Basic Pet Care
Basic Pet Care
Pet Care
Proper pet care is an important part of how humans and animals can live together harmoniously and it can be a big job.
Basics
A few of the most popular pets are cats, dogs, birds, and fish. Pets depend on their owners to feed them, house them, take care of their health, and keep them clean. For most pets, the food and care stuff they need is sold at grocery stores or a near by pet store.
Food and Housing
As I already said, for most pets, the food and care stuff they need is sold at a nearby store. Pets also need a good home. Birds need a cage that is large enough for them, cats and dogs need warm cozy places to sleep, and a pet that lives outside needs a strong, warm, shelter to protect them from drafts and bad weather, exc…
Bad Owners
Some owners don’t get or give their pet everything they need. Sometimes that is because of other things in life. Still, some people don’t feed their pets, or take them to the vet, or wash them, sometimes they even leave their pets outside or just abandon them.
Pet Concerns
Some people who really love animals think that there should be some kind of survey or test you have to take before you are allowed to adopt a pet. They think that there should be laws about how you have to have to treat your pets. If you don’t follow the laws the police should take your pet away and maybe even arrest you. What do you think?
Citations
“Pet.” World Book Kids. 17 February 2009.
<http://www.worldbookonline.com/kids/Article?id=ar831752&st >
Vets
Basic Facts on Vets
Veterinarian clinics are places that deal veterinary medicine. Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with diseases that animals have. Doctors who treat animals are called veterinarians. Veterinarians are trained to prevent, diagnose, and treat illness. Their work is especially valuable because many animal diseases can be transmitted to human beings.
People who want to become veterinarians must have at least two years of pre-veterinary college work, followed by four years of study in a college of veterinary medicine. In veterinary school, students study subjects such as anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pathology, and surgery. After receiving a license, a veterinarian may go into private or institutional clinical practice or work at zoos, aquariums, or wildlife refuges.
Farm and Ranches
Veterinarians are very concerned with the care and treatment of livestock. Vets help keep farm animals in good health and work to prevent outbreaks of animal diseases. Epidemics of animal diseases may be extremely dangerous, not only to the animals, but also to humans. Modern vaccines have made it possible for vets to protect farm animals against many diseases. Vets have played an important role in controlling bovine tuberculosis, a form of tuberculosis that can be passed from cows to human beings. In the early 1900s, the federal government began a program to get rid of this disease. A plan set up by the federal and state governments, allows veterinarians to test dairy cattle for tuberculosis. Another project works to control and eradicate bovine Brunelleschi. This disease can also be transferred from cattle to human beings. Brunelleschi and tuberculosis have both been nearly eliminated in the United States by veterinarians.
“Veterinary Medicine.” World Book Online. 26 February 2009
<http://www.worldbookonline.com
Cats
Basic Facts
There are 68 different types of cats to be exact. Every kind of cat (except for Sphynx) has fur. Cats whiskers are actually thick hairs. A cat usually has about 12 whiskers on each side of its face. Whiskers help cats see in the dark. Whiskers also help when a cat pokes its head into a small space, the whiskers tell them if the rest of their body will fit. Except for Manx, all cats and kittens have tails. The tails are to help them keep balance.
Kittens
A mother cat usually has two to five kittens at once. When kittens are born, they are really small. When they are born, they can’t hear or see. Actually, they are born with their eyes closed. A kitten’s eyes typically open after a week or so. When their eyes open, most kittens have yellow eyes that turn green as they get older. A kitten can leave its mother when it is eight to ten weeks old. By the time it is six months old, a kitten can usually hunt and take care of itself.
Why do they do that?
Why do pet cats hunt? Wild cats hunt for food. Pet cats like to hunt too, even if they are fed by humans. Why do cats scratch? Cats scratch to sharpen their claws, which they have to defend themselves. Why do cats sleep so often? Cats usually sleep about 16 hours a day. They take lots of short naps, called cat naps. The reason that cats sleep so much during the day is because they’re awake most of the night. Why do cats purr? Kittens purr when they are nursing. Cats may purr if they are happy or sad. Purring makes them feel better. Why do cats hiss? Cats hiss when they are mad or afraid. When they hiss, a cat may also puff out its fur, arch its back, or even spit.
Cat Care
If you are planning to get a cat, read a lot about them and how to care for them. You will also need to find a local vet for regular checkups and information.
Cats (cont.)
Food and Water
Kittens (under one year old) should be fed three or four times throughout the day. Adult cats (one year and up) only need to be fed once or twice a day. Feed only brand named cat food that is formulated for your cat’s age. Also, follow your veterinarian’s advice on how much food to give your cat. Fresh water should be available at all times. Do not give your cat milk, it could give your cat diarrhea.
Grooming
Cats wash themselves by licking their fur. And in the process, they swallow a lot of hair, which can build up into one big HAIRBALL! To help prevent this, brush your cat once or twice a week, unless it’s a long-haired breed. If you have a cat with long hair, brush it once or twice a day! Baths for cats are not recommended, but if necessary, use a shampoo that is made especially for your type of cat. Make sure to check your cat’s teeth and gums every couple of weeks. This will help prevent tartar build-up. Also, check your cat’s ears for excessive wax build-up or infection.
Bedding
Provide your cat or kitten with its own bed away from heavy traffic areas. Remember, cats and kittens take frequent naps throughout the day and should not be disturbed. Because they are nocturnal animals, they may be active during the evening and nighttime hours.
Exercise and Play
Cats and kittens can get plenty of exercise safely inside their home. Scratching posts, paper bags, boxes, catnip toys, and rubber balls (large enough so they cannot be swallowed), are fun and safe. Avoid small, sharp objects as well as string or yarn (which cats can swallow and choke on).
“Proper Cat & Kitten Care.” The Anti-Cruelty Society. 27 March 2009. http://www.anticruelty.org/site/epage/36960_576.htm>>
Holub, John. Why Do Cats Meow? New York: Puffin Books, 2001
Permission to use cat images is granted under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License or photograph is in the public domain from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. <http://
Cat Pictures
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| A typical cat. | An extremely young kitten being fed with milk in a eye dropper. |
Dogs
Dogs are very important in this world. They are a favorite pet in many countries. They can offer companionship and protection. Most dogs are affectionate and loyal. Dogs are greatly affected by the way they are treated so if you want to have a dog for a pet, you must know how about proper care.
Food
You should feed your dog from one time a day to several times a day, depending on it's age. Puppies need to be fed three times a day, big dogs need to be fed two times a day and medium to small dogs need to be fed once or twice a day. It is important that you do not feed your dog continuously though because your dog may lose it's natural appetite and that is the number one way to tell if your dog is sick. You also have to make sure that you do not over feed your dog! If you can not feel your dog’s ribs at all, you are over feeding your dog. If you can feel the ribs easily and they stick out or are visible, your dog may be too thin. This could be from the loss of natural appetite.
Veterinary Care
Make sure your dog is up to date on its vaccinations. Veterinarians recommend that adult dogs have the DHLPP shot for parvo and distemper once a year, and rabies every three years. Puppies should have three sets of DHLLP shots by the time they turn five months old. Their first rabies shot lasts one year.
Bathroom
You should let your dog out to go to the bathroom about twice or three times a day in the winter. In the summer, if you are home, you should leave your dog outside with a couple of balls and a bone to keep him entertained. This gives the dog the opportunity for more exercise and the chance to go to the bathroom any time. Make sure you clean it up as soon as possible!
Exercise
It's great if you have a large property for your dog to run and play, but if you have a small yard or no yard, make sure that you take your dog for walks each day. Dogs crave exercise and it is necessary for their health. They also love the attention that they get when walking with you.
Dogs (cont.)
Grooming:
If you want a dog with long hair you are going to have to know how to groom it. There are many ways to find out how to do this. You can get this information from books, or you can consult with a professional groomer. You have to trim your dog’s nails regularly. If you have trouble doing this, you can get a vet or groomer to do this. One trick you can try if you have trouble trimming them is to smear peanut butter on the side of they’re bowl and have them lay on your lap licking the peanut butter while you clip the nails. Dogs also need dental care. Just like humans do, dogs need to get their teeth cleaned at least once a year. Always make sure that your dog’s ears are clean too. This is important because dirt in a dog's ears can lead to pain and infections.
Basic Facts
Dogs are the number one pet in America and there are 68,000,000 owned dogs in the US.
Dogs can smell 20 times stronger than humans.
36% of all households in American have dogs.
If we make sure we are treating our dogs correctly, we will live with them harmoniously.
Citations
“Basic Dog Care.” Pet Behavior. 17 M arch 2009. 2009.<www.humaneleague.com>
Permission to use dog images is granted under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License or photograph is in the public domain from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page> (April, 2009).
