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
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.”
Yeah, me too. I've always felt like they've had a look that said " I've had enough, it's time". And I've always been there and held them and talked to them as they fell asleep. It's so hard, but it's not all about me.
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My dog could not stand up, refused to eat, could not see and had problems hearing. The vet said I should put him to sleep. I did not want to give up and asked the vet to give him every treatment he can think of before deciding to put him to sleep. It made no changes and we set an appointment for the injection. I was about to change my mind before the injection but my dog crawld to me and put his head on my lap and I felt that he wanted to part from this world. It was not as if I was killing my dog, it was more like an act of mercy to put an end to his pains.
You did not kill it. You ended his pain. To me it's the biggest gift you can give: you suffer the loss so they don't feel the pain.
Load More Replies... When the health of my first dog declined (heart issues, cauda equina, not lifting her feet) over months I made an appointment to TALK about the inevitable. The day before the date I called and let them know it would be the day to let her go. I was in no way ready, but she was. Most people were like "she can still have a year" but if your big dog walks against the 20cm high corner of the sidewalk, has problems getting up after peeing and has nearly no joy in meeting the puppies she raised it's her right to go to sleep. She does not have to suffer only waiting for me to be ready. You can buy all the meds and dog shoes in the world, it does not make them painfree or young forever. Euthanasia does.
It is the last and biggest sign of your love to let them go when it is time and to be with them until their last breath. ❤
Had to put my sweet girl down last Thursday. She was 16 and she was tired. Hardest thing I've ever done and I know I did the right thing but still feel guilty. But I refused to let her suffer.
My last dog made it to 15, I made the decision for him coz it was the right thing to do even though I was so not ready for it. My boy was happy as the day he died and I know I did the right thing.
I had a cat, he was sick. His belly was filling with liquid, and he had trouble breathing. Vet tried everything, it cost me a lot of money, but no treatment helped. I eventually let vet put my cat to sleep, because only other option was slow and painful death for my cat. I did not want it.
Strange how it is acceptable to put pets to sleep at the end of their life, but not humans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7-PfzpQcJs I have a 13 year old mix bread mastiff and it breaks my heart to thing that she is not going to be with me forever. I try and keep her active, she's had TPLO on both hind legs and still walks up to 15km some days with me but I let her rest the next day. Week days I try and get 5-6km manly on the beach. She starting to go deaf and can't see very well. I will know when it's time but I hope it's along way away.
I've done this 3 times. It's the hardest thing you'll ever do. But also the kindest. Even though you know it's coming, you'll never be ready.
I would rather be guilty of letting them go too early, then waiting until it's too late and cause needless suffering of my beloved companions.
the first thing a peron has to realize is that when you get a pet you are most likely going to outlive it. that being said, you need to come to the point that you need to make sure that their departure is about them, not you. that includes not chickening out at the last minute and leaving the pet in the care of the vets to euthanize without your presence. they are scared and you are their comfort. you were there for them all their lives you need to be there at the end. i always lie next to them on the floor to cuddle, to thank them for their love, and then i motion to the vet to administer. the one time i didn't do this still haunts me to this day even though it has been over 30 years.
Wish everyone was like you Patti. Too many pets suffer needlessly or depart in anxiety because their owners don’t live up to their responsibility to care for them all the way. Hope you can forgive yourself for the one time you didn’t have the opportunity to do that as I am sure you are doing everything in your power to make up for it by taking extra good care of any furbaby you adopted since then.
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In my adult life I've had 3 dogs. The first was very elderly when she got suddenly sick one weekend. Off to the vet, who, after an examination and some none invasive tests we learned we could do invasive treatments that could extend her life some, in other words we could torture her to keep her with us a bit longer. Nope. 2nd dog, also very old passed away at home. We woke up one morning to find he was a down dog. We'd already been discussing when we would hput hem to sleep, he didn't seem to be in any pain, just sleepy and unable to get up, but content. Stayed with him until the apparently painless, definitely peaceful end a couple hours later. Wthvour 3rd dog, again elderly, we learned dogs, too, can suffer from dementia. We gave her a happy loving home until the dementia robbed her of quality of life and we scheduledthe final appointment. In all 3 cases we weren't ready and wanted more time with our fur babies, but it was the right time for them to leave us, so we let them go.
On the other hand, some pets do not want to go until it is really just about the end. I had a cat who had cancer in her nose and sinuses. It was an awful thing to see get worse and worse, but everyday that cat came to me and wanted to stay nearby and I hand fed her whatever she wanted. When the end came, her face was terribly distorted by the cancer and it had started to invade her brain so I knew the end was near. In fact, she didn't want to leave my side so I held her as she left for a new life. I always wonder if she was in pain because it looked horrible, but somehow I knew that if she could live 2 years when the vet said her life was only about 3-6 months remaining, then I could bear it with her until she was ready to let go.
We had to put our beloved dog to sleep a few years ago, it was heartbreaking, she was a rescue (the previous owner wanted to drown the complete litter until my brother stepped in and found homes for them all). She lived to be a whopping 17 years and 2 months. But it was time, she was no longer able to control her bowels while she slept and was barely able to get up on her own. When she was awake, she was alert and seemed OK, but sometimes you could see it in her eyes that she was tired. We took her to the vet regularly and had asked her to tell us when it was time, as we were too close to be able to make an objective decision.
Animals do not always let you know they are ready. Animals will hide their pain and discomfort until it's so bad they can't hide it anymore. This is a survival instinct in social animals like canines or birds. If your animal is showing signs of illness do not wait to take it to the vet. Also, if you know your dog has cancer or age-related liver disease for examples, do not wait and allow them to suffer. If you are suddenly going to vet more or are needing more medications, etc., it's time to let go. Many social animals will still seem as basically themselves, your loving pet, but will be really ill. Look for things like trouble sleeping at night or sleeping more throughout the day. Your pet, especially dogs, gave everything of themselves to you. Don't be selfish when they need you the most.
I tried two that to my mom, she said it was too hard and stressful on the cat to get her into the carrier. Think if vets made REASONABLY PRICED house calls for these situations it would be much better for everyone.
My little Tibetan spaniel had multiple medical issues and wouldn’t eat the prescription dry food. We put him on wet food, which he really never had and he was so excited that he’d bark while I prepared it, another thing he never did. He would make all kinds of sounds but not bark. One day he didn’t bark. When I put the food down, he just looked up at me and I could see in his eyes that it was time. I held him my arms while he stopped breathing.
It's the last gift we give our beloved pets, an act of compassion. I only wish they had longer life spans. Tortoises can live up to 120 years I've read, a dog's life is over in a blink of an eye. It's always so painful to say goodbye to an animal that your children have grown up with and has been such an integral part of your family.
As a nurse I have seen families (well-meaning, well-intended) not able to let their dying relative go as nature intended. As they insist on every treatment possible, they prolong the patient's suffering as well as theirs. No way would I let my dog suffer. Nor did I let my dad. I asked for and signed the DNR (Do Not Resuscitate). My final gift to my dad.
Had a middle age cat that started going south. Turns out it was a thyroid issue. Did everything the vet suggested, including radiation therapy. (Google RadioCat). Still getting worse. One day, he tried to stand up on the sofa he was sleeping on and his rear legs were locked solid straight. Couldn't barely walk. I'll never forget the look and quite meow he gave me. That's when I knew.
I just helped my boi, Ginger, to cross the Rainbow Bridge. He told me he is ready…I listened. It was painful and I am crying every day and I am thinking of him every day, but when that time came….he was “happy”. Do not downvote me for the word “happy”, this is what I felt from him that moment…I held him for more than half an hour close to my heart, like he was sleeping, talking with him, telling him that he IS the bestest boi I've ever had. God, I miss him…
I have had the experience of putting two of my furbabies down. The first was 15 and we had her appointment scheduled and I swear when I got home from work that day (she was with my parents, and not left alone) she looked at me like 'where the heck have you been? I'm ready". The second had Lymphoma and when thevet delivered the diagnosis he told me she might have 4 to 6 weeks left. She had four really good months, and then had a seizure on New Years Day, 2019. She was still in good spirits after, but she was steadily declining. I knew she'd tell me when she was ready, and the night of Jan 15, she sat outside my bedroom door and just stared at me. And I knew she was telling me she was ready. We called the vet first thing in the morning and she crossed the bridge at 11:35. I was with both of them, because even though it was painful for me, I knew they needed me to be with them.
I always told myself I would let her go when it was time. And when it became obvious to me, I wasn't going to push all sorts of testing and stuff on her because she had already been through a lot. And I always told myself, and the vet that night, "She's been too perfect to endure any kind of traumatic suffering. No one deserves that less than she does." That night I had the strangest nightmare about her that I interpreted as my brain telling me it was absolutely the right thing to do. (more: she had pulled through kidney failure not long before and her vet then paused her yearly shots so she likely wouldn't have been able to go through any treatment/it would have killed her)
One of the hardest things I ever had to do was to allow my amazing German Shepherd to leave. She was the single best dog I've owned and I've owned a lot of dogs and other animals. She literally saved my life and the life of another person. She was recognized by a humane group for her actions. When she got sick at around 12, I knew the time was growing short. In the end, she stopped eating - she was a food hound. One night she wouldn't settle. Around 2am she sat by my bed, looked into my eyes and just starred. I heard her: she was ready to go. For me, the pain we feel when a pet dies is the price we pay for the love they give us.
My fiancee and I wanted to keep our Ruckus around. We loved him so much and we weren't ready to say goodbye yet. But HE was ready. HE was suffering. HE wasn't eating or drinking. HE was howling in pain. So we had to say goodbye and let his suffering end. We still miss him every day. He was the best and coolest cat I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. ❤️
Quality of life - theirs, not yours!! Yes, it's Tough!! But they should be taken as 1st priority
It's part of the contract-they bring so much joy, happiness and companionship to our lives, but we have to uphold our side of the bargain, which means looking after them, caring for them, and making difficult decisions on their behalf. They love us unconditionally, and trust us to do what's right, and what's right is to make sure that they don't suffer. We have the ability to lessen their pain and suffering, and refusing to give them that gift after everything they do fir us is nothing but cruel, no matter how well intentioned you think you are. Extending their pain because you can't cope with losing them is selfish. And you owe it to your pet to be there until the very end-they will look for you until their last breath, don't let them go alone just because you can't face it-they need you there with them.
The first time I had to schedule euthanasia for one of my cats, I felt absolutely horrible. It felt like I was scheduling a murder. I knew when and where she would die and it took me a very long time to come to terms with this. But the confort of knowing I don't let them linger in pain has helped a lot when I had to go through it again. They let you know when they are ready.
I (a petsitter) have had to help some of my clients understand when it is time. Sometimes they are wearing rose colored glasses. I know they love their animals, but the line "it's not about you" couldn't be more true. When it was time to put my soul dog down I knew it. It was harder to see her the way she was than the idea of losing her.
My recently dear departed SheBe fought to the end of her 20 years. I offered to bottle feed her but she fought me tooth and claw, literally. On her last day, she got down from my raised bed to lie on the tile floor where it was cooler, I guess. I put her on the end of the couch where she usually laid, but she got down to lie in the hall. I put her on some towels but she crawled off. She wouldn't let me hold her in my arms while she went. She lived her entire life on her own terms, with admirable determination. Her name was SheBe a Royal Pain in the A$$, The Pestess of Yersinia.
I have gerbils, and even they give you the look. It happens fast with gerbils so when you know you know to make that final call to the vet.
Neither of my two dogs gave me the look or told me. They were eating enthusiastically, they were happy but tired. Thank god for vets because they could see the signs I missed. I trusted them with their lives, I trusted them when it came time to say goodbye. TRUST YOUR VETS!
One thing that bothers me is taking a beloved pet to the vet to be euthanized. My critters get so upset going to the vet and I don't want their last moments to be full of fear.
I pay the vet the extra fee to come to my home for those last moments because furbabies deserve to leave this world in the presence of their family and without the anxiety of being in a strange place.
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We probably waited too long. We finally decided when Lucy looked at us and meowed the most pitiful “I’m sorry”esque meowl when she defacated under the piano. She couldn’t do stairs or get into the litter anymore…poor girl. RIP.
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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