places, there are leash laws.
I'm guilty of that but you are right. In my state there are leash laws. Even out in the county. But hey, I can change.
Load More Replies... I said this in another comment but since the covid even though I live in a big city I can't find a single vet. Either they're not taking new patients or they don't have any vets in their office. The last time my dog was sick and not eating for a few days I could not find a vet anywhere. He still hasn't had his rabies shot for 2 years now. And I'm living in constant fear of what's going to happen if something worse happens.
I would love to get a mid-sized dog but I am retiring soon and will be living in a truck camper. I would like to get a dog I could take on my motorcycle and kayak with me. The problem would be what to do when I am scuba diving or in some venue where they don't allow dogs. A truck camper is just too small to leave them alone in for a day at a time.
The only thing that comes to mind is boarding your pet while you're gone. If you have to and if you do it often enough, they'll get conditioned to it and won't have the level of anxiety that you might think. Just pick a good one. I've seen a few dogs on motorcycles. All garbed out too, sunglasses, vest, helmet.
Load More Replies... Get your pets fixed!!!! It prevents cancer and health problems like abcessed uterus.
