Bringing Home a Pet: A Guide
One of the greatest moments for any family is adopting a pet and taking it home for the first time. It’s an exciting and fun thing to happen. There are a lot of things to consider once you’ve decided to take the plunge. You’ll need to prepare your home correctly and ensure that they settle in well, and if you’re unsure how to go about that, then here are some guidelines and advice on doing just that.
Look around your home and pet-proof it
All the things that are fine for adult humans to be around can cause potential hazards for pets. Make sure fragile ornaments are well out of the way, and you should also ensure things like trash cans have lids on them.
Tie away all cables as they’re trip and strangling hazards and don’t leave medications lying around. Take note of all the house plants you have and make sure none of them are toxic to pets. If they are, they’ll need to be removed from the home. In the garden, make sure toxic chemicals are not used, and anything hazardous is kept on high up shelves in the garage or tool shed.
Make sure your pet has its own safe space
Designate a safe area for your pet to stay during the day and give it a safe space where it can feel most at home, and as though it’s theirs. Set this up before you bring your pet home and introduce them to it straight away so they can get used to it.
Vaccinate your pet
You will need to ensure that your pet has the appropriate vaccinations before they come home. Head on over to heartandpaw.com to book your new pet’s vaccinations, and be sure to sign them up so that you can take them to the veterinary clinic for regular checkups. With experts on hand, your new puppy or kitten will be well looked after.
Buy lots of toys and pet supplies
Dogs and cats will always benefit from having lots of nice toys to play with so that they won’t chew at or claw other things in the home. When pets are very young, they like to explore things with their mouths, and this can highlight where the potential choking hazards are in the home.
Move anything that will fit into the mouth of a dog or cat (or any other pet) well out of their reach. Items like this can prove fatal or cause serious injury, resulting in a visit to a vet’s surgery.
You’ll also need to think about making sure you’ve got enough poop scoop bags, scratching posts and litter trays, as well as collars and leashes.
Your new pet will need to adjust
Allow for the fact that your new pet will need some adjustment time. They might feel stressed or sad and cry at first, but this will pass and shouldn’t be too much of a cause for concern. This is another reason why it is imperative they have their own safe space to soothe them when they feel unsure.
Thoroughly clean and tidy your home
Block any small spaces your pet can get into, and make sure they can’t get under dressers or beds. Thoroughly clean, vacuum, and dust everywhere and make sure you keep on top of this, especially if you have a breed of dog or cat that tends to lose a lot. Pet hair can soon build up. If you are worried about something other than dog hair, then you may want to read some information about dog diapers so you are sure that the carpet is always clean. It’s recommended you vacuum once a day if you keep dogs or cats and deep clean any carpets once every few months with professional carpet cleaners.
For a deeper clean, it’s recommended to seek the services of professional carpet cleaners, such as those in the carpet cleaning greenville sc, who can help ensure that your carpets are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.
Finally, as a pet owner, your other tasks include regular dog grooming, walking your pet and spending as much time as you can with your little friend.