Responsible Pet Care

Keeping a pet is a full-time responsibility that requires a significant amount of time and money. Granted, those demands are different depending on what kind of pet you choose. For instance, rodents make excellent pets for the busy college student. This page will focus on cats and dogs. Special emphasis is placed on dog care because the creator of this website has the most experience with dogs.
Time
Money
Cats
 Cats do not need to be taken out for walks and tend to have more independent personalities than dogs. However, they can still have very demanding personalities and, if ignored, can potentially develop behavioral problems or destructive tendencies. Cats live longer than dogs, 14-18yrs. Pet Education.Com estimates cats cost $491-$3125 the first year and $310-$1169 each successive year.
Dogs
 Dogs require extensive time and energy: training, exercise, walks, etc. It is cruel and irresponsible to leave a dog crated for more than 4 hours. Therefore, when owning a dog, you may need to adjust your schedule accordingly. As with cats, dogs who do not get enough attention can become destructive. Dogs live 8-15yrs, depending on breed. The American Kennel Club estimates that owning a dog costs $1327 per year. PetEducation.Com estimates $511-$6600 the first year, $287-$2485 per year after that.

Feeding your pet:
Make sure you feed your pet a premium or superpremium food. Most commercial foods are extremely unhealthy and replete with "fillers" such as processed corn and wheat (and their respective derivatives). Even the more expensive brands, such as Iams and Hills Science Diet, are not that healthy. The reason that most vets will recommend Iams/Science Diet is because veterinary Nutrition courses are taught by Iams/Hills representatives. In choosing a food, make sure that at least one of the first 4 ingredients is meat, but stay away from foods that include "byproducts"--this can often mean rendered meat and/or beaks, hooves, etc. Premium foods also usually include whole grains and vegetables, while some add yogurt or healthy oils (such as flaxseed) that provide omega-3 fatty acids. Stay away from corn, wheat, soy, sugar, and dyes. For more information, read this handout on the canine diet. Some excellent examples of pet food include:

Austin retailers that carry these superpremium, organic foods:

The right food will not only improve your pet's health overall, it can help prevent future medical problems. Also, because it is healthier and contains no "fillers", you don't have to feed as much, so you save money. What it boils down to is, no matter how expensive your dog food gets, it still pales in comparison to the possible vet bills you may end up paying later on. For an excellent site that compares each food based on its main ingredients, visit Natura Pet's Comparison Wizard.

Cat Care:
Visit the following links for information and tips on caring for your pet cat.

 

Dog Care:

Dog care can be divided into two main categories: behavior and training. Undestanding dog behavior and mentality is crucial to maintaining a good relationship with your pooch, and it is a prerequisite to training. Training allows you to establish rules for your dog to follow, which will make both of you much happier. Please remember that dogs do not misbehave on their own--chances are a "bad dog" simply hasn't internalized the lessons yet, perhaps because the training has been inconsistently applied. In order for your dog to have any chance of success with training, every member of your household must be consistent when it comes to discipline. You must get the cooperation of your household or you may see lengthy delays in your dog's improvement.

Your Pet's Happiness

  • Keep your pets indoors. It is safer for them and will strengthen the bond between you.
  • Be consistent. Make sure everyone in your household is on the same page about how to care for your pet.
  • Train your dog. Dogs need structure and rules to be happy; they truly want to please and just need to be taught how.
  • Feed a quality food. It may seem sometimes like your pets eat better than you, but spending a little more now on a premium or super premium food will help prevent future health problems.
  • Spay and neuter. Pregnancy takes a physical toll on any creature, and neutered males make much better pets because they are less likely to fight or mark their territory.