Things Your Pet Wishes You Knew

Our pets rely on us for not only their basic needs, but in the case of those more intelligent animals, for companionship as well. Here are six important things your pets wishes you knew.

1. I'm Lonely!! Most animals are social. The idea of an 'outside' only pet is inhumane. Wonder why Fido constantly digs or jumps the fence or barks all the time? He's being tortured with being all alone. If you want to get a dog, for instance, but work full time and will be gone most of the day, either don't get one or plan on taking it to doggie daycare so he won't have serious behavioral issues. Sometimes having multiple pets (even different species that get along) will help ease the loneliness and curb any possible or current issues with being alone. Even cats can be lonely but getting two usually does the trick. Even rodents, especially rats, are social and can get depressed and even die without companionship. The bottom line? Don't try to stick a square pet in a round hole by getting one that needs a friend in you or another pet to be healthy.

2. My teeth matter! Can you imagine how sick you'd be if you didn't brush your teeth...ever? Chewing on stuff may help but eventually you're going to need some dentures. Unfortunately they don't make dentures for pets, and your dogs, cats and even ferrets and rodents need attention to their teeth. Many rodents need their teeth checked to make sure they are being worn down properly and some need a tooth trim at least on occasion to prevent those front teeth from curling and becoming useless. As far as dogs and cats go, veterinary medicine has lengthened their lives five or even ten years through careful dental care. Lack of dental care is linked to kidney, heart and liver diseases and can even effect the brain. Dogs and cats must go under anesthesia for a proper dental cleaning but the yearly investment is worth the prevention of diseases and conditions that are even more costly to treat.

3. My food is my fuel! (I'm not going to debate the issues of commercial pet food here, but address quality.) If you were only going to eat boxed cereal at every meal for the next ten to 20 years, wouldn't you choose the best, most high quality, well balanced and well formulated cereal you could get? Well, that's basically what your pet eats and when you're talking low grade pet food you're talking about no better nutritional fare than what you would find at the fast food section of a gas station. Spending more on high quality food for your pet now means paying less at the vet later (in most cases...some pets and breeds are just going to be prone to medical issues.). Bad food can cause gastro-intestinal issues, allergies, kidney problems, skin problems, you name it. Got a boxer with bad gas? Try higher quality food formulated for sensitive stomachs. Got a lab with itchy feet and ears? Try a higher quality food with a novel protein, such as lamb, rabbit or venison. Many minor health complaints can be traced back to poor quality food. Talk to your vet and see what they recommend. And if you want to research all those raw meat/home-made diets, be my guest! Just remember why we don't eat raw food ourselves or leave it lying around in bowls on the floor. And please don't ask the pet store guy about what the best food is...you wouldn't ask the bag boy at the grocery store what cereal to buy, would you?

4. No, it's not cute when I'm fat! We seriously over-feed our pets. Part of the blame could go to food makers, who can sometimes recommend feeding more than is actually necessary. However, this is most often attributed to push-over pet parents who give their animals nibbles of their food from the table or hand out treats at the drop of a hat. Treats should make up no more than 10% of your pets daily diet. That's not a lot. Remember that if you don't live alone the other people in the house are probably giving out treats and dropping accidental people-food morsels as well. Don't give in to those puppy dog eyes, either. It's for their health and well being! (A word of advice...never, EVER feed your cats in the morning. Feed them in the late afternoon and night so they won't make a habit of waking you up in the morning for their breakfast.) Obesity in pets is just as detrimental to their health as is obesity in humans. Don't forget that the gain of one pound in a ten pound animal is like gaining twenty pounds for a two hundred pound human. Even a little extra weight can make a difference. Dogs need exercise and indoor cats need extra stimulation. Buy a laser light and make your cats do laps, get fun toys for them to play with and run after...be creative but get that furry booty moving!

5. I may act human but deep down, I'm an animal! Animals have instincts. Our pets are animals. And some of those animal instincts are not necessarily convenient for us. They are what they are, however, and if we can do our research and make wise choices concerning the pets we choose we can do a great service to our pets. Many different dog breeds and exotic pets have been made popular by movies, TV and celebrities, but this does not make them the right pet for you. Do your research, read about the animal you want to get, take into consideration your current living situation, personality, hobbies, etc. before picking a pet. For instance, If you cannot stand intermittent noises (like a dripping faucet or a ticking clock) then a bird is definitely not for you. Have issues with cleaning up pet-hair? A Persian cat is not for you. A high-energy Jack Russel Terrier, who has been bred to stubbornly chase and catch rodents and foxes is not a good match for an apartment dweller who is gone a lot or even a house owner with a large yard who also has cats...or who cherishes the local wild rabbit population...or has chickens. Getting my drift?

6. I am an investment...buy stock in me now! Pets cost money. Lots and lots of money. The smaller the pet, the less the costs generally incurred, yet costs will still come up. Health care, food, toys, any number of things can pop up at any time that will call for the need of cold, hard cash. Veterinary medicine is not like human medicine...there's no big insurance companies paying ridiculous amounts for products and services. Vet hospitals and clinics are run like any other business. There are costs incurred with every visit, including doctor or technician (nurse) time and expertise, medical equipment, procedures, prescriptions and overhead. Costs of products are marked up to make a profit because if they weren't the doctor would not be able to pay other doctors and hospital staff and he/she would go out of business. It's a reality and that's that. Until the IRS allows us to claim our pets as dependants, we'll be shelling out the dough as needed. My suggestion? Open a savings account dedicated to your pet. Food and toys can be a part of your montly grocery budget, but what if your pet gets hurt or sick? This pet savings account (I'm not suggesting trying to actually put it in their name...) would see at least twenty dollars a month and be used for surgeries, procedures and emergencies not under the realm of normal care. Veterinarians can't afford to make payment arrangements so it is in the best interest of your credit, pocketbook and your pet to save for a rainy day.