May is National Pet Month so we thought we'd shed some light on our Pre-Vet Tech/Veterinarian Assistant department. According to BATC Animal Science Instructor, Susan Curtis, pet needs are basically straight across the board. Whether we have dogs, cats, snakes, birds or bunnies, here are five simple tips she gives on how to keep our pets happy.
1. Preventative Care: Deworming, vaccinations, dental cleanings, you name it. If you stay on preventative care for the pet, they'll be happy because, in truth, they simplywill feel better. They are less likely to have pain in their teeth or to contract some nasty disease if they are taken in for regular care. Obviously, preventative care varies from species to species (snakes don't really need their teeth cleaned and birds don't need heat lamps in their cages) so it's important to do your research and discover what's really necessary for your pet. For example, preventative care for a reptile is a matter of maintaining their enclosures to duplicate their natural habitat while a horse requires regular horseshoeing, trimming, and regular check-ups with the vet. Though preventative care is pretty simple and basic, the importance of it is something we need to stop overlooking. Staying on top of preventative care gives your pet more opportunities to feel healthy, which gives them more opportunities to feel happy.
2. Grooming: All species across the board need some level of grooming; some are a little more groom-intensive than others. A basic guideline for grooming your animal is to think of their natural environment. Have you ever thought of giving your bird a bath? If they were in the wild, they would get rained on and that rain would wash their feathers. So,as pets, birds need to be kept clean, too. Dogs and cats need their nails trimmed and their coats brushed regularly. Snakes need proper humidityin their cages in order to shed. Tortoises need clean water to swim in because swimming cleans their shells. Humans are happier when their bodies are taken care of and so are pets. A regularly groomed pet is a happy pet.
3. Exercise: An under-exercised pet can become lethargic or easily irritable. Animals are designed for movement; get them out and get them moving! Build an indoor course for your snakes to climb on. Take your cats on walks. Get your birds out of their cage and onto a stand by you, letting them spread their wings to their fullest extent. Run your horses. Play catch with the dog. Let the chickens roam. Just remember how good it feels after you've exercised a bit. Your pet feels the same way, too.
4. Give 'em a treat: We all like a little reward now and then. Give your pet a daily treat and make sure he knows he deserves it. When looking for a good treat, choose some with as few ingredients as possible. Be cautious with commercial treats because of the additives; colorings, sugar and salt can be harmfull to your animal. A general rule of thumb is to read the ingredient list and make certain you can pronounce them all. Tempted to scrape the rest of your pot pie into Fido's dish? Think again! No matter how tempting it is, do NOT give your animal table scraps!!! The ingredients in your dinner can be extremely harmful for your animal. Pets are not garbage disposals.
5. Take a blanket or toy when going on trips: Planning a overnighter or a vacation away from home? Nothing makes a pet feel more unhappy than when he feels out of place. Take a blanket from home or a toy from home or something else that smells and feels like home. Give them something familiar, something they recognize. Whether it's a bird or a bunny or any other pet, taking something from home reduces anxiety and nervousness and confusion. They feel more rooted and understand their territory. When a pet feels at home, it's more likely to relax and enjoy the vacation as much as you are.
For more info about the Animal Science programs, visit: http://batc.edu/programs/veterinarian-assistant-pre-vet-tech