In the journey of taking care of pets, pet owners are always worried about whether they have done well, if anything is incorrect that affects the dogs and cats. Through this article, Pet Choy will reveal to you 7 mistakes to avoid when taking care of pets and guide you on the most “standard” ways to handle them. Continue reading to equip yourself with more useful knowledge:
1. Pet owners do not spay/neuter their pets
Every year, millions of stray dogs and cats die on the streets because they are not spayed or neutered. Specifically, a study by Banfield Pet Hospitals in the USA on 460,000 cats showed that spayed/neutered cats live 62% longer than other normal cats. Early, proper spaying/neutering also helps protect pets from diseases such as breast cancer, pyometra in female cats, and testicular cancer in male cats. Moreover, early spaying/neutering also prevents cats from becoming aggressive, fighting, and howling during mating seasons, which saves on treatment costs and prevents disturbing neighbors.
Therefore, you should spay/neuter your pets when they are approximately 6 months old because this is the time when they have completed most vaccinations, have matured, and tolerate pain better, and their bodies recover quickly after spaying/neutering. To ensure safety and avoid complications, you should take your cat to a reputable veterinary facility with skilled medical staff.
Pet owners do not spay/neuter their pets
2. Pet owners always leave food full in the pet's bowl
Pet owners simply think that dogs and cats, being in the growing phase, need a large supply of energy by eating a lot and eating well. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common mistakes you might make. Because allowing dogs and cats to eat a lot and continuously will cause them to have excess calories, leading to a series of problems such as being overweight, high blood fats, sluggishness, fatigue, etc. Instead, you should follow the suggestions on the food label that the manufacturers have attached and consult with a veterinarian to build the most appropriate diet.
3. Pet owners let dogs and cats eat vegetarian
If cats are carnivores (primarily eating meat and animal organs), dogs are omnivores (including both plant and animal foods). Therefore, if dogs and cats eat vegetarian food, they will experience serious nutrient deficiencies. Especially carnivores like cats have the potential to die from not receiving meat-based nutrients, causing a decline in taurine—an amino acid only found in animal tissue. Without taurine, cats will face a series of issues such as heart diseases, deformities. Additionally, a vegetarian or vegan diet also causes dogs and cats to feel tired and exhausted due to the lack of necessary nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, etc. It is best to combine different foods to help dogs and cats develop comprehensively!
Pet owners let dogs and cats eat vegetarian
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4. Pet owners seldom exercise their dogs and cats
Just like humans, pets need to exercise to maintain their health. If you don't let your pets exercise, they are at risk of obesity, which increases the risk of respiratory and joint problems. The suitable amount of exercise for dogs and cats depends on their breed and size, but veterinarians recommend pet owners allow them to "exercise" at least half an hour each day through simple activities like walking, strolling, fetching, playing with a yarn ball, etc. Whenever dogs and cats succeed, you should reward them with words of encouragement or tasty treats to give them motivation.
5. Pet owners do not pay attention or take care of their pets
Like children needing protection and care, pets will also feel bored if you don't play with them. Prolonged lack of interaction will cause dogs to develop negative reactions such as depression, chewing items, digging around, uncontrolled barking. As for cats, they will scratch objects in the house and meow all day. Therefore, you should give your pets special attention so they no longer feel lonely. Specifically, pet owners can engage in interesting activities like hiding snacks for dogs and cats to find, giving them yarn or rattles, playing hide and seek, or simply cuddling and stroking them to make them feel safe.
6. Pet owners leave dogs and cats alone for too long
Letting a cat stay in one place for 8 to 10 hours is too much; this prolonged situation will lead to anxiety, isolation from the surrounding world, and bad habits like random digging, continuous barking/howling, or, worse, they may withdraw into a corner, not wanting anyone to invade their territory. Instead, you should take them outside more, regularly take them for walks, let them interact with other dogs and cats to explore the world. Ideally, you should only keep them in a cage for 4-5 hours then let them out for a bit to play—this will make dogs and cats feel cared for and not lonely in the steel cage.
Pet owners leave dogs and cats alone for too long
7. Pet owners allow dogs to eat leftover food
Dogs and cats can be tempted by leftover food and often run to the trash to rummage for food. However, this action should not be encouraged as leftover food is not good for the health of pets. Dogs and cats consuming leftovers can easily suffer from food poisoning or pancreatic issues. Spoiled, rancid food also poses the risk of harmful mold, causing pets to vomit, have seizures, or even die. It is best to train dogs and cats to stay away from the trash and only eat food prepared in their own bowls.
Pet Choy hopes the above article will help you recognize 7 mistakes in taking care of dogs and cats and know the correct ways to handle them. Finally, we wish your pets to always be healthy, and don't forget to read the next articles from Pet Choy!