Pet Care

Lots of studies have proven that owning a pet contributes to your overall wellbeing, especially when people live on their own. Cats and dogs will always love you unconditionally and stroking them has a very relaxing effect on us. To ensure that you choose the right dog for your personality, research the different breeds carefully.

Here is a good overview on how to take care of your pets.

Feeding

Feeding your pets dry food helps them with their dental health and can help to avoid bad breath. Filling their food bowls with dry kibble saves you time compared to preparing raw food. It also encourages them to chew before they swallow, which improves their digestion.
It’s best to feed pets twice a day with 8 -12-hour intervals.
Pets who spend a lot of time outdoors need more food in the winter because keeping warm depletes their energy.
To ensure that your pet stays healthy for a long time, spend a bit more on quality pet food.
As a treat add gravy for pets over the kibbles once or twice a week.
There are different types of kibbles for the various age groups. Senior pets should eat kibbles with fewer calories.
If your pet is overweight, avoid giving any treats and ask your vet for a weight loss programme. He/she can recommend the best low-calorie kibbles.
Mixing kibbles and wet food can cause weight gain.

Washing & Grooming

The fortunate thing with cats is that they don’t need to be bathed. Comb them regularly and trim their nails every ten days to two weeks.
Dogs should be washed every 4 – 6 weeks with a gentle shampoo. If you wash your dog more often, it might develop skin or coat problems.
- Some dogs like Scottish Terriers need to go to a professional groomer to cut their hair.
- Cut the nails every time you wash them.
- Brush your dog every couple of days, no matter how long the coat is.
If your pet tends to get fleas, use a monthly flea treatment.
When you feed your pets wet food, you should brush their teeth three times a week, to avoid tooth decay or gum disease. Tooth decay can also affect the overall health of your pet.
Dog dental chews help to keep teeth clean.

Sleeping

Invest in a good sleeping basket or pillow for your pet.
Ideally buy a pillow with a removable cover that is machine washable.
Depending on your cat’s sleeping preference, it might either like to sleep on a bed, large enough for it to stretch out or a pod that is small enough for it to comfortably curl up and feel secure.
Your dog’s bed should be slightly larger than the dog to accommodate different sleeping positions.

Taking care of the poop

Depending on the size of your yard, pick up the dog poop daily or every second day.
Always take poop bags along when walking your dog.
Cat litter boxes should be scooped daily, and the box scrubbed every two weeks with a cleaner that is pet safe. Fill up with clumping clay litter regularly.

Medical Checkup

Just like us our pets should have a routine check-up every year to check their general health including diet, exercise, thirst and elimination patterns.
Cats need to see the vet at least once a year for their vaccinations. Indoor cats only need core vaccines.
Take your pet to the vet if they show any of the following symptoms:
- lack of appetite and extreme fatigue
- repeated vomiting or vomiting blood
- trouble breathing or unconsciousness
- open wounds or difficulty in movement
- abnormal bumps or lumps
- eyes that look different or discoloured
Dogs should be walked regularly, especially if you don’t have a garden. The amount of walks depends on the the dog’s breed, age, size and health.