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Bringing home an animal is a huge responsibility. After all, you're committing to caring for another life. And while it's impossible to know everything, some undertake this challenge without any qualification.
To find out what are some of these shortcomings, Reddit user u/mrktx21 uploaded a question to r/AskReddit: "Veterinarians of Reddit: What is one thing you wish people would know/understand about their pet?"
The post immediately went viral and already has over 31,000 upvotes and nearly 7,000 comments, many of which provide useful information to pet owners, giving them a better understanding of their companion!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Cats. Can’t. Be. Vegan.
[SHUT UP] with your “well I’m vegan and I want my pet to be vegan too!!”
THEN GET A [FREAKING] RABBIT
Ksenia M 4 years ago
I've been a vegetarian for 12 years now and it's still boggles my mind when people ask if I'm okey with feeding my cats meat. Like, yes? I don't want them to die a horrible death from malnutrition?
Martz Migraña 4 years ago
Same here! I'm vegan since I was 15 but I feed meaty food to my doggo. That's just common sense, I can't understand people who force them pets to be "vegan"
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Periwinkle 4 years ago
they are carnivores. CARNIVORES. DO YOU WANT THE BLOODY TIGERS IN THE ZOO TO GO VEGAN? THEY WON'T BECAUSE THEY HAVE TEETH FOR EATING MEAT, EVERYTHING BUILT TO PROCESS IT! Stop being so controlling with your pet, they are a separate creature.
J. F. 4 years ago
Same goes for dogs - just because they are omnivores doesn't mean a pure vegetarian diet is healthy for them
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
Or guinea-pigs. Or ... probably chinchillas? No idea, honestly, but anyway: there are many good alternatives to cats to love and adore and they need good owners, too.
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Premislaus de Colo 4 years ago
It is impossible for a cat to be vegan. Trying to make a cat vegan is animal cruelty which will lead to its death
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
Don't tell them, they will get some and realized that cost much more than a dog, a cat... Don't tell them, rabbits are not even a thing, and they are not cute, nor clever, nor a pet. They are a disaster that will ruin your life, like a kid! LOL
Load More Replies... Maria Ines Molina 4 years ago
I remember that wacko girl that had a fennec fox as a pet and made the poor animal vegan
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is eager to share tips with pet owners to keep their furry companions happy and healthy, including which toxins to avoid and fun DIY treats for pets so they can safely join in on Valentine's fun.
Turns out, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center saw a 30% increase in calls during the week of Valentine's Day last year when compared to other weeks. Many of them involved chocolate, xylitol, and even indoor plants. Below you will find a list of the top toxins pet owners should watch out for to ensure their pet's Valentine's Day is just as special as theirs.
RELATED:
#2
I am a vet. Do not get a cat and then expect me to amputate its toes because you don't want it scratching the furniture. I refuse to perform declaws on cats because most of the time it is a mutilation for the cosmetics of a couch. There is no medical benefit to the animal.
Yeah, you heard 4 years ago
Thia is illegal in most countries, and rightly so. The USA need to pass laws against this. And cutting a dog's tail and ears.
Anita Bouchet 4 years ago
Illegal in most European countries. Don't call it Declawing, it isn't. It's chopping if, amputating.
Walter 4 years ago
@Shalini Pabreja no, they take the entire claw out of the paw. there's nothing wrong with trimming a pet's nails, actually, it's more right than if you let them grow.
Debbie Koculyn 4 years ago
They don't take the claws out. They cut across and amputate the first knuckle.
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Celeste Grant 4 years ago
Anywhere that still practices this barbaric practice should be ashamed. It's illegal across Europe and I'm shocked that vets will agree to do it even if it's legal. Poor cats. Imagine having the first joints of all your fingers being chopped off just to protect the furniture. If you cat deal with natural cat behaviour don't get a cat!
Lexi Mitchell 4 years ago
Also, be aware that some people think it’s just like nail trimming so don’t be too harsh about correcting some of them.
Salty Old Woman 4 years ago
This. A thousand times this. I even had a vet refuse to declaw my cat years ago, but she didn't explain to me what declawing actually is. No worries, btw. I did not have the cat declawed. Nor have I had my next cat declawed. But why didn't the vet tell me what it is? She knows I love my cat and would never want to cause him pain, so she should have questioned if I understood what the procedure actually was.
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Karl Baxter 4 years ago
The US needs to have a good look at itself. Glad some vets are speaking up.
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago (edited)
And that is why it should be illegal WORLDWIDE. Fortunately illegal in Aus.
Periwinkle 4 years ago
Disgusting when people declaw cats. We should rip off their nails and see if they like it. Just tame your cat or get a scratching post! Would you rather your cat be stuck in pure agony because you don't want your red velvet couch from Craigslist to get scratched up?
First, xylitol. "Many types of gums, candies, and even peanut butter listed as 'sugar-free' can contain the sugar substitute xylitol, an ingredient that can cause hypoglycemia in dogs and lead to other severe conditions such as liver damage and even death," ASPCA told Bored Panda in a statement.
Next, chocolate. "Make sure to keep pets away from the chocolate - light, and dark. Methylxanthines are caffeine-like stimulants that affect gastrointestinal, neurologic, and cardiac function—they can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures and an abnormally elevated heart rate."
#3
Dogs prefer their ears and tails intact.
Tantalum_Radium 4 years ago
They have evolved to have ear flaps to keep debris out of their ears and tails to communicate... only a monster would hack them off.
Anarchy (they/them) 4 years ago
Please don't downvote me for this, this is simply my opinion. I think that docking tails/cropping ears for cosmetic purposes is horrible and needs to be stopped, but there are circumstances which docked tails are better. Hear me out, working dogs that herd cattle have docked tails so the cattle don't step on it and hurt the dog. I feel that should be the only time docking tails would be acceptable. There really is no purpose or benefit to cropping ears so that needs to stop immediately. This is only my opinion and I have no credentials or anything to back me up so polite corrections if any of this is false would be nice, thank you
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Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago (edited)
These too should be illegal worldwide, as well as shock collars.
Neva Nevičica 4 years ago
I get crazy when i hear that docking tails is actually for their own good to avoid injuries to the tail/ears (except for the rare medical reasons which i may not know). Then go and amputate your pinky toes, you know, to avoid stubbing them. Great idea.
Lola DM 4 years ago
where do you hear that? I didn't even know that was a thing Oo
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Jackie Porter 4 years ago
I once heard a vet say they would crop ears and tails when the animal can come in and ask for it themselves.
clever username 4 years ago
when we got our dog its tail was already clipped poor sweetie his ears were intact tho
Deep One 4 years ago
Originally it was done to war dog to prevent the enemy from having something to grab to stop/hurt the dog. Later it was done to security animals, most notably Dobermans, for the same reason. At some point it became a fashion thing.
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Nikki Sevven 4 years ago
My younger dog is half Husky, half American Dingo. She has a stubby nub of a tail, and was born with it that way. Still, loads of people ask me if I got it docked. Um, no. That would be abuse.
Tantalum_Radium 4 years ago
That’s a great set up to educate people! I would be probably answer ‘yes, and next week we’re having her leg cut off, I just think she’d look cuter without it’...I can’t the people that look at you in disgust but done have the integrity to say anything! I have a dog I rescued at 12 yrs old, a brindle staffie no less, who was surrendered to the rescue I work at because she has cancer, along with all her lumps and bumps, she’s fat, her nails are too long, her nose is too dry and she is completely disinterested in everything but food and barking at the neighbourhood dogs, she can’t even walk outside the garden without getting winded. I get a lot of disapproving looks! But she’s made great improvements too and she’s far happier in my home than she was in kennels! Sometimes people’s judgment and condemnation is misplaced.
Load More Replies...Then, something that contributes to a lot of humans too. Alcohol. "Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended and clean up spills before your pets get to them first. Because animals are smaller than humans, a little bit of alcohol can do a lot of harm, causing serious, life-threatening issues."
It's a good idea to think of pet-safe bouquets as well—not all flower varieties are safe for cats and dogs. Consider checking out ASPCA's extensive list of toxic and non-toxic plants before you send a floral arrangement to your special someone.
#4
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.
Azure Adams 4 years ago
It will hurt more in the long run to not be there than to be there for your animal friend - from a grief therapist
Xan Maranya 4 years ago
How much more will abandoning them hurt the frightened animal?
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Lis Daglish 4 years ago
Having my 18 yr old cat Gherkin euthanised, who had cancer, and had been with me for my entire adult life, was the hardest thing I’ve had to do. Damn right I stayed with her and held her and comforted her while she passed.
Viviane 4 years ago
I was glad to be there for my cat. It helped that my husband was at my side and the vet was very kind to us.
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Candice Ravel 4 years ago
Ex vet tech here and this is so true. We had a lot of drop off euthanasia appointments and it made my blood boil. Nut up and be with your pet when it's euthanized. Yes, it's difficult, but you are a human being and understand what's going on. Your pet does not. It broke my heart to see this done and I'll never understand how people could do this. It's selfish and if you can't handle it, maybe you shouldn't have a pet until you can.
Lubica Acker 4 years ago
I was terrified when my 13yo cat got sick during strict Covid restrictions in AU. I wasn't allowed to come inside the vet surgery (had to stay in my car) and the vet consult took place over the phone. She was very sick and if they had told me there was nothing they could do for her, I would have broken every law to be by her side. Thankfully, she recovered, turned 14 and is happy as Larry.
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago (edited)
I could never leave my dog alone if it needs to be euthenased. I didn’t even like leaving my dog for x-rays coz I could tell he was anxious and didn’t want me to leave.
Ellie Rosser 4 years ago
But once you leave many many animals relax and do so much better.
Load More Replies... Tantalum_Radium 4 years ago
Those people are selfish cowards. There is also a type of person that surrenders their elderly pet to rescue so that we get to hold a paw while they die. It a disgusting level of abandonment, shame on them.
Periwinkle 4 years ago
It's the last thing you can do for them. It's not like you're showing weakness being there for your companion, you're showing strength for being able to push through and be at their side.
Hannah Edwards 4 years ago
I can’t believe that people would abandon a beloved pet in its final minutes. Even better if you can wait for the vet to come to your home, so your pet doesn’t have the added stress of the vet journey.
Louloubelle 4 years ago
I had a lovely big yellow lab who absolutely became manic at the vet. I knew the time had come, I made an appointment to have the vet come to my house, but it was a few days out. I came home from work and found that he had collapsed and lost control of his bladder and bowels and had no choice but to bring him now. My husband put him in the back of our pickup, and I held him. He loved the wind in his face (and my hubby drove very slowly). We got him to the vet and he didn't even care he was there. Broke my heart.
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lara 4 years ago
I hold my babies. I am always there for them, and then I take them home so that their brothers and sisters know that they are gone and they won't look for them. NEVER leave your baby behind. It is the very last thing you do solely for them. Don't abandon them when they need you the most. And DON'T fail to help them when they tell you its time. Don't make them suffer because YOU can't let go.
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago
That last part is one of the hardest decisions to make. You always want more time with them. But, once they tell you it’s time, you have to abide by it.
Load More Replies... Kisses4Katie 4 years ago
I stayed. My husband seemed surprised because it was so painful for us. I will never leave them alone.
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago
My husband is the weak one who can’t stay, so it’s always up to me to be strong and stay—which I have done and will continue to do anyway, married or single.
Load More Replies... #5
About their pet, the best one I know is one I heard a while ago: You have your life, your job, your friends, your family to provide your social interaction per day. Your dog only has YOU. Interact with your dog for more than five minutes per day and maybe your dog will not go out barking every five seconds.
Monica Sargent 4 years ago
Roommates bought 2 chihuahua pups maybe 10 years ago. Loved them for five minutes. Their chihuahuas and LOVE to bark. As I got older I grew interested in animal intellect and vocabularies. I have a friend that comes over occasionally and the dogs bath like crazy. Every. Single. Time. One day I get an idea. I put some really good meat to the side, then I talk to the pups. I tell them Sonja is coming over and if you don't bark at her I will give you a treat. Queenie barks just once, her brother never barks. When she leaves I bring him in and tell him how proud I am of him and how smart and good his is and give him the meat.
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago (edited)
Thank you for paying attention to those poor pups. Dogs are pack animals, and need to be part of a family/pack. The worst thing you can do is ignore them—-then punish them for misbehaving. It’s a funny psychology, and it applies to humans (especially children) as well, but to a neglected creature, even bad attention is better than no attention at all. So I’m glad the attention you’re giving them is good. Keep it up—-and if your roommates don’t want the dogs, I hope you offer to take them. Even if you don’t keep them, you can foster them until you find good and loving homes for them.
Load More Replies... Periwinkle 4 years ago
I always interact with my dogs but if a person or living being comes by I have to get the headphones..
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago (edited)
Yeah, my “doorbell” and “telephone” bark too. Luckily the bark is worse than the bite, unless it detects some kind of threat (a very unusual occurrence, so I tend to trust it).
Load More Replies... Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago (edited)
I talk to my pets (four cats and one dog) all the time, pet them, play with them, pay attention to them, along with feeding them, giving them treats, and for the dog, taking him outside—-the trade off for the cats is that they get to sleep on the bed if they want to (the dog has his own, very expensive, dog bed). That’s why they’re better behaved around me than they are around my husband. They love him as much as they love me, but he works long hours and tends to putter around the house on his days off, instead of just relaxing. Since animals tend to feed off your vibe, me being more relaxed means they’re relaxed too, and my husband being constantly on the move makes them more nervous. I’m working on getting him to chill out more—-he’s seen for himself that when he is calm and relaxed, the animals are too, so I know he gets that connection. But he’s still a work in progress.
John Otruba 4 years ago
People who say they are dog lovers but keep them caged or tied out full time deserve to have the SAME THING DONE TO THEM
#6
Your dog doesn't "want to be a mom" or experience the "joys of motherhood"
Ember 4 years ago
Neutering your pets is the responsible thing to do. There are enough unwanted pets in shelters and roaming the streets without bringing more into the world.
Tantalum_Radium 4 years ago
Just some of the dumb responses I’ve had to why isn’t your pet neutered... the above, because hobby breeders have caused the pet overpopulation crisis, not puppy mills, and refuse to accept it. A guy that said people like him should be allowed to breed (in this case guinea pigs) because he takes care of his animal... whilst standing in an animal rescue centre asking me to care for 14 of them because he had too many, ****! ‘The pet shop miss-sexed them’ 1, why did you go to a pet shop, stupid? 2 why did you not take them to a vet to register and check them? 3 in the case of rabbits both sexes need neutering, so if you’d have booked it they would have discovered a breeding pair before you call with a month old litter and now another litter has arrived and you want to know which litter you should let die. Rescue has made me very cynical about people!
Periwinkle 4 years ago
Dogs, don't.. What? They don't just experience " The joys of motherhood! " and last time I checked they don't really talk about it. They are not humans.
Jo Johannsen 4 years ago
After we adopted our dog from a shelter, we found she was pregnant. We made the decision to allow the pups to be born, then had her spayed. We found homes for all the pups.
Pamela24 4 years ago
Oh, thank you! Spaying and neutering your pets is beneficial for their health and beneficial for the planet - there are way more dogs and cats in shelters and suffering in the streets than loving homes. Do the responsible thing and spay/neuter your pets, always.
Shadow 4 years ago
Katrina B actually has a point. It's actually best to wait until your cat or dog is at least 2 years old before spaying or neutering. There have been a few studies that show if you spay/neuter too early you increase the risks of heart disease, certain cancers, urinary incontinence, proper skeletal growth and shorten their lifespan.
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panda_legerdemain 4 years ago
Yes! Exactly! I have had hard times explaining this to so many ppl
Jackie Porter 4 years ago
I wanted the experience of being at the birth of kittens with my cat but I didn't because I knew there were hundreds of unwanted cats in shelters around the country and I couldn't be certain I'd find homes for them all.
Lea S. 4 years ago (edited)
? How can we know this? If dogs have their own personalities and emotions....then ...wouldn't that mean some of them want to be moms and some don't? I agree dogs shoudln't be repeatedly bred for money and made to give up all their babies - they have to be taken care of. I live on a farm. A dog wandered onto the property one day, had a litter a short while after. She LOVES her puppies and we got her neutered afterwards. Is she faking the love for her puppies?
#7
Don't buy a dog only because you like the way it looks. Huskies and most sorts of shepherds are working dogs. They need lots of activities to be happy and they often turn aggressive, if they do not get enough of it!
Periwinkle 4 years ago
Preach. They are massive dogs, LOOK AT THEM! they obviously need lots of space and walks to make sure their mind is cleared and they can function happily.
Ozacoter 4 years ago
Actually size and activity levels are not correlated. Border collies, huskies or belgian shepherds arent big and need a lot of exercise. Meanwhile a pyrinees mastiff is massive and a couch potatoe.
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Oskar vanZandt 4 years ago
It annoys me that I see many border collies in the UK who are walked like other, non-working dog breeds... the owners continue to yank on the lead because the dog wants to go faster and farther than the owner will allow. Know your dog breed's requirements!
Ozacoter 4 years ago
Exactly. I love Border collies and belgian shepherds and would love to have one. But I cannot give them the exercise that they need so I wont get one. Its pure responsability.
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Perfumista Perfumista 4 years ago
Mom's friend got an Australian Shepherd that they just leave in their small yard. Tried to explain that this was not the right dog for them. "But it's so cute." They won't neuter either.
Alyssa Wakefield 4 years ago
That’s like how I can’t stand it when people who live in town get kelpies. Kelpies belong on farms so they can run and work with sheep.
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NinjaWolfy94 4 years ago
We take our malamute for walks frequently (everyday of course) and she gets a lot of exercise, but she hates it half the time. We start the walk and she's so excited, sniffing everything, but after about 20mins, she gets bored, or tired. Not sure... But sometimes she slows down, so we take a break. Sometimes she just stops altogether and won't move unless it's the way we came. She's very lazy...
Becky Samuel 4 years ago
Have your dogs vet checked, especially her joints. This can be a sign of underlying pain issues.
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Elsker 4 years ago
yes! PLEASE do your research on a dogs needs before purchasing that cute little puppy!
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
And always read the "bad habits" and not those from breeders. Go look up what could happen in worst-case-scenario and think if you can live with that. Don't let something like "very clever dogs who have a sense of humor" slide, go find out that it means "if bored, they'll dismantle your house and try to herd cars or bite bike-tires when they go past you". If you can't handle that, don't get that breed. If it turns out to be a model-citizen with you: be happy and glad. But that way, you can only be surprised in a good way and you don't need to give away a dog with already-developed bad habits. /like reviews on amazon. You always check the one-star-ratings to see how bad it COULD get, right?
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Justin Seagull 4 years ago
I know huskies are deemed destructive even stupid at some places just because some are rowdy as pets, but the people don't know they literally pulled a dog that was meant to be running in the snow into a hot, stuffed house, and ignore their need to exercise. No one can blame the dog if the owner won't think things through.
Anne 4 years ago
Well this one looks happy as heck and in the right environment. Also.. don't get a polar dog in the tropics.. And don't get a thinly furred one where it's cold!
Katrina B. 4 years ago
You can, you just need to know how to care for them properly
Load More Replies...Apple Cheesecake. You'll need: graham crackers, applesauce, and low-fat cream cheese.
Step 1: Place one spoonful of cream cheese into the puzzle toy. Holding it upright, tap the bottom against the countertop until cream cheese drops to the bottom;
Step 2: Break ½ of one sheet of graham crackers into chunks and place them into the toy. Then place one spoonful of applesauce into the toy and let it fall on top of the graham cracker chunks;
Step 3: Top with 1-2 spoonfuls of cream cheese.
#8
Don't complain about your dog not having boundaries when you're literally feeding them scraps off your plate at dinner time! That's 100% on you.
Daria B 4 years ago (edited)
This one reminds me of a very well educated dog I saw once in the countryside, at a short trip with my team mates. The dog was friendly and liked company, would come to you for rubs if you called it, but never ate what you would try to feed it. The dog had its own food and showed 0 interest for the meat and all the nice smelling food we had at the party. What a smart and beautiful dog it was.
lara 4 years ago
I NEVER feed my dogs ANYWHERE but in the kitchen. They know where their bowls are going to be put down and they know which are "their" bowls. I can take MY lunch into the living room and eat while I am watching or reading and they NEVER try to get bites. I NEVER feed them from the table.
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
Well.... our dog does get table-scrabs. When we're done, not while we eat. He's still a good boy and waits until he gets something and if not, he just leaves with a deep, heartfelt sigh. My girl doesn't get anything from the table with some very small exceptions because she's allergic. She doesn't even care if we eat BUT she'll get some banana in the evening when my parents watch TV and she's gotten very demanding and punctual. 😄 (I laugh about it because my parents did that to themselves. Their fault if she's now standing in front of the TV until she gets the banana...)
Kerry Alderson 4 years ago
Dogs are adorable when they're in the lounge because they're not allowed to beg while you're eating at the table.. you can see their eyes watch every move you make 🤣 We didn't have scraps coz I have a son 🤣😂 but a treat is most certainly deserved after their patience!
Daria B 4 years ago
I'm sure the dog wouldn't stay like this if it were operating (hot), so don't worry. ^_-
Load More Replies... #9
I am a vet. I wish people just even had a BASIC understanding of dog or cat body language. Ffs. The number of videos posted on reddit of animals in distress and its tagged as "oh my little fluffster is so cute when he plays!" Or whatever makes my blood boil. That kind of moronic ignorance is what gets children bit by the pet dog or the cat who is now dying because the owner had no idea of the signs 4 months ago.
Monty Is Fiennes 4 years ago
Stopped watching YouTube animal vids because so many freak me out. Why do people treat their pets like that.....
Bird Mom 4 years ago
Yesterday I was watching one and someone tossed their conure out the window, because someone commented that, "Birds should not be caged. They should be free." That conure was flung out a fricking window! It has a low chance to survive! Ruined my day.
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Yeah, you heard 4 years ago
Or people thinking that all panting dogs are "smiling" and "look happy"
troufaki13 4 years ago
Yes!! Especially when they put clothes or harnesses on cats, most of them just paralyze and fall over and people think it's cute. It's not. Cats are freaking out! Please don't do this
Iggy 4 years ago
I don't understand putting clothes on animals. Surely they're cute enough already!
Load More Replies... Martha Meyer 4 years ago
This is the reason I never click on pet bird videos. 90% of the time the “cute“ behaviour is the equivalent of an elephant in chains rocking back and forth. As a bird owner this just gives me depression.
Katinka Min 4 years ago
I especially love hwo ANGRY so many commenters get when you point out that, No, that dog is not smiingy and dancing along. It is stressed making pacifying gestures and it shakes because it had Staupe. It's gotten better on Bored Pnada, but Youtube is still full of f*ckers.
Periwinkle 4 years ago
I don't know why, if there is no reason for your pet changing personality ( My cats usually become very hyper, especially after coming in to the house but it's nothing harmful i'm sure since both do it ) then you need to consult a vet, rather be safe than sorry
Michelle C 4 years ago
Another convo I had....my mom used to think that when her cat approached her with her tail up it meant she was being fresh...I was like are you f-ing serious!?! I told her she was happy to see her and showing it. I said it's when it's down or twitching she should worry about. Also sent her some Jackson Galaxy videos on how to decipher your cat
Nutty Monkey. You'll need: frozen bananas, peanut butter (without Xylitol, of course!), and plain yogurt.
Step 1: Place one spoonful of peanut butter into the puzzle toy. Holding it upright, tap the bottom against the countertop until the peanut butter drops to the bottom;
Step 2: Place a frozen banana chunk into the toy; push and force if needed. Then place one more spoonful of peanut butter and tap again until it drops further in;
Step 3: Top with 1-2 spoonfuls of plain yogurt, then 1 last spoonful of peanut butter.
Caring for a pet is something we learn all our lives. But we need to know the fundamentals. For comprehensive pet grooming guides, nutrition information, safety tips, and more, visit ASPCA.
#10
Having a pet is a luxury, not a right. If you can't afford unforeseen medical problems or pet insurance, please don't get a pet!
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago (edited)
I get this and agree for the most part but sometimes the unforeseen medical problems cost so much that you literally need to get a loan for it. Our dog needs surgery that is going to cost us $7000. We have literally just spent over a thousand dollars already on consults, x-rays, pain meds, antibiotics etc. $7000 is a LOT of money and the majority of pet owners wouldn’t just have that kind of money lying around. And pet insurance is a load of crap. Even CHOICE Australia doesn’t recommend it, and that is saying something. Maybe if vets did payment plans then it wouldn’t be a huge issue but they don’t. The vets are part of the problem with their high costs and lack of financial help such as payment plans.
Kisses4Katie 4 years ago
The only reason our big boy is here with us is because his vet took payments and no down payment. Saved his life. No one should lose a pet due to money I think.
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Kisses4Katie 4 years ago
My pets are one of the only things that make me happy and I have gone without food for myself to ensure their well being. My mom and dad lost their home over 10 years ago and my mom had to give up her beloved dogs. She will never forgive herself and I blame myself too for not having some means to prevent it. NO ONE DESERVES TO NOT HAVE THAT COMPANIONSHIP. I'm so tired of this country being set up for only one income group. So does everyone not rich just never get to enjoy an animal companion??
Laura Pantazis 4 years ago
I see both sides of this. I would say to not purposely look for a pet. However, sometimes a cat comes along to your house that is outside, homeless, and that no one else will take in. The limited care you can give is so much better than the nothing the cat had before. The rabies and the spay/ neuter are the big absolute musts and there are low cost clinics to help with that too.
Lexi Mitchell 4 years ago
This is kind of dumb, though? Just because you can’t afford possibly needing to pay $10,000 in five years doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a pet. I mean if you can’t afford food on a monthly basis, no don’t get a pet. But if people only adopted pets if they could afford to pay thousands of dollars in vet bills for one month, then the shelters would be even more full than they are now.
Jules Caldwell 4 years ago
This post is irrelevant in the time of covid. Yes, my cats did not get their annual vaccinations this year. But I haven't eaten since Friday and their food bowl is full. We are doing our best.
River Webb 4 years ago
its sad that few people understand this, many people bring home pets and then neglect their needs
#11
My wife is a vet. She says that a lot of people tell her they want their dog to experience child birth at least once. It’s a horrible and traumatic experience for dogs because they not only have to go through pregnancy and labor, but they have to give up their babies.
Spay and neuter your pets.
Justin Seagull 4 years ago (edited)
@Andy Murray Comparing animals to humans is one of the dumbest arguments. Humans can control their urge to reproduce, and they know to see help when there are health problems, can animals do that? Can you be sure to find your dog the right mate every times its in heat? Can you be sure to take good care of it when it pees and becomes agitated during the heat cycle? Did you even consult your vet? If you can care for the dog without neutering, it's your choice. But neuter and spay is beneficial to most pets, it's not abuse.
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Canadian in Cornwall 4 years ago
"They want their dog to experience childbirth".What a load of old rubbish ! They want to have cute puppies they can sell for a fortune. Shame on anyone who does that without being honest about the reasons.
Justin Seagull 4 years ago
I've seen comment like it's inhuman to take away their right to reproduce, and especially the strays. People think they're 'wild animals' and we are suppose to leave them be. No, strays are domesticated animals that are abandoned, never to be living alone outdoors to begin with. I'd say it's inhumane to leave them overpopulate when resource is already scarce and it could damage the environment.
Signe Manat Hansen 4 years ago
A dog cannot "experience child birth". Dogs give birth to puppies. Dogs are not humans.
Ellie Rosser 4 years ago
Imagine if women had to go through childbirth (without understanding what it is) and then GIVE UP their babies. It's not a fun thing for your pet. (Plus it shortens their life expectancy.)
#12
KNOW YOUR BREED!!! Don't complain about your dog being too energetic or destructive when you keep them cooped up in a cage for 12 hours a day!! A Labrador is a working dog - he needs a job to do!! A husky is a snow dog - don't own one in Florida!! German Shepherds shed ALOT - don't complain about the hairballs!! DO YOUR RESEARCH 1st!!
Clara Knaub 4 years ago
I agree. I have a hamster and I am so glad I spent hours and hours on YouTube and forums, doing research. My hamster would be in a tiny cage if I didn’t, but instead he is living in a huge ikea detolf which is decorated naturally.
Load More Replies... Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago (edited)
Doesn’t help if you adopt a dog that is classified as Mixed Breed (as many are) because they can’t say without a DNA test.
Kari Panda 4 years ago
I don‘t see breed as a problem - NO dog deals well with being locked away or being ignored for 90% of the day. So while breeds may have some effect on a dog‘s personality, don’t think you can get an "easy breed" and not have any problems.
François Carré 4 years ago
And stop overthinking about which breed is better or whatever. Stop being picky like you're going to buy some fashion accessory. It's a living being with feelings and thoughts. If you're ready to have a pet in your life, go to a shelter, you'll surely meet the one who is waiting for you, then fall in love and bring them home. Period.
Michelle Belle 4 years ago
There should be a quiz you have to take about the breed you are trying to adopt that you have to pass before they let you
Katinka Min 4 years ago
To be fair, most breed descriptions are wayyyy too positive. It's almost impossible to find out that poodles tend to have separation anxiety, that australian shepherds can indeed be dangerous and that Dobermans often die really early etc. You need to already know a lot about dogs to interpret breeders descriptions.
AY1984 4 years ago
We use kennels for our huskies when we step out of the house and no one will be home. It's for their safety and the safety of our home. They also sleep in the open kennels at night. I work from home so they rarely get locked up and even when they do it is for an hour or two, not 12 hours a day.
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Skadi Lifdis 4 years ago
Like my son's uncle who kept getting Weimaraners because he liked the way looked but didn't like their energy. He expected them to always lie down and be quiet. Within 6 months of buying a puppy from a breeder, he would abandon them at rescues because they were "unmanageable"...used to piss me off...but what do you expect from a guy who ordered an expensive custom made dining table and then refused to pay for it because it was made in France (back after 9/11 when France wouldn't support the US invasion of Iraq) and suddenly all the "Patriots" were eating "freedom" fries and "freedom" toast.🙄
Anne 4 years ago
ps: they shed and need a TON of exercise - don't get one if you don't like that.. but.. I like that
Load More Replies... #13
If you see a stray cat with a cleanly clipped ear tip do not take it to a shelter. Either take it home to live with you or leave it on the street.
Clipped ears mean they were caught, neutered/spayed by the city/county, and released. This is a way to control cat populations and, over time, protect wildlife. They compete for resources with fertile cats without adding to the population.
In many cities, stray cats are more likely to be adopted from the street than in the shelter. If the cat is taken to a shelter they cannot legally release it because it is now abandoning the animal. That cat will be euthanized, or at best absorbs resources until it finds a home.
graye b 4 years ago
TNR ear tips do not look like this, they are much smaller and only clip off a quarter of an inch
Beth Rappeport 4 years ago
We got a feral kitten from a shelter with a clipped ear. Apparently different organizations clip for different reasons. Our male kitten turned not to have been neutered - the clipped ear was to let shelter staff know he was from a feral colony. Of course I didn’t find that out until I realized I had an intact male cat.
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Brandy Riggs 4 years ago
I adopted my cat from a shelter and she has a tipped ear. This is bad advice since the cat may not be a stray. Take it in and have them checked for a chip and check local lost pet pages. Don’t just ignore the cat because it has a tipped ear.
Skadi Lifdis 4 years ago
There are pretty much no stray cats in my area. There are indoor cats and coyote food.
Li Schüssl 4 years ago
When I was a kid we wet to greece on holyday and my mother told me that the cats with the clipped ears are the neutered ones... I believed way to long that that´s all it takes to neuter cats...
Carney 4 years ago
Let's not make assumptions based on one city or even some cities policies. We do animal rescue. Our cats have ear's clipped (under anesthesia as they are neutered/spayed) and are microchipped. They are then placed for adoption. If the cat is somehow lost or returned to any of the area's shelters, we are notified and the cat either returned to the new owner or taken back by us. We do not identify as "no-kill" because that designation is rarely honest. But we do not euthanize healthy animals and seek to reunite responsible owners with their pets.
kath morgan 4 years ago
Couple of sweet ladies living under my friend’s porch with this ear look after they got them into a t&r scheme :)
Bob 4 years ago
I think it happens in countries that can afford it. (Seriously, no offence to ANYONE who lives or lived in a country that couldn't.)
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Mommy Dragon 4 years ago
That is the stupidest most inhumane thing I have ever heard of! Cutting off the tip of his ear to keep tabs on him?! I'm sure there are better ways to do this than to mutilate the poor thing! This makes me so mad!
Sheena Leversedge Wood 4 years ago
it's less of a risk than catching the same animal again, anaesthetising them, opening them up, and finding it's already been done. if a clipped ear cat is caught in a trap and release scheme, they are released right away, without being taken in for a surgery that's already been done.
Load More Replies... #14
They rely solely on you for care. For everything. You are their everything. Don’t f**k it up.
Chelle Jones 4 years ago
The kindest thing you can do is lovingly give up an animal you can not care for. Adoption is hard but sometimes that's the most loving resource available.
Dave P 4 years ago
I know someone who got their dog that way. They got a 4 year old fully trained Golden because the original owner had some changes in their life and could no longer care for the dog. That dog ended up with my friend and his 2 siblings in a large house with a large yard and was the happiest dog you ever saw, and fully trained and house broken.
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#15
RVT here. There are sooo many.
1. It is not cute or sweet to have an obese pet. It can cause joint issues and heart disease among many things. Stop showing love through over feeding (especially human junk food).
2. Dogs are living creatures who need preventative medical care just like you do. And sometimes they get sick like you do. If you can’t contribute the bare minimum to take care of them, maybe you should think again about owning one.
3. GET YOUR PUPPY ITS DAMN DISTEMPER/PARVO VACCINES.
Ember 4 years ago
...and get your pet neutered! Unless you’re a breeder, there’s NO NEED to bring more unwanted puppies/kittens into the world.
Suzy the observer 4 years ago
Screw the breeders. They contribute to the problem.
Load More Replies... Periwinkle 4 years ago
My dog has been obese for a while, she's a pug and weighs 14 kilos when it should be 7. (No one is really sure why, we didn't overfeed her. ) She is losing pounds now because if she doesn't she will lose the ability to use her heart properly. We're getting it off by walking everyday and raising it for charity. I think she is about 12 kilos now.
InvincibleRodent 4 years ago (edited)
God, I wish more people knew how big a risk obesity in pets is to their health. I see these posts about "chonky" cats all the time, and people just don't seem to care about how unhealthy that is. The actual weight in numbers may not sound like a lot to a roughly averge adult human, but to a cat's tiny body, even a small change in weight is a big deal. An average size housecat is, what, maybe roughly 4-4.5 kgs?- one kg more weight on them is like if a person was roughly 10-20 kgs overweight. An average size housecat (so not like a Norwegian Forest Cat or any other, notoriously large breed) weighing 8-10 kgs is not simply "a chonky boy", it's a cat that's morbidly obese, and likely in severe pain in its joints.
Cian Thomas McHugh 4 years ago
I really think more people need to know the 1st one. A little bit of fat is fine. But when the pet is getting slow, and isn't exercising, that's really bad.
BG 4 years ago
My neighbor across the street is a dog walker by trade. She had to stop her business because my other neighbor bought several bulldog pups from a puppy mill which had parvo. She let them roam all over the neighborhood, and once your YARD is infected with parvo, the virus can stay there dormant for YEARS.
Shinomi Chan 4 years ago
Our previous cat was overweight, we thought it was because we fed her too much, turned out it was a tumor. She was an older cat though, and we did try to get her to lose weight. (By no means was she obese. But had a bit of a tum tum.)
Katinka Min 4 years ago
:-) I was a different vet, recently, with my VERY fluffy dog. At some point the vet said 'Oh, she is really not overweight, it's all fur.' I said 'No she isn't. I am the one who is overweight but not my dog' Vet laughed
lara 4 years ago
Have your dog or cat checked for UTI's. My vet and I were discussing it and he told me that he has begun to think that diagnosed UTI's are the cause of kidney disease and eventual failure. If your dog or cat is licking their urine opening often, take them to the vet and have them checked for UTI. I do and my vet has found that my dogs [especially the females] have UTI's. I am now giving all my dogs cranberry capsules and Vitamin C.
#16
Not a vet, but my mom was a vet tech for years and I've been an animal profession for awhile now.
Cats DO NOT do things because they are mad at you. Your cat did not poop on your boyfriend's pillow as revenge for being yelled at, and they certainly did not pee on your clothes because they're mad you didn't feed them on time. Cats are creatures of habit and prefer routine to feel safe, so when you have drastic changes in behavior (such as eliminating outside the box), it's typically due to one of two reasons: environmental changes or a medical issues. If you cannot think of anything in your home environment that's changed, then you need to get them checked at the vet.
Neither milk nor tuna from a can are good treats for you cat, despite the stereotype.
Unless it's for a legitimate medical reason, declawing cats is cruel. If you don't want cats clawing your furniture, but can't be bothered to do the bare minimum of just researching how you can prevent it, then don't get a cat. Don't have a completely unnecessary medical procedure done on your cat simply because you don't want to be inconvenienced.
troufaki13 4 years ago
Some people see their pets as accessories and can't be bothered to spend some time with them. I bet it's the same people who see their children as accessories also. :(
Deborah B 4 years ago
Cats totally do things because they are mad at you. Not the elimination things, but they absolutely will learn what irritates you, and do it on purpose. My sisters cat would make sure she was watching, and then go and bite pieces out of her plants. When she switched to orchids, he would *pretend* to bite the plants. My cat will deliberately flop down in front of my wheelchair, so I have to go around her, and then get up and move so she's in the way again. Cats are assholes.
Felix Feline 4 years ago
I wanted more sleep, so I led my cat into the hall way and then closed the bedroom door. My wife later opened the door, the cat jumped onto the bed and urinated next to my face and then ran off.
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Daniel North 4 years ago
A fantastic cat i used to own was accidentally kicked down the stairs by my housemate in the middle of the night (walking around in the dark). The next day he did a big crap in my housemates bed. This is the only time he EVER went to the toilet in the house. Now he either did it on purpose or it was a pretty big coincidence.
Lexi Mitchell 4 years ago
So... cats don’t poop on your boyfriend’s pillow because it’s mad, it pooped there because it’s routine is different and it’s... upset about that. Ie mad.
DDmaybeandor 4 years ago
Cats absolutely do things because they're mad at you sometimes. If they're smart enough to do things to try and please you, they're smart enough to do things because they're mad.
TakingThePee 4 years ago
One of my cats is an imbecile, she's utterly loving, batshit crazy (will tear around the house because she saw something on the ceiling, there was nothing on the ceiling) but by God is she vindictive. If she doesn't her own way she'll destroy something, her trick to wake me up at night if she wanted strokes at 3am was to scratch the wallpaper off the wall, we had leather back chairs which she shredded if she wasn't getting enough attention. She's calmed down now she's older but we had to develop ways of stopping her destroying things during her temper tantrums. Her brother on the other hand is so laid back he's horizontal.
DDmaybeandor 4 years ago
"So laid back he's horizontal" that's a fantastic quote. I love it!
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Gabby M 4 years ago
Dirty Litter boxes are also a reason cats void outside the box. CLEAN IT DAILY NOT MONTHLY. It's also for your cat's health .
TakingThePee 4 years ago
Daily? I check mine about 5 times a day, you know when she's been because you can hear her trying to dig to China.
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#17
If your cat or dog was hit by a car and is whining and limping, when you bring them in and get asked when the accident happened, the damn answer best not be ‘oh, 4-5 days ago, but I haven’t had time to bring him in’
Source = wife is a surgical vet nurse
Ember 4 years ago
Are people really that stupid? If it were a child hit by a car, would they wait a few days before seeking treatment?
Periwinkle 4 years ago
My neighbours cat got hit by a car. She survived because she got to the vet in time. She still had to stay there for about two to three days and these people are telling me that they will think it's second to just doing things you can put on hold? Disgusting.
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Periwinkle 4 years ago
Oh, your pet got hit by a car, whoops I'm not gonna make time for that I've got to pick up a purse I scammed someone out of on e-bay.
Lorelai Purvis 4 years ago
people do this? when my dane cut her paw pad open on glass, mom bandaged it and called the vet as soon as we found out.
Random Panda 4 years ago
I was watching some vet show recently and there was this dog that had had surgery and had pins in its' leg. The owners never brought it back to have them removed. They delayed more than a month and only brought it back as the leg had gotten infected again. Or their neighbours called the police on them for animal neglect, I don't remember. It disgusts me to know there are people who are this stupid and irresponsible.
Mary Peace 4 years ago
I don't understand how you could wait any time to take the animal to the vet. I would be straight on the phone, this is an emergency!
Marcia Cash 4 years ago
My ex hit his new dog with his truck, she was limping badly, and he just said "That will teach her to get out of the way." I reported him to the county animal control.
James Kistler 4 years ago
Please let me and my baseball bat spend some time in a small windowless room for a few minutes to discuss why this is a bad idea. Followed by locking then in said room for the same number of days they waited.
#18
Your rabbit is not a f**king hamster.
It needs actual space to run around, and not a single cage sold at a commercial pet store has even close to enough space. They need runs, and access to the house if you can.
They are incredibly social animals, so don't come to me and say you got one. They are lonely, and need a buddy. If they don't have one, be prepared to spend 6+ hours a day hanging out and socializing with them because they need the interaction.
They do not just eat pellets, 80-90% of their diet is should be hay and I'm tired of people coming in with morbidly obese rabbits as a result of the rabbit being fed nothing but calorie dense pellets and carrots.
And stop buying pugs from breeders. Bringing more of those poor suffering creatures into this world is inhumane.
Ceredwyn Ealanta 4 years ago
Bunnies in a cage in the back garden are not happy bunnies. The House Rabbit society has excellent information on litter training and socialising a rabbit. Rabbits do need to be spayed or neutered, and will live vastly longer if this is done - otherwise they are subject to reproductive cancers. Happy rabbits dance, proink up and shake themselves about, and otherwise are very active. Bored rabbits in cages are numb and mentally broken.
Canadian in Cornwall 4 years ago
a friend of mine got a rabbit but ended up giving it to her parents who also had a rabbit, as the poor thing was so lonely...
Load More Replies... Periwinkle 4 years ago
I hope one day genetics is able to change the pugs so they can breathe. It's inhumane, they suffer. Please, if anything, get a pug MIX.
Neva Nevičica 4 years ago
But they are so cute when snoring! And suffering because of their infected eyes and overheating because not being able to breath properly and suffering from back pains! I hate people who buy pets because their deformed faces look cute. They are all cute without people interfering in their genetics. Yes, mix...and addopt, don't buy. You don't need a purebread dog just to put their photos on social networks.
Load More Replies... Ozacoter 4 years ago
This is terrible advice. Hamsters are also terribly active and need a minimum of 80x50cm in their cages. They also dont belong in the tiny conercial ones.
E Menendez 4 years ago
Exactly - I hate how misinformed people are about hamsters. No matter what type of animal you get you need to do research.
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Craig Silberman 4 years ago
I former g/f bought a bunny, and at first we kept her in a cage at night or when we weren't home, because we didn't know better. But she hated being in the cage, and she wasn't hard to train (we used bed pads instead of a litter box). Soon she had free run of the house, and it was fantastic. The House Rabbit Society has a lot of information on raising a house rabbit, and they can be just like dogs or cats if you do it right.
Iapetos 4 years ago
Our rabbits can roam freely in our basement, which has turned into a rabbit hole. They are not exactly active most of the day, though. The male one is already a bit older. He and his female friend mostly cuddle up and groom each other. She is overweight, not sure if it is the breed (part "meat" rabbit) or the grass she gets.
Debbie Palmer 4 years ago
Even hamsters need more space than those small cages you get at pet stores.
AlmightyOne 4 years ago
As a responsible rabbit owner, I wholeheartedly agree with this statement.
Lorelai Purvis 4 years ago
yeah pugs are cute but they have so many health problems because of their faces. they have breathing problems and other problems too.
Cameron Washington 4 years ago
people at LEAST need to get a HUMONGOUS cage and get 1 more rabbit to keep it company if u dont want to spend 7 to 8 ours a day
geometric_dolphin 4 years ago
IF I ever got a rabbit, I think it would be cool to have a linked indoor and outdoor enclosure for them.
#19
Vet here.
Your dog does not need to eat grain free food with massive amounts of protein because they are “basically a wolf.” No. They’re not. They’re a dog. And not only does the actual science not support the need for these trend diets, now there’s concern they’re actually doing harm, causing dilated cardiomyopathy in certain animals.
In a similar vein, we do not get any money from diet companies. Do you think I would be wallowing in my 325K of debt (no this is not an exaggeration in the slightest), driving a 15 year old broken down car, and renting without a hope of buying a house, if I were getting kickbacks? I would not. If we make a diet recommendation it’s because current science says it may help your pet.
We agonize over cases, work longer hours than we should, spend time away from our families and friends to figure out difficult cases and help the really sick pets. Taking out your anger and grief on me and my staff does nothing but tear us apart and contribute to the high suicide rate that vets and vet techs have. We are helpers at heart and it hurts when we can’t help - please be kind and don’t make us feel worse.
Cori 4 years ago
The vet I worked for as a kid would take the really sick ones home with him at night. He also would spend every free moment in his office pouring over books when he couldn't figure out what was up. Then he'd come out all excited with some obscure diagnosis and a treatment that would inevitably save the day. It was awesome!
Nothing Fancy 4 years ago
I actually chose not to become a vet because I don't have the emotional fortitude for it. You all are very special in the best ways.
C.S. E. 4 years ago
Yeah, CATS are carnivores, but dogs are omnivores. Quit it, people! Also, it's difficult enough to be a human doctor because they don't have x-ray vision and have to deal with humans being dishonest or being unable to describe things to an equivocal level. Now, add in a different species who is incapable of speaking to you in your language of choice to describe what is goin on, and you have a vet. It's like playing life threatening charades with claws.
Susan Wolf 4 years ago
Just like human drs, vets have massive student loans and have to charge patients accordingly to just keep up. Plus setting up an office with receptionists, techs, xray machines, labs...all cost money.
Cameron Washington 4 years ago
1. i would absolutely KILL anybody that harms animals even if they are dangerous like sharks just leave don't try to impress anybody to look cool and be a douche and be like "woah dude i just beat up a shark " NO just leave the damn shark or any animal ALONE
John Otruba 4 years ago
If only ALL VETS were like you...local shop has 5 vets in it. The founder/owner is nothing but a mercenary who I will not let my dogs see for anything!
#20
There is no such thing as Alpha. The whole concept was based of a flawed methodology where even the researchers who wrote the book in the first place disavowed it. Simply use force free training and you and your pet will be happier for it
C.S. E. 4 years ago
Social hierarchy within a group and 'Alpha' type behavior are two very different things. Mainly, social hierarchy actually exists. If you have lots of animals at home and they all seem to defer to a certain pecking order, that's not the same thing as alpha behavior. That's social hierarchy. Stop using Alpha, beta, omega with regards to behavior, whether domesticated pets or humans.
Ceredwyn Ealanta 4 years ago
My favourite bit of wolf research showed that during winter they mainly hunt and eat...mice!
Ionut Tautan 4 years ago
actually you're wrong! Not using hierarchy with your pets is why they get out of control, because they don't get rules, boundaries and limitations. People treat them like other people, humanising them, which is even more detrimental. Domination doesn't have to be done through fear or physical abuse, but without it, your pet will run the house and develop destructive behaviour
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Nothing Fancy 4 years ago
Dogs are smart. Most of them love to learn...AND please you! You just have to find the right motivation.
#21
Not a vet but my mom is.
One thing that really frustrates her is the myth that neutering a cat will make them fat and lazy.
It reduces the amount of calories they need which means they need less food and/or more exercise to maintain the same weight. Cats generally get less energetic as they get older regardless, but most will still perk up if you make the effort to wave a toy in their face every so often.
Periwinkle 4 years ago
Neuter the cat unless you want to become sasha from the math books. They will multiply I promise you.
Cameron Washington 4 years ago
oh my god lmao but yes still neuter it if you don't want to be like the old lady in movies
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Roland Gosselin 4 years ago
Don't wave the toy "in their face", wave it in front of / around them. Shoving it in their face isn't cool.
Viviane 4 years ago
I minded a friend's two cats while she was on vacation. One liked playing, the other preferred to watch. At least he didn't ask for beer and popcorn :)
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The cation 4 years ago
Also, an unneutered cat is way more territorial, and hisses and will attack you. My uncles friend has a cat who isn't nuetered, and I've literally never pet him
Hutt'nKloas 4 years ago
Absolutely true, but if not adjusting to the new physical situation your pet is prone to become obese. This deserves more attention from the vets/breeders.caretakers as well when handing over the pet to the owners.
#22
Vet Nurse for 10+years....
90% of your pets behavioural issues are your fault. If you're not willing to train your pet (mostly dogs here, cats just dgaf) basic commands and getting them used to being handled then you can bet we will restrain and muzzle if need be or we will charge extra for sedation. My colleagues and I are not in the business of fluffing around whilst trying to treat your pet and or getting bitten.
What you think is cute in your large breed puppy (growling, resource guarding, biting) is not cute when it is a 30+kg uncontrollable beast.
Retractable leashes are the worst invention ever and should be banned. You have no control over your pet.
Stop letting your pet wander up to any other pet in the waiting room. Not all dogs are friendly and cats are stressed enough.
Overfeeding your pet is the same animal abuse as underfeeding.
Start a savings account for your pet if pet insurance doesn't suit. If you never need it you have money you can spend on a holiday.
Nianudd 4 years ago
Cannot upvote the retractable lead thing enough! Stupid things. I've seen dogs running in terror, their leads rattling along behind them. The poor dogs were frightened of the noise the lead was making, they were trying to get away from it, and to their mind the effing thing was chasing them
Meh Man 4 years ago (edited)
So we were on vacation and brought our dog with us. My sister acidentally dropped the retractable lead and our dog ran off running as fast as he possibly could trying to outrun it. We thought he was lost or hit by a car or something. After an hour of looking we went back to the house and he was on the front porch with his paws tore up and bleeding. We have not used those things since.
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Lunar Bicycle 4 years ago
I’m a dog walker and carry my own leashes; I will not use my clients’ retractable leashes. Why people would use them in the city is beyond me. Too many people, dogs and children, and too much food and garbage on the sidewalks. We have one for our dog, and we use it exclusively at the beach. Even then, she’s only allowed on the retractable if there aren’t other dogs around. (She’s naughty!)
Periwinkle 4 years ago
I have taught both of my dogs some basics like, getting off the couch, sitting, and being patient, they are both very happy to be tended to, just.. Not at the vet.
Sarah Miller 4 years ago
Agreed. My pup is having fear aggression problems that are not even present at home for me to help train out of, other than socializing and putting her in a more anxious situation to try to soothe. *sigh*
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PrincessTheSiameseKat 4 years ago
we give our cat lunch because she had pancreatitis and needs the extra food also she is overweight but not much so to be terribly unhealthy
Trevor Bell 4 years ago
Hehe this reminds me of when I would take my maincoon to the vet. Due to size he wouldn’t fit in a carrier so had to come in on a leash and the vets worked great with me to bring him in whe. It wasn’t busy. Every now and then someone would come in and feel like there dog could just wonder wherever and the dog would shockingly always get aggressive or playful with the giant cat. My cat had a way and never got in a fight (thank god for the leash) but would growl and scare them bad enough they’d be on the other side of the vets. Deff Need to understand nomater what your pet is u have no clue how there gunna react to another pet or what that other pet mite do.
Fluffy Griffin 4 years ago (edited)
So here's my worst experience with a retractable leash. Me and my twins (3yo, so pretty short) were walking a trail when a guy came by walking his bloodhound (she was about the height of my kids). The dog was friendly and the guy let my kids pet her. She was excited and was wiggling in between the kids, and I was constantly untangling them from the lead. Suddenly the dog got startled when another man approached and the dog took off running. The lead was VERY close to being wrapped around one of my kids necks, instead I got my arm in the loop and flipped it up, resulting in a nasty burn mark on my leg and hand. Yes this could have happened with a shorter leash, but the man's control would have been better, and we would have had 10 feet less of wire to worry about.
Cameron Washington 4 years ago
and because people do over feed and be aggressive dogs and cats get super stressed so the least you can do is sit your dog and or caton your lap
Colleen Garland 4 years ago
We had an average size pit bull that was perfect. Stayed in our yard all the time. We moved to a much larger yard with more front yard. My husband walked him on a tight leash a few time around our yard. When we let him out we stayed with him until we trusted him to stay in the yard. He was pretty docile but we have a great deal of dog walkers going by. The other owners learned that their dogs could sniff ours without a problem or him following. The other dogs loved to say "hello". He was a fantastic dog and we miss him sooo much. Our next door neighbor has bowls out with water and treats. All the owners know to take treats for their dogs.dogs.
#23
If your pet eats your weed stash, let the vet know. They are not going to call the police. They need to know everything they can to diagnose your pet.
Premislaus de Colo 4 years ago
Dogs and cats can't metabolize THC. It's not only that they eat your stash - don't smoke in company of your pet and FFS don't blow your smoke at your pet!
OhForSmegSake 4 years ago
I had a rescue dog who would flinch and shy away if you got too close to his face and always hid when my flatmate smoked weed. Didn't take long to work out that his previous owners were blowing smoke up his snout. It took years for him to be okay with kisses on the head, but I got there. When he passed at 16 he was the happiest, most trusting dog.
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FlitterBug 4 years ago
If you really want your cat stoned just give it some catnip, just make sure to not overdo it. Otherwise treat them as though they're a young kid, keep the pot away from them, don't smoke near them, don't let them eat edibles, etc
lara 4 years ago
KEEP ALL OF YOUR MEDICATIONS WHERE THE DOGS AND CATS CAN'T GET TO THEM. Anti-depressives will kill dogs and they will suffer the whole time they are dying. I heard a dog screaming at the vet's. I said "OMG what is going on." And Dr. Jim said, "this woman left her purse out and the dog go into it and ate her anti-depressions meds. Dogs can't handle it and though we have him totally knocked out, he is going through hell, but he MIGHT survive. We don't know until he either gets better or dies. We have done everything, washed his stomach, loaded him up on charcoal and now sedated, there is nothing to do but wait.
Periwinkle 4 years ago
Jesus christ that sounds horrible.. What's even in anti depressants which triggers that?
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Marianna Conner 4 years ago
Dogs definitely do metabolize THC, my dog licked up a drop of spilled cannabis oil and her gate was wobbly for several hours and her reflexes were not normal.
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
Accidents happens. When i was young i smoked and a very small amount of resin was on a table, near a closed nutella jar. When i came back home i realized my dog ate some nutella (cocoa is poisonous) and... the small bit of resin. I immediately called the pet poison line, if you make a mistake you take care of it. Gladly the dog was OK because nutella doesn't contains many theobromine and the amount of resin was very small, they told me to check his heartbeat because THC can speed it, i did spend the night watching him, making sure he was OK, ready to call an emergency vet if his heartbeat was getting faster. I never forget again to clean before leaving, learned it the hard way.
Hutt'nKloas 4 years ago
Just be careful when you have pets. What might be good/nice to you, mostly doesn't for your pet.
#24
Ripping your cat's claws out to preserve your furniture is absolutely disgusting and inhumane.
Don't justify it by saying that at least you're giving him/her a good home. You're depriving the animal of one of the core essence of being a cat!
Ember 4 years ago
This barbaric practice should be illegal everywhere and in this day and age I’m surprised it isn’t.
Kisses4Katie 4 years ago
You also remove their ability to defend themselves if they were to get out. And they will probably stop using the litter box because it will hurt to cover. It's like removing the finger at the like, second knuckle. Barbaric.
Candice Ravel 4 years ago
It can also lead to behavioral issues such as biting and peeing/pooping outside of the box, which usually lead to the poor cat being thrown outside or dumped at the shelter. Don't get a cat if you can't deal with claws.
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago (edited)
It’s not extraction (ripping out) of the nails. It’s worse. Declawing is amputation of the entire upper knuckle. Imagine that being done to all your fingers, even your toes too! That’s what declawing actually is. Imagine if your cat somehow ended up outside. No claws = no defenses; no way to fight, or climb to escape trouble. Just like you, without the upper knuckles of your fingers, not being able to make a proper fist, or scratch at someone, in a fight, or to get a proper grip to climb out a window and get away from them.
Julie 4 years ago
Get a scratch post, put a bit of catnip on it and voila! No more damage furniture
OLIVIA NORMAND 4 years ago
Wonderful cat life hack better than 5 minute crafts.
Load More Replies... Ellie Rosser 4 years ago
It also causes chronic arthritic pain for the rest of their lives. They're cats so they don't show it to you, but it has been proven to be there.
BlueDiamond PinkDiamond 4 years ago
I would never do this to my precious baby, its like if someone cut my fingers and toes off its discusting and I hope every cat that went through this is taken away from there owners in a better place
#25
Vaccines you get at the drug store on the corner or the feed and tack shop ARE NOT as good or the same as the ones you get at the vet.
Just because your dog is scratching its ears does not mean it has ear mites.
Your cat is not urinating outside the box because its a jerk ( it might be) it probably has an infection.
Not eating for 3 days while vomiting and having diarrhea is a huge deal! That 5lb chihuahua or even 80lb lab cant lose that many fluids without having any intake and be ok and neither would you.
zeldapajamas 4 years ago
If your cat is peeing outside the box, perhaps check the box and change the litter too, it's probably telling you something akin to "this is gross fix it"
Periwinkle 4 years ago (edited)
Vets know what they're doing. They have medical licenses, All so they can assure your pet has the best treatment and to get it out of pain.
BlueDiamond PinkDiamond 4 years ago
I mean my cats poop gets stuck to his fur because he sits down in the litter box and than comes out and leaves a poop on the floor, hopefully its not a health problem
#26
That they are NOT human. Anthropomorphizising your pet often leads to behavioural issues ( small dogs being treated like babies makes them feel they're pack leaders, no your dog is not smiling, he's [fricking] stressed, no, your dog is not guilty, he's terrified of punishment). So for the love of all your deities... Love your pet as if it was your child and treat it how it deserves to be treated - through communication it understands!
J. F. 4 years ago
Took care of my sisters cat - her now ex-husband was kinda rough with the cat and it took me two month to gain her trust.
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago
Some people just don’t understand that cats are not small dogs. You shouldn’t roughhouse with either cats or dogs, but cats are more likely to hold on to that behavior much longer than dogs who can be trained out of it. Even if you can get your cat to not roughhouse with you, the minute someone else starts doing it, the cat is right back where they started. Cat or dog, roughhousing is NOT funny, assholes.
Load More Replies... Periwinkle 4 years ago
My dog always thinks when I go to pet her I go to slap her, even if I gently close my hand and then unclose it, she always flinches. I think she has had a history of abuse in her previous home as I have never slapped her in my life. She is terrified of being shouted at.
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
A few tips: don't go to her for pets - let her come to you. Get down on your knees or sit down so you don't stand above her. Don't stare her down, keep gaze slightly away. Speak calmly. Don't force closeness if she doesn't want it - let her choose it. Don't pet her head if she fliinches away - let her choose where she likes to be petted. I'm glad she's got a good home with you 🙂 My girl sometimes still flinches away when something falls down, but she's gotten so much better with loud noises (except firework. That's hell for her) so it just takes time.
Load More Replies... Neva Nevičica 4 years ago
Thank you. And they don't 'think they are people'. It's so cruel that, in lack of your own friends, you are forcing the animal to act like something it's not. If dog is your best friend, you have to let him be what he is and let him do dog stuff. Like the 13 minute long sniffing before peeing on a blade of grass. It's boring to us, but to him it's the internet :)
Lexi Mitchell 4 years ago
How can they feel like pack leaders when the concept of alpha dogs is a myth? I’ve been around so many dogs so often, I don’t buy the “don’t anthropomorphize dogs!” thing. Learning how to read dog behavior is important, but they DO feel emotions. Also how in the hell does it make sense to say “they are not human” but then “love your pet as if it was your child”? Are we supposed to be treating children like animals?
Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
Vets are human, too. They say wrong things. Also: there are many similarities between dogs and children. Especially reactions to things like violence at home, or mood-swings in parents/owners. If you know how dogs react to such things (full range: some get aggressive, some get timid and pee on the carpet) you can be sure that kids react similarly (in kid-ways, of course). A bored child will show the same range of actions as a bored dog. Just observe, learn from one species and see where it applies to the other. Just remember not to treat them the same.
Load More Replies... Marlowe Fitzpatrik 4 years ago
It is. But even vets are humans and sometimes, they tell you dumb stuff.
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Ellena Kitchen 4 years ago
Wait. So they start with "Anthropomorphizising your pet often leads to behavioural issues" then they end with "Love your pet as if it was your child?" Feel like I'm getting mixed messages here.
Cameron Washington 4 years ago
PREACH THIS IS THE SO TRUE AND WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE DOING DON'T PULL THERE DAMN EARS THEN BE LIKE " OH STOP BEING A P*SSY WOULD YOU PULL YOUR CHILDS HAIR AND THEN GROUND THEM FOR GETTING HURT
*sigh*, The Yellow Teletubby 4 years ago
ugh, this. My dad really irritates me with this. He sees "Alpha" and "Omega", and humans are the "Alpha". Our dog, who we got a couple months back and is barely over a year old so she's still A PUPPY, ripped a hole in a chair that cost them somewhere like $400 to upholster. Well, he had a "bit" of a tantrum, and banged on her crate, while she was in it mind you, until it broke. Then he had the audacity to complain about how it was broken, and then brag a little (while laughing) that she stayed in her crate for like 2 more hours shaking and refusing to come out. He bonks her on the nose, picks her up by her scruff, yells at her, (and he yells at me and my sister, so I can only IMAGINE how horrible it must be for her), and he STILL has the audacity to complain when she doesn't want to come over to him, and laugh when she walks toward him slowly with her tail between her legs. She's not submitting to you, she's f*****g terrified of what you might do to her if she does something wrong.
*sigh*, The Yellow Teletubby 4 years ago
Don't get me wrong, I love her, I never have and never will hit her in any way (except for on accident, she's very accident-hit prone), but Jesus I wish we hadn't gotten another dog. I really just wish she'd gone to another home. He doesn't understand that she has emotions and she was mistreated even a little in her past, and that it was traumatic, since we don't know what kind of a situation she came from. He just thinks that she's in our house now, under our care, so she got over it and she's a new slate. Like no. Honey. It doesn't work like that. My dog, who came from a horribly abusive household, HATES men, and she's especially overprotective of me, because due to horrible mishappenings of my past, I'm also pretty easily scared by men and I KNOW she can sense it. My dad's had a bit of a character arc over the last year, and my dog hasn't seen him over that time, so I'm not sure if she'll be as protective of me as she normally is around him, but I'm thinking she might be a little
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Connie Muse 4 years ago
I think it's really important to recognize and respect your pet's animal behavior. It drives me nuts when people call them fur babies or act like they're their children.
#27
Woah, I rant about that so many times to my coworkers lol. 1. Having an obese pet is NOT cute. 2. Even if your pet is a darling at home, it still can bite me and you shouldn't judge me if I put on a muzzle (even more if it's a big, angry dog/cat). 3. Your pet has moods, just like a human. 4. Any change in behavior of your pet should be critically looked at. Why is it that your pet suddenly growls/bites when you touch it in a special place? Could it have pain there? 5. Argh dunno how many times I said that but most people bring in their pet when it's too late, I had so many cases where I had to use much more expensive treatment cause Karen was too lazy to come here with her cat who obviously had a tumor. 6. I wish people would understand a pet is not a toy for your children you buy and stuff away whenever you're done with it. 7. It's NOT cool to make your dog into a killer machine. Especially if I - the vet - have to give it a shot etc. Yeah... sometimes I highly doubt some people should be allowed to even own stuffed toys...
Walter 4 years ago
this makes me a sad walter. people don't realize that pets are not just things you watch so you can pass time once and a while. no matter the pet, as soon as you adopt it, it becomes a member of your family, just like a child. it needs DAILY ATTENTION, not just some food, water, and a couple ball tosses. they're LIVING BEINGS, not an entertainer!!!!!!!!
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago (edited)
And letting their children crawl all over them, stand on them, yell or scream in their ears, yank, hit, or kick them—-not necessarily intentionally, but kids aren’t very body-aware and don’t realize how the things they do affect others, so it’s up to parents and other adults to monitor and correct them—-is not cute or funny or bonding with the animal. It’s ABUSING the animal! And then they have the nerve to get angry at the animal for reacting, just like they would, to that abuse! Everyone should teach their children to be careful and gentle around animals. I don’t have children, but will tell a child who is mistreating an animal that it’s wrong, and will show them how much easier being kind makes things. I cannot stand by and watch cruelty. I have to jump in and stop it. Teach a child to be kind to animals and they’ll be kind to people too. They’ll grow up to be much better people than the rotten little f*****s allowed by their rotten f*****g parents to treat animals like they can’t feel pain or discomfort, or even have the right to have those feelings.
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C.S. E. 4 years ago
With regards to #2, let up on delivery persons, too, especially the USPS. Your pet could be lacking all their teeth, they can still trip up a person. Considering carriers have to step on to your property to deliver things like packages, a barking dog is very threatening, regardless of how you feel about them. I have personally seen chunks, and that's the only word I can think of, torn out of carriers calves from someone's precious dog. I have had friends harassed by dogs that have escaped their backyards and chased down the street. Your precious can, and may, hurt others. Please be cognizant of this!
Demon Child 4 years ago
Most people don't realize that smaller dogs don't really like children. That's mainly because kids find small ones less threatening, and want to touch them. If your Chihuahua bites a child, you need to understand why. They pretty much bark at everything bigger than them. Source: When my brother stuck his face in the dog's face of a family friend and got bit. (He's fine)
Molly Morrison 4 years ago
I'm sorry, it really pisses me off when pets or small children are obese. Clearly a parental/caregiver issue.
#28
The internet is not a place for you to self-diagnose and treat your pet. I saw way too many things happen to pets that didn't need to. Like putting oregano or oil in your dog's ear to treat an ear infection.
Periwinkle 4 years ago
My dog has an ear infection and an eye infection, we consult vets and get the medicine. It's working and he is now turning 12 this year. On valentines day, actually.
Graham Baker 4 years ago (edited)
My cat’s 14, he’s had multiple ear infections over the years but we go to the vets and get the right medicine, too! Giving him it is... very hard... but we sneak it into his treats and his tuna that he gets every once in a while. Happy birthday, pupper!
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Lexi Mitchell 4 years ago
I used the internet to self-disguise my dog, the vet diagnosed her with something different and ridiculous, and it turned out my initial diagnosis was correct. Oops.
Cameron Washington 4 years ago
just take the take the pet to a damn vet its not that hard people
Salty Old Woman 4 years ago
Or...and here's an idea (U.S.) only...HOW ABOUT VETS STOP CHARGING AN ARM, A LEG, AND YOUR FIRST BORN CHILD? Just a thought. Same for people doctors, too.
Eliška Hůlková 4 years ago
What an idiot would have done that. It would be better if they just used the same thing they use on themselves.
Some guy 2 years ago
Wrong. Plenty of human medications (Tylenol, NSAIDS, antidepressants, etc.) are FATAL to animals. NEVER give your pet a medication a vet didn't prescribe!
Load More Replies... #29
It’s not cute to have a dog that obsessively protects you. It means they see you as a resource to guard. Nothing more than a toy or bone. They are supposed to belong to you, not the other way around.
AlmightyOne 4 years ago
I wouldn't say they belong to you (I veiw pet/human bonds as a team) but yeah
Carney 4 years ago
The number one reason we get dogs into our rescue: people buy or adopt a power breed without knowing the first thing about dogs. They want a "big, ugly dog" to protect themselves or their family. I own two German Shepherds and a Pit Bull. They love everyone and are very social. BUT this took time, energy and commitment. The dogs would protect me IF it were needed, but they are not nasty and will not bark or growl without true cause. I trust them completely, but I also supervise and refuse to inflict innocent people with my dogs just because I know they are friendly. Be responsible people!
Gon Freecss 4 years ago
My mom had a chow chow when i was born and he was very protective of her and growled at me when i came home. Two years later i jumped on him when he was sleeping (stupid kid stuff) and he instantly snapped at me and I had to get stitches all around my chin. It was a close call to being higher on my face and I still have the scars.
Connie Muse 4 years ago
My mom seems to like that her dogs are protective of her and I think it's awful.
Justin Seagull 4 years ago (edited)
No, dogs shouldn't be obsessive and agressive. If they protect you like a toy, then they are not loyal to you, they just think they dominate you, that is not loyalty.
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#30
Veterinarian here.
Getting and relying on medical advice from breeders and groomers (with no medical background). I once saw a rat terrier with a fractured humerus, which typically requires surgical correction. As I stepped out of the room to check availability with a surgeon, the client called the dog’s breeder who said not to follow my advice and to “just put the dog in a sling” and that she’s “done on her own dog's plenty.”
Also, not exercising dogs enough. Many behavioral problems can be solved with ample exercise daily.
Periwinkle 4 years ago
I once saw an episode on an animal rescue program where a horse was bought from a horrible, deep scumbag who told the new owner the horse only had a small pain in their feet and could be treated easily. The rescue had to come because the horses hooves were curved in, I think. I also remember that the horse died or something else very tragic.
Sue Knerl 4 years ago
That horse was probably foundered. If the hooves were curling back like a ram's horn, it needs to be trimmed!
Load More Replies... Katrina B. 4 years ago
Only bad breeders well you not to listen to vet advice. Good breeders will tell you to listen to your vet.
somnomania 4 years ago
idk what the laws say but in that instance it should absolutely be legal to take the dog from the owner at that point, if both the client and the breeder are like "yeah ignore what this educated veterinarian is saying" that's basically abuse of the animal, negligence as well.
#31
Worked at a pet clinic for a couple of years and there are waaay to many people who buy cattle dogs/shephards and don't give them the attention/exercise they need. Then they want to know why the dogs are stressed, tearing everything up and running away. Don't get a working dog if you aren't up to the challenges necessary to meet their needs. Get a pet that fits with your lifestyle, not just one that's popular or intelligent or "the kind you always wanted". These are living beings with feelings, emotions and needs, not a fashion accessory or tool to get internet points.
Ember 4 years ago
There is a mountain of information out there on different breeds and their characteristics, find the breed that is most suited to your lifestyle/circumstances
Viviane 4 years ago
My sister and brother-in-law have two large dogs (mixed Great Pyrenees and Maremma) to guard their alpacas. My sister joined an online group devoted to livestock guard dogs. The adult dog is basically Chief Security Officer on the farm - when she barks, it's to tell my sister there's a problem and she'd better get on it. I can't imagine this one as strictly a pet.
Load More Replies... Kisses4Katie 4 years ago
I'm lazy. I'd like a bulldog. (But a rescue, and only if I get my life together. They have a lot of health issues!)
Anony Mouse 4 years ago
But on the other hand, adopt-don't shop. And there are no guarantees about what breed you're getting when you rescue or adopt. We were told our girl would be 60-70 lbs. and was Akita/German Shepard mix. She topped out at 30 lbs.
MAEVE PARENT 4 years ago
i have a cattle and even though we are in virtual school and work all day we give her 2 walks and wish to give her more and we always during breaks give her attention
#32
RVN Here (U.K.).
1)Vaccinating you’re animals costs WAY less than treating them for potentially fatal diseases. If we wanted your money we would advised AGAINST vaccinating.
2) calling your pet obese isn’t fat shaming. It is no different to having a super skinny underfed animal. Under weight or overweight, this is cruel and your animal is suffering.
3) your animal will not die peacefully at home. It’ll often take days or even weeks of suffering, struggling to get up, struggling to breathe. Please put your animal to sleep when we recommend you to. We are really doing it for the best interest of your pet.
4) your pet is in pain. Just because he is eating or running around doesn’t mean he isn’t in pan. Animals live in the moment, and do not show pain as much as humans as a way to survive. They can still run around with crippling arthritis. If we tell you your pet is in pain, trust us, they are.
5) please neuter your animal. They will not lose their personality. Neuter your animal, is much cheaper than treating them for prostate/testicular cancer, or a womb infection (pyometra). Please neuter your pets.
Ember 4 years ago
Very true. I’ve shared my home with dozens of cats over the years and have never had one die peacefully at home. You know when it’s time to take that final journey to the vets, you can see it in your pets eyes and can tell that they are suffering. It’s painful, heart breaking and difficult, but it’s the last loving act you can do for your beloved pet.
Canadian in Cornwall 4 years ago
So true. You can look into their eyes and they seem to be saying, please help me, I need to go now. People who keep the pet alive for themselves, because they can't bear to lose them, are being incredibly selfish. Letting them go at the right time is absolutely the last loving act you can do for them. And I get that it's hard, it's happened to us numerous times with cats over the years. Suck it up. Do the right thing.
Load More Replies... Danieletc 4 years ago
I don't disagree with #5, but still think a place with more Digger spawn on this Earth would be a better place.
Fluffy Griffin 4 years ago
I see where you are coming from. I get all my pets fixed, but sometimes, when one is getting older, I just wish I had their offspring to carry on the good memories. Though I'm fully aware that even their children would not be copies in looks or temperament.
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#33
“I can’t believe you pulled 12 teeth out of Lucy!” I didn’t pull, they fell. They FELL OUT. It amazes me how many people don’t notice the discomfort their pet is experiencing with their teeth rotting out of their face. Preventative dental care is so important!
Canadian in Cornwall 4 years ago
Well, people SHOULD be able to tell if there is decay, it stinks to high heaven !!
Hutt'nKloas 4 years ago
This. I've had a stray cat with severe gingivitus. Had several medical treatments trying to save his teeth. Didnt work out unfortunately, only suffered more. After removal of all his teeth [auch!] he was handicapped but a happy boy again.
#34
There are so many things, but I really want people to realize that while puppies are cute, they NEED APPROPRIATE SOCIALIZATION AND TRAINING. Especially when that cute puppy will grow up to be huge! I have seen many young dogs this year since COVID-19 has left many people with free time on their hands. They obviously aren't using this free time working on their pet's behavior though. Nothing like juvenile dogs who don't know how to walk on a leash, will literally knock you down, or will just try to bite you if you get near them. Or a young dog who is terrified of everything. Also, update your concept of training to this century please! No self respecting behaviorist or trainer will use dominance theory or negative reinforcers like shock collars. Evidence based research has shown is this is NOT the way! It breaks my heart when people take their dog to a trainer and it gets worse because of the methodology used.
Amelie C 4 years ago
Yes. This is very important. We think our dog wasn't socialised properly. When we first rescued him the sign of any other dog would make him bark. He came with sound sensitivity meds and clomicalm(He's off them now). We're working upwards so he can see other dogs and behave nicely.
Walter 4 years ago
if necessary. invisible fences are sometimes important if the area around a house is dangerous
Load More Replies... Walter 4 years ago
wait. by shock collars, do you mean for a fence? because we have one. she's never gone through, mainly because the collar makes a faint beeping noise when she gets about a foot away. we live near a forest, and there are lots of coyotes in there, so we got one. am i a bad dog trainer???? :((( pic of maggie: File_000-6...3-jpeg.jpg 
#35
What anxiety actually looks like in animals, especially dogs, and how unfair it is to the animal.
People don’t know that yawning, side-eye, lip licking, constant paw licking, etc. are signs of anxiety. That is your animal trying to speak to you and their surroundings that they aren’t ok. Over time it can escalate when they aren’t heard (up to biting) and the only way I can really intervene as a vet is some behavioural therapy but mostly through lifelong meds.
Many clients hate giving anxiety meds because it is a daily commitment and/or they don’t believe it is a big deal. They don’t think that their animal feels anxiety because they perceive the animal to have had a good life and what they do is "just a quirk." Furthermore, if they stop some of the meds the animal will be chemically resistant when you try use them again (like Prozac). Animals can’t really go to a therapist like we can but also it’s unfair to let them live in states of extreme anxiety. Think of those moments when you have a situation (or no obvious trigger) that you feel your stomach drop, you can’t focus, and you have that sense of impending doom you can’t shake. Animals feel that too.
Also don’t get me started on behaviour misinformation. Dominance/alpha theory, ignoring your animal when you come home/leave, purposely switching up your routine so they can’t "tell" your leaving. All bulls**t.
lucy dale 4 years ago
our cat had to go on anxiety meds and she is acting so much better now that shes on them
Periwinkle 4 years ago
Where do you find anxiety medication for pets? Slightly concerned about my dog now.
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Periwinkle 4 years ago
Our dog has anxiety then, I think it's separation anxiety though since she is literally attached to my mother. Strangely I'm not aware if the vet has mentioned it? When we take our dog ( Often, he is sick and old but happy don't worry he is on medicines ) we usually take bella in aswell.
Lorelai Purvis 4 years ago
someone needs to be a therapist for animals or invent a thing so dogs' body language and thoughts and noises are put into human language
Luthor 4 years ago
Just to add though, you DO NOT want to rile up your dog when you leave them. They get all excited and think it's 'play time' and then you walk out the door!! How cruel is that? They are left alone with all this energy thinking it was going to be you and them and then you're gone. Just give them a gentle goodbye... that way they understand that you leaving is not a big deal, you will be back (this MUST be routine though). When you arrive home, that is the time to cuddle and kiss and have fun and give treats. They learn that you leaving is NOT a bad thing because when you come home it's AWESOME! At least that has how it has worked for me. They get on with their day without stress until you return... and the wait is worth it! For both of you!
#36
Not a vet but I worked/interned at a vet for about a year. Take care of your pet’s dental hygiene the best you can. I’ve seen many gnarly mouths and several pets that have had to have almost all their teeth pulled. Also, dental diseases can cause your pet a lot of pain.
zeldapajamas 4 years ago
I have to say, I'm so happy that my current dog LOVES getting her teeth brushed and cleaned. She's always so happy after and wanting to show off her pearly whites with her entire back end wiggling because she's so excited she can't sit still.
#37
Absolutely do not have your rabbit in a carrot only diet. They need balance. Some of them don't even like them. Thanks bugs bunny
Craig Silberman 4 years ago
our bunny loved broccoli and all green leafy things, and ate carrots only sparingly
Cian Thomas McHugh 4 years ago
Only give your rabbit carrots on special occasions, like if you want to treat it for Christmas.
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Danieletc 4 years ago
How about just say "Absolutely do not have rabbit"? Unlesss the're doing the mating dance, they have ZERO personality and drop pellets like mad, anywhere? Seriously what's the pet in it? "Look, I got this fur thing that's scared of me and poops a f**ton. I named her BUNNY!"
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
"They have ZERO personnality"? Tell it to my dog because the rabbit is the boss of him. Also rabbits are very clean, they have litters like cats, and they are very smart and communicate a lot. You can teach them a lot, they know voice commands and you can even train them in agility, google "kaninhop", it's agility for rabbits. I have some toys for the rabbit and the dog with complex traps for treats, my rabbit is better than my dog at solving them. pinpin-602...43e663.jpg 
#38
Vet tech here : if you can’t afford the adoption or breeder fee, then you can’t afford a pet
Pets, especially DOGS need pet insurance. Do your research before getting a pet. They are not just something you can throw away. You would think adults would understand this but some really just don’t
Russell Ellwardt 4 years ago
Well, there are adults in a certain part of the world who believe that health insurance for humans is an unnecessary nuisance enforced on them by certain politicians. Sheesh.
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago (edited)
Pets don’t NEED pet insurance. I did my research and it is bullshit, too many restrictions and fine print. And if Choice advises it is a waste of money then that is saying something.
Anne 4 years ago
Pet insurance here is a rip off (Netherlands) - the one I had was advertised as the best, had good reviews etc.. paid out NOTHING on my pup eating rat poison accidentally. Cost me 2500 euro. So I save the 25 a month to a savings account and if my dog has anything - it goes out of that account. (Pup is doing well by the way)
Eva Bryson 4 years ago
I have a provision in my will that a certain amount of money goes to an urgent care clinic for those people who say they can't afford the emergency care. I will leave it to the vets discretion for that money to be used wisely.
Katrina B. 4 years ago
I disagree with the pet insurance, it generally tends to be a racket. If you own a pet, you should have enough money to pay for all vet care, even emergencies.
Luthor 4 years ago
Pet insurance is a scam. You can see from all these comments that we all agree. My advice? Find a vet that will let you make weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments into an ongoing account. Pay that insurance money to your vet directly. Over a year those payments will add up to cover most regular costs and a little bit more. Also, if there is an emergency and you can't pay immediatedly your Vet already knows that you are making regular payments to them and are more likely to allow those payments to continue to cover the extra costs. Just an idea that works for me. Pet insurance is worth nothing and will drain your money away.
I want cake 4 years ago
We got both our cats as rescues and couldn't insure them because they were already too old and had some pre-existing health conditions, but we got these pets knowing that if they needed treatment, we could afford it or figure out a way to pay for it. One was 11 and had a lump in his neck (we had it checked out, it was a benign tumor and he was too old to have it removed), he lived for another 5 and a bit years before he developed either a chest infection or lung cancer, the vet couldn't tell what it was from the x-ray but either way it was untreatable. Then we got a 7 year old who had been surrendered for agression and who had stress-groomed herself bald, so there was no chance of getting her insured either. Funnily enough she's the sweetest most playful cat I've ever known, not an aggressive bone in her body.
#39
Not a vet but my sister is.
Vet care is NOT FREE. There are a crazy number of clients who think that vet care should be free because if they charge money they must "hate animals and like to watch them suffer"
Kisses4Katie 4 years ago
Hey I'm all for it. After we take care of the people problems first; healthcare, jobs, education, hunger.. Dammit.
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Periwinkle 4 years ago
They have a job and they need money too for watching pets get mistreated, misinformation and watching said pets in agony for the same reason. They deserve money, end of.
#40
If they're limping/straining/ clamping one eye shut they're in pain. They don't cry and whimper like we do. I'm not making up how serious heartworm disease is where I live in South Texas. Yes, even for cats. At least where I live, you won't dry out their haircoats by bathing them. Skin allergies are so prevalent here it actually really helps. You can socialize cats and acclimate them to carriers and car rides. I encourage you to do so, it'll make their +/- 20 year lifespan so much more enjoyable for both of you! PLEASE don't declaw you cats and crop your dogs ears. Don't pay a backyard breeder to "rescue" a puppy or kitten from them. Whew- looks like I had a lot to unload here!
#41
RVT here. Exotic animals (reptiles, birds, small mammals such as rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and rodents) may be easy to acquire and assumingely easier to take care of but most of these animals have very specific housing and dietary needs that need to be met and require enrichment. Also, not every veterinarian has experience with exotic animals, and exotic animal medicine is sometimes at a premium but is still necessary. I’ve met a lot of people who get a small mammal or a small bird for like $20 from the pet store and then won’t pay for medical care because it costs way more than the pet was purchased for.
Cori 4 years ago (edited)
Same can be said for pot bellied pigs. They fall into the gap between small, companion animal medicine and farm animal care. Not all small animal vets will treat them and not all large animal vets know much about them. Also people often don't realize how important it is to spay and neuter their pet pigs. It prevents A LOT of behavior and health problems. But finding a vet who is willing to do surgery on a pig can be difficult. That's why it's so important to find a vet BEFORE you get your pig. That was the very first thing I did before I agreed to take my two little porcine hell raisers.
Kimberly Young 4 years ago
I volunteer with a rat rescue, and we get a lot of surrenders because people can't afford to treat URIs or adopt boys and can't afford to neuter them when they're too aggressive to live together.
AlmightyOne 4 years ago
Yeah. My family is, thankfully, in a place where we can take care of those particular needs, but not all people can. Please do your research!!!
Ember 4 years ago
There are vets out there who treat exotic pets but It’s so important to do your research before you buy a reptile or other unusual pet. Just getting the basics for housing/feeding etc can be very expensive so be aware of this before you decide that it’s the right pet for you.
#42
Ex vet tech.
Dogs and pancreatitis. It Can happen by eating the wrong food once, and it can kill an otherwise healthy dog within 2-3 days.
For the love of god. Don’t feed your dog table food. 1 intake of the wrong food can potentially cause pancreatitis. Most people think that “we rarely do it” so it’s okay to sneak some sausage to their dog during dinner
No no no. One time Can trigger it and it can be extremely deadly.
Also hand in hand with this: if your dog isn’t eating or drinking water, it needs medical attention. Don’t “wait a few days” if it isn’t drinking or eating. It will get dehydrated and it may die.
Monty Is Fiennes 4 years ago
My dog died from pancreatitis and the trauma f*cked me up for years. The vet didn't work out what it was and she died within 48 hours of first sign. She'd had a sausage....it's just not worth it....
Walter 4 years ago
Oh god... I'll definitely remember this the next time I try sneaking my dog something. I'm sorry for your loss
Load More Replies... Periwinkle 4 years ago
Be safe rather than sorry. Human food is NOT tested on dogs! It's NOT made for dogs! When will you guys learn this?! Stop killing your innocent pets.
Kisses4Katie 4 years ago
Geez guy, something just deadly might have a chance of recovery.
Load More Replies... #43
Your pet is not just there for cuddles and cuteness. They require training, proper diet, and health. Don't let your dog be a pee/poop demon just because you can't be bothered with its existence unless it gives you attention.
Arctic Fox Lover 4 years ago
YES, my mom's friend has a history of having pets and then taking crap care of them. For instance, their previous dog, Mini, was kept in a small cage (I'd say about 1x1 1/2) all day. She always peed and pooped in that cage because they didn't take the time to potty train her! I came over to play with her daughters one day, and she told us to take her out for a walk. They let her out of the cage (of course, aggressively grabbing her and forcing her into a leash) and walked her about 7 feet from the left of their doorway and back. Luckily I was there, and told them that they should walk her more. I took the leash (not snatching it out of her hand, my friend let me take it lol) and walked her all the way down the yard and then to the other side a few times, and then let her chase me around the yard. I even taught her a few tricks! I taught her to sit and to come here. And at first she didn't even need treats to do the tricks, but I thought she deserved a reward, so we gave her
Arctic Fox Lover 4 years ago
--a few treats. I think she was a miniature pinscher, that's why they named her Mini.
Load More Replies... #44
5yr Vet Tech Assist. If your pet is scratching and we find flea dirt, then your pet has fleas. Just because you take 1 pet out for just a few minutes doesn't mean they can't get fleas. Accept it, treat it, prevent it. STOP feeding table scraps. Pancreatitis sucks for everyone involved and is an expensive treatment. Yes, we recommend heartworm prevention all year around. We are not in it for "the money". We are in the South, it doesn't stay cold enough to keep the pests away. Your clearly aggressive animal isn't cute behavior. Period.
#45
DON’T FEED GRAIN FREE FOOD! If your dog actually has a grain allergy it will need a veterinary prescribed diet. Don’t listen to the people at the pet stores. Grain free is causing DCM.
#46
Vet in the UK - 1. the sounds that flat faced dogs make are not normal 2. there is no such thing as 'he/she is just a bit stiff but he/she is not in pain, it's just old age' if your dog/cat is stiff or slowing down on walks then it's very likely they are in pain 3. on the same note pain relief is important, yes all pain relief has side effects just like all human medication does, but please don't let your pet suffer 4. if your vet says your dog/cat needs a dental then please follow their advice, I've seen some horrendous mouths covered in calculus with teeth falling out and the poor animal's had to put up with it for years because 'he/she is still eating so his/her teeth must be fine'
Periwinkle 4 years ago
We never take Frodo ( The old dog I have we keep mentioning ) On long walks, We take bella on them but walk Frodo a small bit, someone staying at home with him then. Bella is a king charles pug mix, She still makes the breathing noises from time to time but she is okay since it's easier to stop. But if she is making those noises then it's much harder for actual pugs because their face is so much more flat
geometric_dolphin 4 years ago
I need to talk to my mom about my dog's teeth, he needs them cleaned but I don't think she's seen how much plaque is on the back teeth
#47
Getting them spayed or neutered under six months of age is going to prevent unwanted litters, cancer issues later in life, infections (pyometra), and behavioral issues. What it wont change is them gaining height or muscle. That stuff is genetic.
Wandaluzt 4 years ago
Thank them on Reddit where they posted it. They will probably never see this.
Load More Replies... Ozacoter 4 years ago
"I know how to control my dog" is a perfect way of saying "I am totally going to have an unwanted litter"
Load More Replies... #48
I wished that they understand that they have a live creature that need all type of cares not just medical but environment enrichment a correct and health feeding and why not? even emotional care but the average pet owner think that him/her just have a teddy bear or something.
Tiredpossum 4 years ago
I'd say imagine if it was your child would you keep it in a cage all day and not bother with it's health? If you said yes GTFO thank you.
#49
America, don't call the vet's office to describe your own symptoms in the hope they'll let you run in and pick up some meds for ... the dog. And don't take fish antibiotics from Petmartco, either.
Thanks,
Our neighbor Dr. Lucy, DVM
Xenon 4 years ago
Petco and PetSmart are pet stores in the US. They sell over the counter fish meds like antibiotics. Some people take the meds themselves to save money.
Load More Replies... #50
Not a veterinarian, but I am a veterinary assistant. What people often think is an "emergency" really isn't an emergency and your pet will not die that night if we can't squeeze you in for a same-day appointment. For example, if your dog has a minor ear infection, it's not gonna die if we tell you that our earliest appointment is next week and we don't have anymore available slots for the current day, especially not when we're about to close in an hour. We had a client with a GS insist that her dog needed to be seen NOW because it was an absolute emergency and that her dog was completely, 100% non-ambulatory and that she (the dog) would need to be carried into the hospital via a stretcher...Dr agreed to squeeze her dog in for an appointment during his lunch time, and guess what, the dog was walking fine and our doctor didn't find anything significant even with radiographs.
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E Menendez 4 years ago (edited)
This post is focused on dogs and cats, so I am going to add something as an owner of hamsters - THEY ARE NOT GOOD FOR KIDS. Hamsters take a lot of work and the terrible cages sold at the pet shop are nowhere near the right size. They may be small but they need a large cage. As with any pet - DO YOUR RESEARCH. It makes me so mad that people with these pets with no understanding - even as simple as the fact that they are nocturnal. And I take them to the vet if I notice anything unusual in their health. We are obligated to care for any creature we make reliant on us for their care.
You are Beautiful (He,Him) 4 years ago
I don't think people understand how serious declawing cats is. It's not only ripping out their claw, it's making them paralyzed in their finger joints and it puts the cat through incredible pain. PLEASE DON'T DO IT!!!!!
Daniel Brodzik 4 years ago
Sad thing is, most landlords (at least around me) require proof of full declawing before a cat is allowed to live with you. But it’s like chopping their fingers off.
Load More Replies... Logic and Reason 4 years ago
Stay away from Petsmart and Petco. They are after your money, much of their care information and products are complete and total BS. This excludes cats and dogs to an extent, I’m mainly referring to reptiles, rodents, and fish.
Jazz Akins 4 years ago
They only way someone working there is gonna have the proper knowledge about reptiles, rodents and fish is if they go out of their way to do so. I have a homegirl that worked at a place like that and she was very informed about the reptiles and whatnot
Load More Replies...
Tin Woman 4 years ago
Don't use the old "Dogs are meant to survive in the wild" crap. They're not. Wolves were; then we came in and manipulated them to end up with a house animal that would help us. We OWE dogs the care, we created animals that more or less depend on us, we can't release them out there and turn our backs. Spay and neuter, adopt and love forever.
Laura Iloiu 4 years ago
I totally agree that research is the most important thing to do before you get a pet. I've wanted a hedgehog or rats, but after less than one hour of research I've came to the conclusion that none would suit my current living situation at all. So I've just got two cats, which are a lot easier to care for. And I got two because I can't let them outside the apartment, and only one would have been bored to death or destroy stuff being all alone. This way they play together and they don't need as much attention as if they were alone. They do, rarely, break stuff, but I was expecting that and I've arranged my apartment and bought stuff with them in mind (a durable couch so that it doesn't scratch easily, multiple scratch posts, moved the flowers up where they can't jump etc etc etc). And now I'm planning a cage in the balcony where they can get some fresh air without the risk of them jumping out. Having a pet involves soooo much thinking and planning and money, even if they are healthy.
Catherine Côté 4 years ago
Even small animals need socialisation and care. I had a duo of rats for a year and they are a lot like dogs. They needed to be let out of the cage for 20 minutes to a few hours each and EVERY day, EXACTLY like a big dog, else they get agressive or overly passive. And they love training. Don't get a small animal thinking it needs less because it's small, you're lying to yourself.
Abbyboudreaux 4 years ago
I saw it mentioned in one but I just wanted to emphasize that if your dog’s behavior suddenly changes, you really should look into it. We had a big Great Dane/Mastiff. He was the biggest gentle giant in the world, till one day he snapped at a friend of mine when she held her hand out for him to sniff. We assumed he just didn’t like her for some reason, but then he did it again to someone he was very familiar with, and then started to even snap at us. We took him to the vet and it turned out his retinas had been bleeding inside his eye and he could hardly see anymore, so he was biting at folks when he couldn’t tell what or who was there.
E Menendez 4 years ago (edited)
This post is focused on dogs and cats, so I am going to add something as an owner of hamsters - THEY ARE NOT GOOD FOR KIDS. Hamsters take a lot of work and the terrible cages sold at the pet shop are nowhere near the right size. They may be small but they need a large cage. As with any pet - DO YOUR RESEARCH. It makes me so mad that people with these pets with no understanding - even as simple as the fact that they are nocturnal. And I take them to the vet if I notice anything unusual in their health. We are obligated to care for any creature we make reliant on us for their care.
You are Beautiful (He,Him) 4 years ago
I don't think people understand how serious declawing cats is. It's not only ripping out their claw, it's making them paralyzed in their finger joints and it puts the cat through incredible pain. PLEASE DON'T DO IT!!!!!
Daniel Brodzik 4 years ago
Sad thing is, most landlords (at least around me) require proof of full declawing before a cat is allowed to live with you. But it’s like chopping their fingers off.
Load More Replies... Logic and Reason 4 years ago
Stay away from Petsmart and Petco. They are after your money, much of their care information and products are complete and total BS. This excludes cats and dogs to an extent, I’m mainly referring to reptiles, rodents, and fish.
Jazz Akins 4 years ago
They only way someone working there is gonna have the proper knowledge about reptiles, rodents and fish is if they go out of their way to do so. I have a homegirl that worked at a place like that and she was very informed about the reptiles and whatnot
Load More Replies... Tin Woman 4 years ago
Don't use the old "Dogs are meant to survive in the wild" crap. They're not. Wolves were; then we came in and manipulated them to end up with a house animal that would help us. We OWE dogs the care, we created animals that more or less depend on us, we can't release them out there and turn our backs. Spay and neuter, adopt and love forever.
Laura Iloiu 4 years ago
I totally agree that research is the most important thing to do before you get a pet. I've wanted a hedgehog or rats, but after less than one hour of research I've came to the conclusion that none would suit my current living situation at all. So I've just got two cats, which are a lot easier to care for. And I got two because I can't let them outside the apartment, and only one would have been bored to death or destroy stuff being all alone. This way they play together and they don't need as much attention as if they were alone. They do, rarely, break stuff, but I was expecting that and I've arranged my apartment and bought stuff with them in mind (a durable couch so that it doesn't scratch easily, multiple scratch posts, moved the flowers up where they can't jump etc etc etc). And now I'm planning a cage in the balcony where they can get some fresh air without the risk of them jumping out. Having a pet involves soooo much thinking and planning and money, even if they are healthy.
Catherine Côté 4 years ago
Even small animals need socialisation and care. I had a duo of rats for a year and they are a lot like dogs. They needed to be let out of the cage for 20 minutes to a few hours each and EVERY day, EXACTLY like a big dog, else they get agressive or overly passive. And they love training. Don't get a small animal thinking it needs less because it's small, you're lying to yourself.
Abbyboudreaux 4 years ago
I saw it mentioned in one but I just wanted to emphasize that if your dog’s behavior suddenly changes, you really should look into it. We had a big Great Dane/Mastiff. He was the biggest gentle giant in the world, till one day he snapped at a friend of mine when she held her hand out for him to sniff. We assumed he just didn’t like her for some reason, but then he did it again to someone he was very familiar with, and then started to even snap at us. We took him to the vet and it turned out his retinas had been bleeding inside his eye and he could hardly see anymore, so he was biting at folks when he couldn’t tell what or who was there.
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