Risky Mistakes Pet Owners Make – PART 1

Category: Cat Care, Dog Care | Tags:

Date: July 13th, 2012

(1) Letting your dog walk you.  A poorly trained dog can pull you over while you’re out for a stroll.  According to the CDC, tens of thousands of people end up in the ER every year because of pet related issues falls.  Many of these falls occur during walks.  Experts say to obedience train your dogs.  It helps in every aspect!

(2) Overlooking ticks.  After a walk in the woods, you check yourself for ticks, so you should also check Fido!  Tick bites put your dog at risk for many diseases.

(3) Ignoring ringworm.  If your pet has a round bald patch, ringworm could be to blame.  Leave this fungus untreated and you’re putting your family at risk.  Please can get it from touching.  Ringworm causes a reddish, ring-shaped rash on the skin or bald spots if it infects the scalp.

(4) Not spaying or neutering your pet.  Millions of cats and dogs live on the street or end up euthanized because of unwanted litters.  Spaying or neutering is the healthy choice- it reduces the risk of breast cancer and testicular cancer.

(5) Keeping the bowl full.  With the best intentions, some people keep their pets’ food bowls full at all times. This is one of the most common mistakes pet owners make.  The problem is that cats and dogs often eat more than they need.  If food is constantly available, they will take in too many calories and put on too much weight.  To avoid this, follow the suggestions on the pet food label or ask your vet.

(6) Forcing cats to be vegetarians.  Vegetarian people sometimes want their pets to share their lifestyle.  The trouble is cats are obligate carnivores.  This means they must eat meat to survive.  They depend on nutrients, such as the amino acid taurine, that are only found in animal tissue.  Dogs maybe be able to handle a well-balanced vegetarian diet, but check with your vet first.

(7) Providing too little exercise.  Just like people, pets need exercise to stay healthy.  Couch potato pets are prone to obesity, which raises their risk of respiratory problems and joint problems.  The right amount of exercise for a dog depends on the breed, size and age- ask your vet!

(8) Misreading body language.  Do you understand your dog?  If you think a wagging tail is always a good sign, you could be in for a nasty surprise.  When a dog wants to threaten someone, he may hold his tail high and waive it stiffly back and forth.  Mistake this warning for a sign of playfulness and you could get bitten.  Learn your pets body language!

(9) Feeding cats only dry food.  Cats have a low thirst drive by nature, so they may not drink enough to stay well hydrated.  Feeding them only dry food compounds the problem and can put them at risk for urinary tract disorders.  To promote healthy bladder, some vets recommend canned foods, which are 78 percent water.  A fluid rich diet is particularly important for cats with a history of urinary tract infections.

(10)               Giving Bones to dogs.  We may think of bones as a wonderful treat for dogs, but the FDA paints a different picture.  The agency warns that chewing on bones can injure the teeth, tongue or mouth.  Bon fragments can get stuck in your dog’s windpipe, interfering with breathing.  Bones can also get stuck in the digestive tract, where they will have to be removed with surgery.  If your dog likes to chew, ask your et about safe alternatives.

From WEBMD.