Bringing a dog, cat, or some other animal into your home is one of the biggest joys we can imagine. But it's also a huge responsibility. After all, we commit to caring for another life. So we need to do our homework and understand what to expect and how to react to different circumstances that arise along the way.
However, one can't possibly know everything. That's why we at Bored Panda decided to feature a Reddit discussion, started by user Feeling2Leafy where veterinarians using the platform have been sharing tips they think pet owners need to be aware of the most. From exercise to diet, continue scrolling to see what they have listed so far!
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Vegans feeding their carnivore pets no meat based diets. If you do this, you're a c**t.
Especially for cats. Dogs can eat some vegetables in their diet but cats eat strictly meat.
I would like to add knowing what the breed is for before you buy it.
Of course your dog is bringing you dead rats, he's a Terrier.
Your husky needs to run a lot, don't keep it on a chain.
A German Shepherd being over protective? Go figure.
Of course the Australian Kelpie won't eat lamb, it's a sheep herding dog. You want her to herd the sheep not eat the sheep. If sheep are tasty then you're going to have a lousy sheep dog.
Your St Bernard doesn't want to come in from the cold. He buried himself in the snow.
This is his favourite weather and "You can't catch me" is the name of the game
So many people choose pets based on their preferred aesthetic. Without realising their preferred breed comes with a lot of responsibilities to ensure their pet has a happy life.
Also, some breeds have huge health issues, e.g. Frenchies that can't breathe properly, miniature Chihuahuas with deformed teeth, giant dogs with hip dysplasia, double merle health issues... maybe don't place aesthetics above health and condemn animals to lifelong suffering because it's "cute".
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Your greyhound is unlikely to fetch for you - that's what humans are for.
... although unpopular an opinion - some breeds should not be bred anymore. I don't mean that any harm towards them were justified - by no means, cruelty towards animals is NEVER justified - but a, say, Pitbull doesn't have this name because of not being bred to succeed in the pit, but exactly for said reason. This doesn't mean they're all vicious beasts, uncontrollable and dangerous. No, they aren't, but genetics do have an impact into behaviour just as well as upbringing and training, and breeding to win literal dog fights ... won't lead to your sweet puppy enrolling in a toddler's bed to luckily serve as heated pillow. Treat any animal you encounter with respect and care, but ... I'm even against breeding any cats or dogs at all, as there are already more cats and dogs alive than cats and dogs living in a loving home, and as long as that is ... breeding is only adding to the suffering.
Pity you never met any of the dogs rescued from Michael Vick's fighting ring. They were bred for and succeeded in fighting for that c**t, and the majority of whom were adopted into normal families. Many of them went on to become Canine Good Citizens, READ dogs, and therapy dogs. Many of them were adopted into homes with dogs they had lived with (and possibly fought) at Vick's kennel and in his pits, or homes that already had resident dogs. Several of them lived with infants and toddlers. Breed plays a role in behavior, absolutely, but it is never guaranteed. Nature determines how far nurture will get you; PROPER training and socialization makes all the difference. I had the pleasure of working with some of those dogs, and they changed not just my life, but the lives of thousands of people, as well as how fight ring dogs were treated from then onward. Their rescue was even responsible for dozens of cities, counties, and states lifting outdated, harmful breed bans. They were kind souls
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I've also heard several times that mixed breeds may have the characteristics of the breed they're similar to. For example, does your dog have long ears? They'll probably love sniffing around and might get lost following their nose
Yes my sweet dachshund with very cute long ears does get lost following his nose every time we go outside.
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absolutely! i went to the extent of getting the one rescue mixed breed's dna done because i was having issues with her behavior. results allowed me to understand her better.
That's so cool! What issues were you having with her? And what were the DNA results? I love hearing about rescue mutts interesting DNA results. I only have cats of the inherently mutty European shorthair variety so unfortunately a DNA test would tell me nearly nothing about them. I would love to do one for myself also but they're so expensive :'(
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This should be common knowledge and practice. We will probably never get a dog because my husband is allergic, but still I googled which breeds would be good for a family with children.
My brother got an Australian Shepherd and kept it kenneled all the time. After a while, I think, it literally lost its mind and couldn't be handled at all. I always felt so sorry for that poor dog. (My bro and I are very LC now, not just because of that).
So many people but husky puppies here in UAE. And when they grow - abandon them in the desert. Breaks my heart. Dog shelters are full with them.
That's...not true. First of all the pack leader theory has been debunked several times. Secondly, no amount of training will ever completely remove breed characteristics.
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A wolf is not a dog. It's part of the canine family but is a different subset from dogs.
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Please give your unwanted pets up for adoption, or at least put a little effort into giving your pets a future home. Summer is season for abandoning pets in the wild, even though many wont survive in nature, let alone the cold climate in some countries.
You have responsibilities ffs... Just because the poor pet suddenly doesn't fit into your lives, it doesn't mean it has to suffer.
House pets will not survive in the wild, you are condemning your pet to a long, frightening and undeserved death. To your pet you are their whole world and betraying their love and trust in this way is monstrous and sheer evil.
This might not be the most ignored, but it’s the one that if ignored cause the most suffering.
Deciding the time to put your pet to sleep. Some people tell us that “they aren’t ready”, which is sad, and I know it’s going to be the hardest choice you’ll ever need to make regarding your little one.
But the hard truth is, it’s not about you.
If your pet is crying all night, not eating without you force feeding one bit at a time, and can’t even walk on it’s own, it’s time. Most of the time our animals tell us when they’re ready, and they trust that you’ll do what’s best for them.
We have an amazing opportunity with animals, which is to let them go when their quality of life just isn’t there anymore, and selfish owners that refuse just because they “can’t handle it yet” is half the reason why working in the industry will not be long term for me.
My animals have always let me know when they’re ready. I see the look. It says “I’m tired, Mom.”
Burned paw pads during summer walks. Please, please, if you live in a country where summers are hot, make sure that you walk in the morning or evening with your dog. And ALWAYS check if the asphalt road is too hot to walk.
Put your hand on the road to check. If it is uncomfortable for your hand to be placed on, it'll be uncomfortable for your dog as well.
Not a vet but a very enthusiastic cat person.
DECLAWING HURTS THEM
It takes out their top finger bone and puts the poor kitty in pain for the rest of their lives. Trim their claws if they're too sharp, do not declaw them.
This! I don't understand, why declawing is allowed in the US (anywhere else too?)
I believe that the finest thing you can do for your new pet, particularly a puppy or kitten, is to handle it frequently when it is young. Getting them used to having their feet handled, nails trimmed, mouths opened (even more benefit if you get them used to brushing their teeth daily - gold standard for at-home dental care), ears touched (especially breeds prone to ear infections - huge benefit in the future if you have to administer topical ear medication)... Restraint is also crucial. I constantly advise my clients to train their animals to be restrained. Because it hasn't learned to be okay with restraint, that wriggly puppy that is cute when it nips when you hold it grows up to be a massive dog that can't be properly examined.
This is great if you get a puppy or kitten. My cats are rescues so not so easy to do
Exercise. Like 90% of the behavior problems I see are because your two 20 minute walks a day are not enough for your large breed canine athlete in the house.
This applies to other pets, too. Rodents in particular, they need space and exercise but often live in small stupid cages where they just can't move as they would in nature.
Preventive care. (Vaccines, deoworming, wellness exams, laboratories, x rays and dental cleanings etc.)
Not a vet, but I kind of know a bit about animals. People who own goldfish usually think “A goldfish should get a small bowl” are wrong, especially when they get sad that it dies in 2-3 weeks. Actually, they can live for 30 years if given a 20 gallon tank, and with right health conditions.
Goldfish bowls and rabbit hutches are two of the things I hate most about pet shops.
A lot of people don't seem to realize that parrots (and fish) can potentially life for decades. They're just like "oh I want the funny talking bird" and don't realize that they will be living with a talking animal for 65 years.
I mean my last zebra finch just died, obviously finches aren't parrots, and he was at least 11 and a half. Birds can live way longer than a lot of people expect
Having a parrot as a pet is like having a toddler that can fly and use pliers and doesn't wear diapers, and having said toddler for decades.
Brachycephalic health issues. A lot of owners of Pugs, Pekingese, Boston Terriers, Bulldogs and other short headed dogs are always so surprised when the summer heat appears and they end up at the vets with overheated, nearly suffocating dogs.
No, dogs aren't supposed to sound like they're choking on their every breath. And no, it's definitely not normal that your pup can't walk half a block without fainting.
These races of dogs shouldn't really exist. Due to some weird "beuaty ideals" that we find "cute", we have bread a creature with a serverly dysfunctional body type. British bulldogs are not that keen on being walked, and the reason for that is that their noses/snouts are not fit for letting a lot of air through, and therefore they get out of breath rahter quickly at even moderate level of exercise. The prime function of breeding certain traits should really be about gettting a well functioning dog, rather than it being about looks.
Please please please plan ahead financially. You may be getting a $20 bunny, a tiny gecko or a 2k fancy cat but that’s not where the finances end! Get your pet insured - you’ll find yourself in an emergency situation where your pet will need a 1k surgery and hospital stay (maybe they swallowed a sock, maybe they have a pyometra, maybe their teeth need pulling), but please have that money available.
It’s devastating to see clients desperation when we do a bill estimate… unfortunately medicine is expensive, our schooling is very expensive and with surgical intervention it’s not just the surgery itself - it’s the induction, the drugs, the space in the clinic, the vet that has studied and practiced for hours to do the surgery, the nurses that stay and care for your pet before during and after surgery!
Don’t just mindlessly adopt animals when you cannot give them the care that they deserve.
In Australia pet insurance has a cut off period and unfortunately it’s when your pet is older and needs more veterinary care. It may have changed since I last looked at it but I thought it unfair at the time
Husbandry advice, but dietary advice in general.
I see a lot of animals being fed inappropriate diets, which owners will refuse to stop feeding because "the animal likes it."
The overweight cats... It's the human's fault, always. "Give the cat less food." "But it says it's hungry :(" No it doesn't Brenda, it says it _wants_ food."
Pet Hoarding. These animals suffer abuse due to mental disorder of owners
I agree. Every time I watch Hoarders there's always some lady with 20 dead cats that have been crushed in the house. (Or in the fridge. I'll never forget that episode. Lady straight up had dead cats in ziplock bags in her freezer). It's so sad for both the human and the animal. But the animal didn't sign up for that. But hoarding really is a disease.
Not a veterinarian but my heart aches every time I see a kid, or even adult, post a picture of a Red Eared Slider (RES) turtle and one of those sh**ty plastic 'beach' habitats.
Turtles in general, but specifically RES need a lot of water to thrive. Your turtle is miserable and their bodies will atrophy if they don't have enough room to swim around. Also, lettuce is not enough, nor are pellets. They eat live prey, fish.
But the worst isn't even that. They also need two kinds of lights if you're gonna have them indoors. A UVB and a UVA to bask with. Which have to be replaced every 6 months or so too.
They need vitamins, constant water cleaning/changing (They're nasty, this has to be done regularly), they need the water to be at a certain temperature, a good filter... AND they live for up to 25 years, and grow several inches long. And I mean up to 12 inches or more.
A pet turtle is much more of a time, money and care investment than a dog. But it's one of the animals least properly cared for. DO NOT give turtles away to people who didn't ask for one or haven't looked into it. Please.
This is so true! My then boyfriend bought two of these turtles (remember the movie Rocky? That was the inspiration LOL). Years later, and a really larger tank later, they were the size of two dessert dishes. They also didn't like each other and were ill due to wrong food (the tank was well managed but the rest... wasn't). It was hard and long to take them back to good health, and it was heart breaking once we found they needed a lot more than they had. In the end, once the turtles were in good health again, we decided to contact a turtle rescue. Now they're happy in their ponds and neither of us will make the same mistake ever again.
Look up what plants are toxic to your pet! You'd be surprised what common house plants are incredibly deadly to your fuzzball.
An example is lilies for cats, getting some pollen on their fur and licking it up or drinking water out of the vase is enough to cause deadly kidney failure in a few days. Check the plants you have and deal with the toxic ones. I got rid of my peace lilies before I got my cat. You could also place them somewhere your pet can't get at them (off limits room, behind glass, hang it out of reach, etc.) Though that carries a risk of accidents
Lillies! Kill cats! just a single brush and getting tiny bit of pollen ---> kidney failure.
Not a vet, but worked at a clinic. vaccine schedules. You want to go as soon as your pet is due, don't wait a few months or even a few weeks. We had a clients dog die of lepto because they were behind in the vaccine. Preventatives are another. You need them year round, bc fleas and ticks still come out and heart worm is not something to f**k with
I don't know about others, but I was taught in veterinary nursing school, that it's better to schedule routine vaccines and such a little "early." So for example, if you took your pets for their routine vaccines and exam on September 6th last year, you should schedule for August 30th this year
I think in a lot of countries the healthcare we provide is still seen as an act of charity rather than our actual jobs.
“What do you mean Fluffy’s xrays cost money? I thought you were supposed to be animal lovers!”
It’s ridiculous how often I’ve heard variations of this and I’m still just a student on placement. It gets even worse when owners start arguing with you when you have appointments back to back and have been on call all weekend.
Please understand that unless you specifically go to a charity or a place that advertises certain procedures/treatments as free, you will need to pay.
Yes I love animals and I think your pet is adorable. I still want to be able to afford to pay my rent though.
I was once told by a lady with 4 toy poodles that we (just a regular vet clinic) were the reason that so many pets are put down, because it costs too much to care for them. My then manager said to her "We didn't tell you to buy 4 pure bred high maintenance dogs!" She never returned.
Unless you can provide the right exercise, do not get a working breed dog. Kelpies, cattle dogs, sheepdogs, huskies, hunting breeds, herding breeds — these breeds are made to run all day, not to sit in your backyard
my grandad lives on a large piece of land in the country and his border collie loves it. he always goes shooting after rabbits <3
Leaving your pet alone. I know this sounds stupid but if you had a dog that you never left during lockdown and them suddenly you have to leave it for 6 hours a day it's not going to be very happy
Thinking that limping is just a normal part of animal getting old. Yes arthritis is more prevalent in older animals, but that doesn't mean they have to be in pain. Limping = pain
I've been giving my dog chondroprotectors since her first TPLO 7 years ago and they seam to work. It's hard to tell because you don't really know how she would be without. I recently stopped for 2 weeks and did notice that she was slower sat around more.
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!
I'm lucky I can take my dog to work. She comes to most places I socialize at, manly with outdoor patios, beach shacks. In one pub she is the official house pet and gets on the sofa. At home she sleeps by my bed, the moment I start to wake up she wagging her tail staring me in the face with a big happy smile. I give her a big back scratch then she follows me to the bathroom and waits for me to come out, get dressed to go for her morning walk. When we get back she has a drink and waits for me to have a shower. Then she keeps an eye on her lead to see if I'm going to pick it up as I leave. I have a system; If I'm leaving her I leave her a treat toy to keep her busy, and leave the radio on for her. Her eyes dart back and forth, lead, treat cupboard, lead, treat, lead, treat . When I pick up the lead she can't help herself and lets out a high pitch bark of happiness. When I get angry she licks me, asking for attention. Never fails to make me smile. I love my dog
Keeping the damn e-collar on after surgery. You have no idea how many complications I’ve had because the owners thought their pet “looked so sad” after a procedure. It’s not worth it, IMO.
If I, a human being legally allowed to imbibe as much alcohol as I want, have to put in significant willpower so as not to claw insect bites open, your dog has about as much chance of not busting their holes back open as they do of suddenly becoming fluent in Human.
Not a vet (yet! still in school), but probably medical advice from veterinarians. Only halfway joking, lots of owners are great but lots also will blatantly tell vets that they are wrong, their 8+ years of education is less than the medical advice given to them by some random tiktoker or the kid who stocks shelves at the local pet store.
On a serious note, obesity. Such a large number of animals are obese that people think it’s normal and animals at an appropriate weight are too thin. My SO has even fought me on what the dogs should get to eat vs what he feeds them. It took another vet to tell him that his dog was fat to actually listen to my advice.
A funny, related story. My clinic has hand outs with common treats for dogs like cheese, ham, PB and the human caloric equivalents in donuts. My parents, who are notorious for owning morbidly obese animals, tried to calculate how many slices of ham my dog “needed” to get each day while they were pet sitting because it was “only X number of donuts”. My plan to prevent them from over feeding my dog backfired, she ended up gaining over 5lbs in 3 weeks, which is a lot for a 45lb dog. All of those human snacks and treats really add up.
I HATE to see overweight animals. No, they're not " chonky" and cute, they're obese and it will shorten their lives, potentially by years, as well as reducing their quality of life.
Brush your pet's teeth!!!
I'm an RVT that constantly works on anesthetic dentals and I can't tell people enough how much oral care impacts their pet's life.
With rotting gums and tooth root abscesses, it can lead to the bone rotting away which can cause their jaws to break (especially in our little patients). The amount of bacteria that is going on in their mouths will cause systemic infections to organs such as their liver, kidneys, and even heart. Not to mention that having an infection makes you feel sick and painful. Pets also don't like to eat, when they have terrible dental disease.
Most clients I speak to are surprised by the fact that they need to brush their pet's teeth on a regular basis to keep their teeth in check. Hell, I've even had some owners give me the "But their teeth fall out naturally" kind of spiel. Oh, they sure do-- and so do yours, if you've had bacteria, rotting food, and puss inhabiting your mouth.
Please brush your pet's teeth.
Unfortunately all of my pets are rescues that I got when they were older and generally have a history of trauma and are not receptive to this. I do try to ensure they get proper chewing supplies and dental additives on the water. My rescue chihuahua is 11 now with no plaque or tarter!
Take water for their dogs when going on a walk on a hot day. Animals , especially dogs hyperventilate faster. A lot of people own dogs, very few actually do that.
I actually got an awesome water bottle off of Amazon. I can drink out of it, but the bottom comes off for use as a bowl.
The top one for me (and I’m sure it’s been mentioned somewhere) is a rabbits general needs. Dietary, husbandry, and housing. Rabbits have so many needs that need to be met- they are not easy animals! They have burrowing needs, hay and straw are necessary, so many vegetables they cannot be fed or shouldn’t be in high amounts that people ignore, and the majority of hutches they are kept in do not meet their needs!
My friend specialises in rabbits and the stories I’ve heard from her are just terrible. Please do genuine research into rabbits before you buy them or ask a vet advice.
Also, the maggot issue. So terrifying! In summer, some flies will lay eggs not only in the rabbit sh*t, but also on the rabbits' buttholes itself (mostly when they have diarrhea and are not entirely clean there) and let's just say, what the larvae will do to the rabbit's body is absolute horror 😰 Should be avoided by all means!
Former vet tech (14 years). Being rather general, people don't pay enough attention to the three "normals": what goes in, what happens, and what comes out.
What goes in: food and water, mostly. That should be normal for them; normal amounts of food, normal amounts of water, and nothing they shouldn't be eating. *Abnormals* are decreased appetite, refusal of water, and eating inedible objects.
What happens: activity levels, habits, and how they interact with other animals or people. *Abnormals* are lethargy, anxiety, increased fear, and seclusion.
What comes out: feces and urine. Should be normal amounts and consistency, colors, and at expected times. *Abnormals* are diarrhea, dark urine, vomitus, bleeding, etc.
People get so used to their pets acting normal that they don't check to make sure they actually are. Pay attention to your pets and make sure they are *normal*. Make note any time you find something off. Even if it ends up being nothing you at least have a record of it. If there is one "abnormal" that resolves in 24 hours it's probably nothing to worry about. If there are multiples or they don't resolve then you should absolutely take them to the vet along with any notes you have.
I use a diary for meds, eating strange stuff, weight and infections/diarrhea/behaviour changes... and I keep every vet bill to keep track just in case.
Note: this post originally had 61 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I've seen people refuse to do this for their own children, let alone companion animals, so am not shocked, merely saddened. :-(
If you cannot hold your adult dog easily in one hand, then your dog is too big for an apartment.
It’s not even a decent rule of thumb. There are many small dogs with high exercise requirements (most terriers are small and high-energy) and many large breeds with low ones (Great Danes are actually fine in apartments).
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But they're different people answering, so why don't you just downvote the one you didn't like and move on to the next one? Most of them were nicely put. ☺ 🌼
Load More Replies... I've seen people refuse to do this for their own children, let alone companion animals, so am not shocked, merely saddened. :-(
If you cannot hold your adult dog easily in one hand, then your dog is too big for an apartment.
It’s not even a decent rule of thumb. There are many small dogs with high exercise requirements (most terriers are small and high-energy) and many large breeds with low ones (Great Danes are actually fine in apartments).
Load More Replies... But they're different people answering, so why don't you just downvote the one you didn't like and move on to the next one? Most of them were nicely put. ☺ 🌼
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