As part of National Pet Month, we’ve put together a list of 12 things we think make a responsible pet owner.
Read Part 2, where we cover preventative healthcare and why vaccinations, parasite control, neutering and healthy teeth and gums are so important.
If you missed Part 1, we covered the essentials from when you pick your new pet up – microchipping, pet insurance, car safety, socialisation and training, and you can read that here.
PART 2 – The best care is preventative care
Vaccinations for life – for optimum protection
All puppies, kittens and baby rabbits should be vaccinated a few weeks after birth to give them optimum protection against a host of harmful and deadly diseases. Annual boosters will then be needed for life to give them continued protection. For new pets over a year old, hopefully, the previous owner can tell you which vaccinations they’ve already had, however, whether you have this information or not, you should make an appointment with your vet straight away to talk about which vaccinations your pet now needs to ensure they are protected.
Vaccinations not only protect your pet, they protect other people’s pets as well and are a key part of being a responsible pet owner. Read more information about which diseases to vaccinate your pet against.
Parasite protection – fleas & worms
Parasites can live on and in your pet and cause a variety of health problems, so it’s extremely important to protect your pet against them. A popular and very annoying parasite is the flea, it will literally make your pet’s skin crawl and can infest your home, which is why it’s so important to keep your pet up to date with flea treatments. There are many other harmful parasites, however, one you should definitely protect your dog against is lungworm, which can be contracted as easily as a dog licking an outside food bowl that has infected larvae from a slug or snail on it. Left untreated, lungworm can kill your dog. Read our advice on how to protect your pet against parasites.
Benefits of neutering – help to keep the number of unwanted animals down
As a responsible pet owner, one of the greatest things you can do is help keep down the number of unwanted pets brought into animal shelters every day or left to fend for themselves. This is one of the many benefits of neutering, as are reducing the risk of some illnesses and pacifying some unwanted behaviours. Read about the benefits of neutering dogs, cats, rabbits and small furries.
Join our TLC Pet Club and benefit from gold standard preventative pet healthcare
Gold membership includes vaccinations & boosters, all year round flea & worm treatments, 6-month checkups with the nurse, discounts on neutering, consultations, food and nail clipping, appointment and treatment reminders and best of all, peace of mind for you. Plus, pay monthly and save! Find out more about our TLC Pet Club today.
Healthy teeth & gums – important dental care
Just like you and me, pets who have poor dental hygiene can experience a number of health problems. Ideally, dogs and cats should have a dental care programme that combines regular home cleaning with more thorough cleaning and checkups periodically at the vets. Rabbits and small furries tend to use their food to keep their teeth healthy so it’s important to make sure they have the right diet, and to take them for dental checkups at the vets every 6 – 12 months. Read more about keeping your pet’s teeth and gums healthy.
Read Part 3 of 12 Steps of Responsible Pet Ownership >
Contact our team if you would like to discuss any of our pet care or ownership advice.
National Pet Month is a registered charity, with the unique aim of bringing animal welfare charities, professional bodies, pet businesses, schools, youth groups and pet lovers together to raise awareness and campaign for responsible pet ownership.