1st Care Vets

Think about the cost.

Bringing home a new pet is exciting, but with it comes the financial responsibility of caring for it. There are necessities to think about like food, vet care, flea control, leash and collar, baby gates, and of course treats and toys! Take a look at your finances, and be sure you can take on the additional responsibility before you bring that new pet home.

Do your homework.

Research different breeds ahead of time. If you know what breed you want already, hopefully you’ve already done your research, if you don’t doing a little homework will help you decide. Don’t make an impulse decision while you’re overwhelmed by cuteness, and bring home a breed that may require very specialized care that you aren’t ready to offer.

Different breeds have different characteristics, and different health concerns. For example, Collies and other herding dogs need a “job” or they may start to herd your family, Hounds have a tendency to wander off if they are not fenced in an enclosed area. Pugs need their wrinkles cleaned regularly, Rottweiler’s are prone to elbow dysplasia which usually needs x-rays to diagnose.

Dog/Cat proof your home.

Take a good look through every room in your home, before bringing a new pet home. Wires, cleaning chemicals, and plants (many household plants are poisonous to pets) can be big hazardous to a new pet. Next, get down on your hands and knees and check the floor, under the tables, and under the chairs for any small easy to chew debris like coins, clips, pens, etc… Lastly, make sure things like shoes, clothes, etc… are all up out of reach, unless you’d like some new scratches or chew marks in it!

Find a local Vet.

Read reviews online, and find a good vet in your area. You don’t need to go to a full service vet for things like vaccines or a physical, but in case something goes wrong, make sure you already know where to go.

ADOPT!

Millions of pets get euthanized every year because of overpopulation in animal shelters. Give a loving home to a pet in need.