Is there anything better than coming home and having your pet excited and happy to see you? Or when they cuddle up next to you and other family members? All pet owners understand how valuable these memories with their four-legged friends are and how their families would be incomplete without them.

However, although getting a new pup or small cat may be exciting, at the same time, it’s a lifetime commitment that you have to make as soon as they enter your life. You are responsible for your furry friends’ health, and properly taking care of your little fur-baby includes getting all the necessary pet prescription meds and regular vet visits, among many other things. Every responsible pet owner has to undertake the following responsibilities to ensure the well-being and happiness of their pets.

Regular Visits to the Veterinarian

The health of your pet should be your number one priority. Keep in mind that dogs and cats have a shorter life expectancy than humans. Depending on the breed of dogs, generally speaking, their lifespan is around 10-13 years. On the other hand, cats’ life expectancy is around 12-18 years. However, their lifespan can become even shorter due to health problems that might develop over time. Whether it’s an ear or eye infection, it’s better to treat it early rather than wait for the symptoms to worsen, resulting in difficult treatment for their infected and inflamed ears or, even worse, suffering from vision loss.

It is your responsibility to take your pets to routine check-ups, which may reveal hidden diseases, such as heartworm disease, that can be fatal if left untreated. This disease causes serious complications in dogs and cats, such as heart failure, lung and organ damage, and even death. That is why heartworm testing is important, along with fecal examinations, which can reveal the presence of intestinal worms inside your furry friend. Blood work is also important since it will show results of any infections, anaemia, etc.

Pet Prescription Medications

However, sometimes your heart will break when you hear that your fur-baby has some serious medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism, congestive heart failure, Cushing’s disease, atopic skin disease, and others. Luckily, they have you to look after them and get all the pet prescription meds they require to ease or control their condition.

What’s more, you can order all the necessary pet medications online from pet chemist shops without leaving your pet alone. You will be able to find different prescription meds for the most common ailments, such as flavoured tablets that help control CHF (congestive heart failure). Unfortunately, your pet may not exhibit any signs or symptoms in the early stages. However, as the disease progresses, your pet will start coughing, have difficult or rapid breathing, might faint, be weak, and have other symptoms. It will be your responsibility to ensure your pet takes the necessary dosage daily.

Another common prescription medication is thyroxine tablets which are used to treat hypothyroidism (dog’s or cat’s thyroid hormone levels being low). Your pet will show the following symptoms: sudden weight gain, issues with the skin and coat, weakness, low energy levels, changes in their behaviour, etc. You can also find other pet meds that relieve your pet from itching and inflammation of the skin, musculoskeletal disorders, and others.

Microchipping

One of the worst things that can happen to any pet owner is to lose their “furry ball of joy,” especially when they are younger. That is why apart from getting your pets safe collars with ID tags, you should also microchip them. The collar can always come off while the microchip is implanted under your pet’s skin and contains all the necessary info (address, telephone number, etc.) once the scanner reads it.

Healthy Food and Water

Another element of responsible pet ownership is providing your pet with nutritious food. Yes, just like you need the right nutrients for your body, the same applies to your four-legged friend. However, a young pup’s food will not be the same as the one of a senior dog, so make sure you provide them with the nutrients they require during their life stages. If you want to share your human food instead of the regular dog food, make sure you stick to chicken, salmon, shrimp, lean beef, cooked eggs, etc.

And, don’t forget to give your furry friend fresh, clean water to drink. Making sure your pet stays hydrated throughout the day is important, so always make sure to fill the water bowl.

Hygiene and Comfortable Bedding

As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to take care of your pet’s appearance. You have to bathe them as often as you can, comb their fur, clean their ears and mouth, trim their nails, etc. Also, make sure to bring your pet to a grooming professional if you don’t know how to shave your dog’s hair by yourself.

Apart from your dog and cat looking good, you want to make sure that they can also rest and sleep well with cosy bedding just for them. Cats love covered beds in which they can relax and feel safe. For your dog, you can get a soft memory foam bed or an orthopaedic one if your dog has joint issues.

Socialising, Training and Playing

One of the crucial things every owner has to do is start socialising and training their pets from a young age. For example, when puppies bite, it’s normal behaviour. However, it’s important to train them since once their teeth become sharp and powerful, biting will cause problems. Apart from that, toilet training is extremely important once you bring your little cat or puppy into your home.

Also, socializing will play a huge role in their adult years, so make sure to take the time and do it properly. No matter how busy you are that week, make time to bond and play with your fur-babies.