How to take good care of your pets
Pets are lovely companions in our lives. Careful care can keep them healthy and energetic. Here are some key points, misunderstandings and precautions for pet care.
1. Hair care
It is essential to comb your pet’s hair regularly. Pets with different hair lengths and textures have different combing methods. For example, long-haired pets (such as Persian cats) need to be combed every day, using a soft comb, combing from the roots to prevent tangles, remove dust and loose hair; short-haired pets (such as Labrador dogs) can be combed 2-3 times a week. However, some owners have a misunderstanding that only long-haired pets need to be combed frequently, but in fact, short-haired pets are also prone to problems such as dandruff and loose hair accumulation.
Bathing is also an important part of hair care. The frequency of bathing should be determined according to the pet’s skin quality and activity level. Generally speaking, pets with normal skin can be bathed every 2-4 weeks. It should be noted that you must use pet-specific shower gel, because the pH value of human shower products is not suitable for pet skin. After use, it may destroy the oil balance of pet skin, causing dry skin, itching, and even skin diseases. In addition, pay attention to the water temperature when bathing, keep it around 38-40℃, close to the pet’s body temperature, to avoid scalding or scaring the pet.
2. Oral care
Oral health affects the overall health of pets. Brushing your pet’s teeth regularly is a good way to care for your pet, at least 2-3 times a week. Use a toothbrush and toothpaste designed for pets, be gentle, and focus on cleaning the surface of the teeth and the edge of the gums. Some owners think that pets do not need to brush their teeth, or use human toothpaste to brush their pets’ teeth, which is wrong. The ingredients in human toothpaste may be toxic to pets, and long-term non-brushing can lead to bad breath, tartar, gingivitis and other problems. In addition, you can provide your pet with some suitable teething toys or snacks, such as rubber teething sticks, but avoid choosing ones that are too small or easy to break, to prevent pets from accidentally eating and causing suffocation or intestinal obstruction.
3. Ear and eye care
Ear care should be done with caution. Use a cotton ball to apply an appropriate amount of ear wash solution for pets. Gently wipe the external ear canal 1-2 times a month to avoid going deep into the ear canal to prevent damage to the pet’s eardrum. Some owners may cause ear canal inflammation if they use improper force or inappropriate tools when cleaning their ears.
Eye care should not be ignored. If you find that your pet’s eyes have secretions such as eye mucus, you can use a wet cotton ball to gently wipe from the inner corner of the eye to the outside. If your pet’s eyes are red and swollen, tear frequently, or have abnormally increased secretions, it may be an eye infection or other problems, and you should seek medical attention in time. Some owners will ignore these symptoms or wipe their eyes with unclean items, which may aggravate eye problems.
4. Claw care
It is necessary to trim your pet’s claws regularly. Determine the trimming frequency based on the pet’s activities. Pets that are more active indoors (such as indoor cats) are generally trimmed every 2-3 weeks, and pets that are more active outdoors can be appropriately extended to 3-4 weeks. Be careful not to cut the blood line when trimming, otherwise it will cause bleeding and pain. Many owners do not trim their pets’ claws for a long time because they are afraid of cutting the blood line, which will cause the pet’s claws to grow too long, affect walking, and even cause joint problems. At the same time, the claws can be properly polished after trimming to make the edges smooth.
5. Health and life care
In terms of diet, provide appropriate food according to the pet’s age, breed, weight, activity level, etc. Choose high-quality pet food to ensure balanced nutrition. Avoid overfeeding human food, such as chocolate, grapes, onions, etc. These foods are toxic to pets and may cause poisoning reactions. In addition, feeding should be regular and quantitative to prevent pets from obesity or malnutrition.
Moderate exercise is beneficial to the physical and mental health of pets. Different pets have different needs for exercise. For example, small dogs need to exercise for about 30 minutes a day, while large dogs need 1-2 hours. Pay attention to environmental safety during exercise to prevent pets from contacting harmful substances or being attacked by other animals. In hot weather, to prevent pets from heatstroke, you can go out during cool hours and provide plenty of drinking water; in cold weather, pay attention to keeping cold-intolerant pets warm, such as putting on suitable clothes for short-haired small dogs.
Taking your pet to the veterinary hospital for regular checkups and vaccinations is an important measure to ensure the health of your pet. Vaccinate your pet according to the veterinarian’s advice, including core and non-core vaccines, to ensure that your pet is resistant to common infectious diseases. Physical examinations can detect some potential health problems early, such as heart disease, diabetes, etc., so that they can be treated in time.
Pet care requires us to take it seriously, understand and avoid various misunderstandings, pay attention to details, and let our pets thrive under our care.
