Ten Things All Pet Owners Should Know

Ten Things All Pet Owners Should KnowBy Steph BaireyFollowing these ten tips will guarantee you a happy, healthyrelationship with any kind of pet.1. Your pet needs to go to the vet. Start saving now.Every pet needs to be examined by a vet occasionally. Illnesses thatare caught early are often treatable, and regular vet exams are yourbest weapon. Even the healthiest pet may have an accident, callingfor immediate emergency care. Older pets may be in pain from age-related deterioration. Face it, you're going to have to take your petto the vet sooner or later. Be prepared to pay for it!2. You're the human, you set the rules.Don't let your pet boss you around. Decide on the rules, and enforcethem consistently. Don't let your pet get his way if it goes againstthe rules -- he'll just try that much harder the next time. Animalsmay not seem to have long memories, but they sure remember how theygot their own way the last time!3. Animals love a boring routine.Pets want to know what to expect -- it makes them feel secure. Yourswill be happiest if they are fed at the same time every day, sleep inthe same spot at night, and can count on you to always come home at acertain time. They'll get by if the routine occasionally changes, butkeeping their day predictable keeps them predictable, and happy.4. Good food and lots of exercise equals a long life.We all know we should eat healthy foods in moderation and get plentyof exercise. The same goes for our pets. Healthy living preventsillness, and you won't have to see the vet as often! If a small petis confined to a cage, give it lots of space and things to climb onor explore, to encourage exercise. Reserve treats like dog biscuitsor table scraps for very special occasions.5. Everything ends up in their mouths.To you it's an electrical cord, but to your dog, it's a chew toy.Keep in mind that your pets will chew on anything, and keep dangerousitems out of reach! Encourage them to chew on toys instead byproviding lots of them, especially new ones once the old ones havelost their appeal.6. Bacteria do not make good pets.A clean environment keeps everyone happy and healthy. Pets are dirty,and need lots of cleaning. On a weekly basis, brush your dog's teeth,wash out the gerbil's water bottle, and scoop out the cat's litterbox! If you don't, you're in for bacterial and parasitic infections,painful tooth decay, and the smell...!7. Tight security saves lives.Keep your pet confined safely. Escape-proof all cages and fences,walk your dog on a leash, and keep your cat indoors. The outsideworld is full of speeding cars, unfamiliar animals, pesticides, andeven pet thieves. Just in case, make certain all dogs and cats havesturdy collars with tags, or have been tattooed or micro-chipped.8. There are too many homeless animals already.Lost pets without tags usually end up being put to sleep at theshelter when they lose their way home. Even worse off are the petswho never had homes to begin with. There aren't enough good homes forall the animals out there, so have your pets spayed or neutered, anddo not allow them to breed! In America alone, four million cats anddogs are put down every year. That's far too many! If you wantanother pet, consider adoption instead.9. When in doubt, look to nature.When confronted with a pet problem, find out how your pet would havelived in the wild. Need to know how warm your frog's tank should be?Research his natural habitat and try to copy it. Want to keep yourdogs from fighting? Read up on pack behavior in the wild. Our petsevolved to live in the wild, and by understanding their naturalenvironment, needs, and social behavior, we can help them live withus more comfortably.10. It all depends on you.Ultimately, when you accepted this animal as a pet, you agreed totake care of him. This means feeding, habitat, health, safety... youare responsible for it all. It takes a lot of time and money to carefor a pet properly. However, it is certainly worth it! There are over100 million households worldwide with at least one pet, and theycan't all be wrong! Take care of your pets, so you can have a long,enjoyable life together.Copyright 2001, Steph Bairey -- All Rights ReservedSteph Bairey is a web developer and pet owner, with 25 years of petcare experience and 30-40 pets at any one time. Get immediate,reliable answers to your pet care questions at Steph's website,Practical Pet Care, located at http://www.practical-pet-care.com, ore-mail her at steph@....